Research Week Showcase: Dr. Yang Zhao
For the UofR’s Research Week, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics is excited to showcase Dr. Yang Zhao and her research as an NSERC Discovery Development Grant 2024 recipient!
Dr. Yang Zhao is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Regina. Yang received her Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Waterloo in 2005 and joined the University of Regina as an Assistant Professor in September 2005. She has been a member of the Steering Committee of Canadian Statistical Science Institute Saskatchewan Health Science Collaborating Centre (CANSSI-HSCC) since the establishment of the centre in 2018.
Yang's research interests focus on the development of parametric and semiparametric models for statistical analysis with missing data. Missing data is a common problem in many applications including science and medical studies. Yang and her research collaborators (M. Liu, D. L. Thiessen, etc.) investigate efficient statistical methods to address a variety of problems with missing or mismeasured data, and the related asymptotic properties. They examine the limitations and possible improvements in current approaches with a particular focus on the hypothesis testing of missing data mechanisms, inference for regression models with missing at random data, diagnostic checking of multiple imputation models, robust estimation of the missing data mechanisms, and statistical analysis with missing not at random data.
In her own words, Yang “enjoys doing everything, everyday” regarding her research projects, and, as a result, she has earned two NSERC Discovery Developmental Grants in 2023-2024 and 2025-2026! Moreover, her projects have led to over five recent publications in the esteemed journals, Statistical Methods & Applications, Statistical Medicine, and AStA Advances in Statistical Analysis!
For any students, faculty members, or researchers who are interested in learning more about Dr. Yang Zhao and her research, please see her website.