Research

Research areas in the Department of Statistics are diverse and multidisciplinary with application areas that range from finance to social sciences. Together with its partners in the Engineering School, we are leading the way towards the next big discoveries.

Learn more about our research focus areas and applications.

Research work by graduate students also contributes significantly to the body of knowledge in the field, while many of our undergraduates have significant research opportunities as well. Statistics is a cornerstone of the campus-wide Data Science Initiative. 

Biostatistics is the science of bringing statistical and probabilistic reasoning to bear on the complex problems presented in research areas such as biology, genetics, human health, medical and environmental science. Our partnership with the MD Anderson Cancer Center allows our faculty and students research opportunities to contribute significantly to the improvement of human health throughout the world.

Rice's Center for Computational Finance and Economic Systems (CoFES) is dedicated to the quantitative study of financial markets and economic systems and their ultimate impact on society. CoFES represents a cooperative effort between the School of Engineering, the Jones Graduate School of Business, and the School of Social Sciences.

Learn more about CoFES.

Our research groups may consist of a faculty member, their graduate and undergraduate students, as well as collaborators from outside the department. They are the core of the department's research and education agenda. Individual groups meet regularly throughout the semester. If you are interested in joining one of the groups, contact the faculty member based on their research focus areas and applications.