Kosorok honored with George W. Snedecor Award

Michael R. Kosorok, PhD, W. R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of biostatistics and professor of statistics and operations research, has been named the 2023 recipient of the George W. Snedecor Award from the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies (COPSS).

The award was given in recognition of Kosorok’s foundational, creative and original contributions to mathematical statistics; methodological developments in empirical processes and machine learning; advancement of precision health; and mentoring of students, postdocs and junior faculty.

This award, established in 1976, honors an individual who was instrumental in the development of statistical theory in biometry. The Snedecor Award was established in 1976 and is awarded bi-annually. The award is for a noteworthy publication in biometry within three years of the date of the award. The award, given biennially (odd years) since 1991, consists of a plaque and a cash honorarium and is presented at the Joint Statistical Meetings.

“I am surprised and humbled by the award and grateful,” Kosorok said.

The award is named for Dr. George W. Snedecor, who was a pioneer in improving the quality of scientific methods concerning the use of statistical methodology. He spent his career at Iowa State University (ISU), becoming the first director of the Statistical Laboratory in 1933. He worked in experimental design and sampling and was instrumental in the use of statistical methods. His book, Statistical Methods, went to seven editions and was translated into nine languages.

Learn more about the award