ISU-NISS Statistics in AI Conference

Conference on Statistics in AI at Iowa State University

Dates: September 12–14, 2025
Location: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Hosted by: Iowa State University, Department of Statistics and NISS

The Conference on Statistics in AI at Iowa State University is a unique gathering of statisticians, data scientists, and AI researchers focused on the intersection of statistical methods and modern artificial intelligence. This event will kick off a broader initiative that includes a semester-long seminar series and year-long working groups, fostering continued collaboration and innovation.

Register for Pre-Conference Workshop: "Emerging Ideas and Applications in Reinforcement Learning"

A Pre-Conference Workshop has been organized by NISS New Researchers Network. This is an additional registration to the conference. If you would like to attend, please sign up using the button below! 

Date: September 12, 2025 | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Abstract: Reinforcement learning (RL) is the subfield of machine learning focused on optimal sequential decision making under uncertainty. RL has been used to obtain super-human performance in games such as Chess and Go and is a primary tool for building and refining recommender systems in e-commerce. Historically, RL has been applied in settings with high data volume and low cost of experimentation. Recently, there is tremendous interest in applying RL in settings with low data volume and high cost of experimentation such as healthcare, site selection, and assortment selection. In such problems, statistical efficiency is paramount. In this workshop we will introduce key concepts in statistical RL including estimation and inference. We will also discuss emerging problems and directions for future research. 

List of Confirmed Conference Speakers

Bryon Aragam, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
Trent D Buskirk, Old Dominion University, School of Data Science and Department of Epi, Bio and Environmental Health
Serina Chang, University of California Berkeley, EECS and Computational Precision Health
Yang Chen, University of Michigan, Statistics
Moo Chung,  University of Wisconsin-Madison, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics
Alex Hagen, Pacific Northwest National Lab
Heike Hofmann, CSAFE/University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Statistics
Eric Laber, Duke, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
Lan Luo, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Yang Ni, Texas A&M University, Statistics
Chris Saunders, South Dakota State University, Statistics
Shubhanshu Shekhar, University of Michigan, EECS
Lan Wang, University of Miami, Management Science
Christopher K. Wikle, University of Missouri, Statistics
Lei Zou, Texas A&M University, Geography

Join Us

Whether you're an established researcher or just beginning your career, this conference offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and lead at the intersection of statistics and AI.

Dates: September 12–14, 2025
Location: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

Organizers

Organized by a committee chaired by Zhengyuan Zhu, with members Lynna Chu, Chunlin Li, and Danica Ommen, the conference aims to explore how statistical thinking shapes the future of AI across a variety of impactful domains.