Hello and welcome to my website!
My name is Haema Nilakanta (pronounced: “hey-ma” “kneel-uh-kan-ta”). I’m a statistician and currently a Principal Data Scientist at Target Corporation in the Target Tech division. I completed my PhD in statistics at the University of Minnesota’s School of Statistics under Professor Galin Jones. My dissertation was on: Output Analysis of Monte Carlo Methods with Applications to Networks and Functional Approximation.
A picture of me that looks semi-professional
Research Interests
My research focus is in output analysis of Monte Carlo methods with applications in estimating network properties and approximating functions. I am also more broadly interested in statistical computing methods, measuring reliability in computational methods, and its applications to public health and population sciences.
I also have interests in forecasting problems, applied Bayesian methodology, causal inference, and recommender systems.
Professional Resources
-
“Being Bilingual: Coding in Both R and Python” invited conference talk for noRth 2020. A recording of the presentation is viewable here with the talk materials.
-
“Shine with Shiny: An Introduction to R Shiny” workshop materials from the 2019 UMN Day of Data with co-author Sakshi Arya, PhD
-
“An Introduction to Developing R Packages” presentation materials from the 2017 ASA Women in Statistics and Data Science conference with co-authors Christina Knudson, PhD and Lindsey R. Dietz, PhD.
Publications
-
Nilakanta, H. and Jones, G.L. (2020) Monte Carlo Simulation. In Research Methods Foundation Project. Sage.
-
Nilakanta, H. (2020) Output Analysis of Monte Carlo Methods with Applications to Networks and Functional Approximation. University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy.
-
Nilakanta, H., Almquist, Z.W., and Jones, G.L. (2019) Ensuring Reliable Monte Carlo Estimates of Network Properties, Arxiv.
-
Baker, M.R., Nguyen-Feng, V.N., Nilakanta, H., and Frazier, P.A. (2019) Childhood Maltreatment Predicts Daily Stressor Exposure in College Students, but not Perceived Stress or Stress Reactivity, Journal of Counseling Psychology
-
Nilakanta, H., Drews, K.L., Firrell, S., Foulkes, M.A. and Jablonski, K.A. (2014). A review of software for analyzing molecular sequences, BMC Research Notes
Education
- Ph.D., Statistics, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 2020
- M.S., Statistics, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 2018
- Masters Program in Biostatistics (left for full-time PhD), George Washington University, 2012
- B.S., Mathematics Magna Cum Laude, Iowa State University, 2011
Contact
Email: haema.nilakanta@gmail.com
LinkedIn: My LinkedIN profile