The research programme Statistical Science is concerned with the analysis and interpretation of masses of data, the quantification of uncertainty using probability models, and the development and benchmarking of algorithms and methods with these aims.

The group Statistical Science is responsible for research and teaching in statistics and data science.

PhD candidates carry out a programme of independent research, leading to a PhD thesis in typically 4 years.

The master’s programme Statistics & Data Science provides students with a thorough introduction to the general philosophy and methodology of statistical modelling and data analysis. The programme has two specialisations: Data Science and Statistical Science.

Developing and investigating statistical methods for complex data and models

Methodology and Statistics focuses on the development, evaluation and application of statistical models for the analysis of psychological research data.

Peter Grunwald

The programme group Research Methods and Statistics has a wide expertise in research methodology. The group offers methodological support in many projects in the field of education and child studies, and develops its own methodological research projects based on questions arising from this field.

Promotores: J.C. van Houwelingen, S.A. van de Geer

Welcome to StatiCS: the Statistical Consultation Service. The goal of the service is to provide statistical support to PhD candidates and other researchers.

The Graduate School of Social and Behavioural Sciences in collaboration with the Department of Methodology and Statistics and researchers in the field of Methodology and/or Statistics of the other Institutes provides training for PhD candidates and other researchers.

Science, Mathematical Institute (MI)

Promotor: R.D. Gill, F. Taroni

The Leiden University Center for Statistical Science unites the statisticians teaching and researching at Leiden University.

In the specialisation Methodology and Statistics, part of the Master in Psychology, you will focus on in-depth study of statistical theory and research methodology as well as on the acquisition of data analysis skills.

The Graduate School of Social and Behavioural Sciences in collaboration with the Department of Methodology and Statistics and researchers in the field of Methodology and/or Statistics of the other Institutes provides training courses for PhD candidates and other researchers.

During my PhD research, I studied the photon statistics of light emitted by a microcavity that contains a single quantum dot (QD) on resonance.

What is the best way to combine the environmental and economic data and how can we create an operational system to do so, thereby supporting the delivery of data to the Data centres on Products and Resources?

Science, Mathematical Institute (MI)

Promotor: A.W. van der Vaart

Data science is now growing fast in many places, but scholars at Leiden University have been developing data science techniques for a long time already. Thanks to their broad-based expertise, Leiden statisticians are currently combining the achievements in statistics with the latest methods of statistical…

Netherlands Statistics (CBS), Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam have started a collaboration in the form of a research project titled 'Enriching official economic statistics using data-driven modelling techniques'.

Promotor: R. Gill, Co-promotor: P. Massart

Science, Mathematical Institute (MI)

Novel methods for understanding key aspects that are essential to the future of Bayesian inference for high- or infinite-dimensional models and data.

This thesis develops statistical methods for the analysis of high dimensional data: high dimensional networks reconstruction (Chapters 1-4), incorporation of prior information in networks reconstruction (Chapters 2-4), incorporation of prior knowledge in genetic association studies (Chapter 3).

Promotor: P.D. Grünwald

Promotor: Prof.dr. G.R. de Snoo

He is said to be one of the greatest living statisticians. Bradley Efron gave a lecture in Marekerk and opened LUXs, the Leiden University Center for Statistical Science, the first university statistics centre in the Netherlands.

As of November 1st, Peter Grünwald has been appointed professor Statistical learning on a new chair hosted by both the Mathematical Institute and the Leiden Institute for Advanced Computer Science (LIACS).

The aim of this project is to determine in which cases uncertainty statements resulting from a Bayesian statistical analysis can be trusted.

In a recent TEDx Flanders event “Statistical Errors in Court”, Statistical Scientist Richard Gill speaks about the case of Lucia de Berk, a nurse found guilty of several murders based largely on statistics.

‘Statistics? I hated that hard subject in school’, statistician Sanne Willems is often told. And that is a pity, she thinks, because statistics doesn’t necessarily have to be difficult. Together with two former fellow students, she set up a Statistics Communication section for good communication on…

Data science and statistics are closely linked, says Spinoza laureate and Stochastics professor Aad van der Vaart. We talk with him about the big data hype, genome research and collaboration with other disciplines. ‘Statistics helps wherever data is not perfect.’

Marta Fiocco, professor in the Mathematical Institute, has received a grant for analysing data on chemotherapy in children suffering from leukaemia. The work involves developing and applying new statistical methods that will help determining the optimal dose of chemotherapy.

On February 15th 2018 former students in Methodology & Statistics (M&S) of Leiden University will share their current and previous professional activities to provide M&S students an insight into their career perspectives.

This September a new Masters Track

How do forensic scientists deal with complex DNA-evidence found at crime scenes? Giulia Cereda developed new statistical models to analyse them. PhD defense 12 January.

Today, CBS launches the Center for Big Data Statistics (CBDS), a cooperation of an unprecedented scale in the field of Big Data. Leiden University and HumanityX are key partners.

United Nations Global Pulse, an initiative of the UN Secretary-General on big data and AI, recently launched the Data Fellows program. Kevin Duisters, PhD in Statistics at the Mathematical Institute, was selected to take part in its first cohort of eight international students.