2014 Student Cohort
A brief introduction to our first cohort of OxWaSP students.
ALEJANDRA AVALOS PACHECO, University of Warwick
Alejandra is from Mexico. She studied actuarial science at ITAM. Ale was Secretary in a "Socially Responsible Leaders Program" for four years. She is also co-founder of "International House for Women, Mexico". Ale worked for several years as a senior actuarial analyst in Allianz. During this time she came to appreciate the application of stats and decided to study an MSc in statistics at Warwick. She became particularly interested in large-scale models and their applications, finding OxWaSP as the ideal programme for her professional development. In her free time, she enjoys attending music festivals, travelling and hanging out with friends.
Alejandra is from Mexico. She studied actuarial science at ITAM. Ale was Secretary in a "Socially Responsible Leaders Program" for four years. She is also co-founder of "International House for Women, Mexico". Ale worked for several years as a senior actuarial analyst in Allianz. During this time she came to appreciate the application of stats and decided to study an MSc in statistics at Warwick. She became particularly interested in large-scale models and their applications, finding OxWaSP as the ideal programme for her professional development. In her free time, she enjoys attending music festivals, travelling and hanging out with friends.
FRANCOIS-XAVIER BRIOL, University of Warwick
Francois-Xavier is Belgian but has lived most of his life in Luxembourg before moving to the UK to study MORSE at the University of Warwick. Some of his past work experiences such as a summer research project and the two summers he spent working at a sports prediction statistical consultancy company helped develop his interest in statistics and influenced his decision to join OxWaSP. His masters dissertation focused on the study of Hawkes Processes and their applicability to the modelling of the success of movies. Outside of his academic interests, Francois-Xavier enjoys travelling and trying out new martial arts.
Francois-Xavier is Belgian but has lived most of his life in Luxembourg before moving to the UK to study MORSE at the University of Warwick. Some of his past work experiences such as a summer research project and the two summers he spent working at a sports prediction statistical consultancy company helped develop his interest in statistics and influenced his decision to join OxWaSP. His masters dissertation focused on the study of Hawkes Processes and their applicability to the modelling of the success of movies. Outside of his academic interests, Francois-Xavier enjoys travelling and trying out new martial arts.
MATHIAS CRONJAGER, University of Oxford
Mathias is originally from Denmark, but has lived in Berlin for the past six
years, where he has been studying mathematics at the Technical University of Berlin and the Berlin Mathematical School. His research has mainly been on stochastic processes and their use for modelling population genetics, but his mathematical interests are broad, and also include functional analysis and combinatorics, among other things. He hopes that his time in Oxford will allow him to work on interesting interdisciplinary problems where his mathematical background can be of use. When he is not doing research, he likes to play board games.
Mathias is originally from Denmark, but has lived in Berlin for the past six
years, where he has been studying mathematics at the Technical University of Berlin and the Berlin Mathematical School. His research has mainly been on stochastic processes and their use for modelling population genetics, but his mathematical interests are broad, and also include functional analysis and combinatorics, among other things. He hopes that his time in Oxford will allow him to work on interesting interdisciplinary problems where his mathematical background can be of use. When he is not doing research, he likes to play board games.
LEONARD HASENCLEVER, University of Oxford
Leonard was born and grew up in Germany. After finishing high school in Germany, he read Mathematics at Jesus College, Cambridge, taking a variety of courses across all areas of maths. Last summer he participated in the Oxford Summer School in Computational Biology at the Department of Statistics after which he decided to specialise in statistics and probability theory in his last year. Leonard is interested in most areas of statistics and machine learning but at the moment perhaps most fascinated by Bayesian non-parametric methods.
Leonard was born and grew up in Germany. After finishing high school in Germany, he read Mathematics at Jesus College, Cambridge, taking a variety of courses across all areas of maths. Last summer he participated in the Oxford Summer School in Computational Biology at the Department of Statistics after which he decided to specialise in statistics and probability theory in his last year. Leonard is interested in most areas of statistics and machine learning but at the moment perhaps most fascinated by Bayesian non-parametric methods.
DIVAKAR KUMAR, University of Warwick
Divakar Kumar graduated in mathematics at Indian statistical Institute, Bangalore in 2013. To foster his passion for application of mathematics, he chose career in statistics. For his profound interest in mathematics and statistics, he was selected by the commonwealth commission, UK for his master’s studies at London school of Economics and Political Sciences. His area of interest includes probability theory, stochastic processes, Bayesian statistics and their application to big data analysis. Apart from studies, he likes gardening, playing cricket and mountaineering.
Divakar Kumar graduated in mathematics at Indian statistical Institute, Bangalore in 2013. To foster his passion for application of mathematics, he chose career in statistics. For his profound interest in mathematics and statistics, he was selected by the commonwealth commission, UK for his master’s studies at London school of Economics and Political Sciences. His area of interest includes probability theory, stochastic processes, Bayesian statistics and their application to big data analysis. Apart from studies, he likes gardening, playing cricket and mountaineering.
XIAOYU LU, University of Oxford
Xiaoyu Lu has completed her MMath degree in Mathematics and Statistics at Oxford University. Her interest into applied statistics in the field of machine learning comes from her fourth year study and her dissertation in the recommender system. Therefore, she would like to continue exploring this field and connect with other excellent statisticians through the CDT programme. Xiaoyu also had practical experience in applied statistics through various internships, in which she has realised the importance of big data and became more motivated to pursue her PhD degree. Xiaoyu loves Latin dance and volunteering, and has travelled to Thailand for charity.
Xiaoyu Lu has completed her MMath degree in Mathematics and Statistics at Oxford University. Her interest into applied statistics in the field of machine learning comes from her fourth year study and her dissertation in the recommender system. Therefore, she would like to continue exploring this field and connect with other excellent statisticians through the CDT programme. Xiaoyu also had practical experience in applied statistics through various internships, in which she has realised the importance of big data and became more motivated to pursue her PhD degree. Xiaoyu loves Latin dance and volunteering, and has travelled to Thailand for charity.
SIMON LYDDON, University of Oxford
Simon studied at the University of Cambridge from 2003 to 2007, obtaining a first class BA and a distinction in Part III of the Mathematical Tripos. During his studies he specialised in probability and statistics, particularly enjoying advanced courses in Statistical Theory and Monte Carlo Inference. From 2007 to 2014 he worked in finance as an exotic derivatives trader. He is particularly interested in nonparametric statistics and statistical machine learning but is looking forward to learning about a range of modern statistical topics in the first year of the OxWaSP course.
Simon studied at the University of Cambridge from 2003 to 2007, obtaining a first class BA and a distinction in Part III of the Mathematical Tripos. During his studies he specialised in probability and statistics, particularly enjoying advanced courses in Statistical Theory and Monte Carlo Inference. From 2007 to 2014 he worked in finance as an exotic derivatives trader. He is particularly interested in nonparametric statistics and statistical machine learning but is looking forward to learning about a range of modern statistical topics in the first year of the OxWaSP course.
LAWRENCE MIDDLETON, University of Oxford
Lawrence has this year completed his undergraduate degree in engineering at Oxford. The course is initially general, providing exposure to a range of disciplines with increasingly more specialisation in the final two years. His studies have taken him to the more theoretical aspects of engineering, including information engineering, control theory and machine learning. His final year project consisted of developing a model for clustering time series, while using Markov chain Monte Carlo to perform inference in the model. Outside of research, he enjoys playing on the local rugby pitch as well as performing small sets on the guitar and vocals.
Lawrence has this year completed his undergraduate degree in engineering at Oxford. The course is initially general, providing exposure to a range of disciplines with increasingly more specialisation in the final two years. His studies have taken him to the more theoretical aspects of engineering, including information engineering, control theory and machine learning. His final year project consisted of developing a model for clustering time series, while using Markov chain Monte Carlo to perform inference in the model. Outside of research, he enjoys playing on the local rugby pitch as well as performing small sets on the guitar and vocals.
JOVANA MITROVIC, University of Oxford
Born in Belgrade, Serbia, she went on to study at ETH Zurich, where she finished a BSc in Mathematics and an MSc in Applied Mathematics. There, she focused on statistics and machine learning, and researched matrix decomposition/compression methods and the connections between machine learning and copula theory. Apart from mathematics, she enjoys sports, reading, and spending time outdoors. She has experience in multiple sports, most notably karate, in which she has trained for 8 years and holds a brown belt.
Born in Belgrade, Serbia, she went on to study at ETH Zurich, where she finished a BSc in Mathematics and an MSc in Applied Mathematics. There, she focused on statistics and machine learning, and researched matrix decomposition/compression methods and the connections between machine learning and copula theory. Apart from mathematics, she enjoys sports, reading, and spending time outdoors. She has experience in multiple sports, most notably karate, in which she has trained for 8 years and holds a brown belt.
VALERIO PERRONE, University of Warwick
Valerio Perrone is from Italy. He studied Mathematics for Engineering at the Politecnico of Turin, where he developed an interest in the statistical foundations of machine learning. In parallel to his university degree, he was awarded the Allievi Diploma as an honours student of the Collegio Carlo Alberto. He is mostly excited about Bayesian machine learning and deep learning, and has applied his research to natural language processing, recommender systems and population genetics.
Valerio Perrone is from Italy. He studied Mathematics for Engineering at the Politecnico of Turin, where he developed an interest in the statistical foundations of machine learning. In parallel to his university degree, he was awarded the Allievi Diploma as an honours student of the Collegio Carlo Alberto. He is mostly excited about Bayesian machine learning and deep learning, and has applied his research to natural language processing, recommender systems and population genetics.
SOPHIA WRIGHT, University of Warwick
Sophia Wright MMath University of St. Andrews 2014, focusing mainly on statistics and applied mathematics (solar theory and classical mechanics). Her final year dissertation was titled ‘Numerical Analysis of Differential Equations’, following a month of summer research at the University of Edinburgh. Sophia would like to further develop an understanding of statistical processes which would be applicable in a “big data” environment. She was an active member of the Student-Staff Council in the Mathematics Department. Beyond mathematics, she enjoys English Literature and dance.
Sophia Wright MMath University of St. Andrews 2014, focusing mainly on statistics and applied mathematics (solar theory and classical mechanics). Her final year dissertation was titled ‘Numerical Analysis of Differential Equations’, following a month of summer research at the University of Edinburgh. Sophia would like to further develop an understanding of statistical processes which would be applicable in a “big data” environment. She was an active member of the Student-Staff Council in the Mathematics Department. Beyond mathematics, she enjoys English Literature and dance.
