Hello! Thanks for visiting my webpage.
I am a graduate student in the department of statistics at Purdue. Fortunately, this is the final year of my PhD work. My dissertation is on the analysis of ranking data. Ranking data presents a unique challenge as it integrates concepts from combinatorics, algebra and group theory, probability, and statistics. In addition to being intellectually satisfying the ubiquity of ranking data in our daily lives ensures that this work remains relevant, e.g. survey design/analysis and recommender systems.
My research interests cover a range of topics outside of ranking, including machine learning techniques, visualization, and Bayesian applications. I have been fortunate enough to participate in a number of projects that have allowed me to explore these interests. My advisors, Guy Lebanon and William Cleveland, have been the source of several, while my involvement in other interdisciplinary projects has come through the department's Statistical Consulting Service and the Technical Assistance Program.
While I have already begun my search for employment, it remains as a broad search as I am open to work in academia, government, or industry. The main requirement of my future employment being that it provides an environment that fosters the development of novel statistical theory. The old saying "necessity is the mother of invention" is very true in statistics as theoretical developments are often driven by applications, as such I would be happy to work in application focused setting.
Please feel free to contact me at kidwell@stat.purdue.edu.
Regards-
Paul
