The UCLA Department of Statistics & Data Science has received a $2 million award from the National Science Foundation to establish a new Research Training Group that will prepare the next generation of researchers advancing the mathematical and statistical foundations of modern data science.
The five-year award, titled Statistics and Data Theory – Engaging the Future of Data Science, will support graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, undergraduate researchers and a broad range of educational and outreach activities focused on three areas central to the field’s future: the theoretical foundations of artificial intelligence, biotechnology enabled by statistical and mathematical methods, and use-inspired statistics research addressing societal questions in environmental science, public health and demography.
Led by Guido Montúfar, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics & Data Science, the program officially launches in September and represents a major investment in UCLA’s rapidly rising Statistics & Data Science Department.
“This award reflects the remarkable momentum of our Statistics & Data Science department. As the department continues its ascent among the nation’s top programs, this investment will help attract exceptional students and researchers while expanding UCLA’s leadership in artificial intelligence, biotechnology and the mathematical sciences.”
– Miguel García-Garibay, dean of UCLA Physical Sciences
The award establishes an NSF Research Training Group, or RTG, a program designed to build research communities and train future generations of scholars. Unlike traditional research grants focused on specific research questions, RTGs support both research excellence and the infrastructure needed to develop future scientific leaders. Through fellowships, workshops, summer schools, seminars and undergraduate research experiences, the UCLA program will help strengthen the department’s ability to recruit and develop top talent for years to come.
“The most exciting aspect of this award is that it invests not only in research, but in people,” said Montúfar. “The NSF recognized both the strength of our scientific vision and our commitment to building an ecosystem that trains future researchers. This award allows us to create new opportunities for students and scholars while strengthening connections across some of the most important areas of modern statistics and data science.”
The award arrives at a pivotal moment for UCLA Statistics & Data Science, one of the university’s fastest-growing academic departments. In recent years, the department has expanded its research profile and national reputation, recently climbing from 19th to 12th in the US News & World Report ranking of Statistics PhD programs while helping establish UCLA as a leader in data science.
“This award reflects the remarkable momentum of our Statistics & Data Science department,” said Miguel García-Garibay, dean of UCLA Physical Sciences. “As the department continues its ascent among the nation’s top programs, this investment will help attract exceptional students and researchers while expanding UCLA’s leadership in artificial intelligence, biotechnology and the mathematical sciences.”
A central goal of the RTG is to strengthen the mathematical and statistical foundations underlying rapidly advancing technologies. As artificial intelligence continues to transform science and society, researchers increasingly recognize the need for a deeper theoretical understanding of how these systems operate and can be deployed responsibly. The UCLA program will support research aimed at developing rigorous foundations for reliable, interpretable, and robust AI, advancing statistical methods for biotechnology, and applying modern statistical tools to pressing societal challenges.
“This award is the result of years of work by many people across the department,” Montúfar said. “Our faculty, students and leadership have all contributed to creating a community where innovative research and outstanding training go hand in hand. This investment will help us continue building that community and preparing students to become leaders in academia, industry and beyond.”