Nan Laird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nan Laird
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| Born |
Nan McKenzie Laird
September 18, 1943 Gainesville, Florida, USA
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| Education | Rice University University of Georgia Harvard University |
| Known for | Expectation-maximization algorithm, DerSimonian-Laird estimator |
| Awards | (2021) International Prize in Statistics (2016) 25th Annual Distinguished Statistician Lecture from UCONN, the American Statistical Association and Pfizer (2011) 25th Annual Lowell Reed Lecturer from the American Public Health Association (2011) Samuel S. Wilks Award, from the American Statistical Association |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health |
| Thesis | Log-linear models with random parameters: an empirical Bayes approach (1975) |
| Doctoral advisor | Arthur P. Dempster |
| Doctoral students | Christl Donnelly, Rebecca DerSimonian, Fong Wang Clow, Joseph W. Hogan, Garrett M. Fitzmaurice, Nicholas J. Horton, Stephen Lake and Steve Horvath |
Nan McKenzie Laird (born September 18, 1943) is a very important scientist. She is a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She teaches about Biostatistics, which is a field that uses math to understand health and medicine.
Professor Laird was also the head of her department at Harvard for many years. She is now a professor emerita, which means she has retired but is still highly respected.
Contents
Her Journey in Education
Nan Laird started college at Rice University in 1961. She first studied math, then changed to French. Later, she went to the University of Georgia to study computer science. She eventually found her passion in statistics. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1969.
Before continuing her studies, Nan Laird worked as a computer programmer. She helped with the Apollo program at MIT from 1969 to 1971. This program sent astronauts to the Moon!
In 1971, she began her advanced studies at Harvard University. She earned her PhD in statistics in 1975. After finishing her degree, she became a professor at Harvard. She taught there until she retired.
Her Work and Discoveries
Nan Laird is famous for her important work in biostatistics. She helped create new ways to use statistics to solve problems in health and medicine.
Understanding the EM Algorithm
One of her most well-known contributions is to the expectation–maximization algorithm. This is a powerful tool used in statistics and computer science. It helps scientists find patterns in data, even when some information is missing. Imagine you have a puzzle with some pieces missing; this algorithm helps you figure out what the missing pieces might be. It's used in many areas, like genetics and medical imaging.
Important Research Papers
Professor Laird has written many important research papers. These papers have helped other scientists learn new methods. Her work has made a big difference in how we study health and diseases.
Awards and Recognitions
Nan Laird has received many awards for her amazing work. These awards show how much her contributions are valued by other scientists.
- In 2021, she won the International Prize in Statistics. This is like the Nobel Prize for statisticians!
- In 2016, she gave a special lecture at the University of Connecticut.
- She received the Samuel S. Wilks Award in 2011 from the American Statistical Association. This award honors statisticians who have made major contributions.
- In 2003, she received the Janet L. Norwood Award.
- In 2001, she won the Florence Nightingale David Award.
She is also a Fellow of important groups like the American Statistical Association. This means she is recognized as a leading expert in her field.
See also
In Spanish: Nan Laird para niños
