Yagmur Yavuz Ozdemir, MsC
Short Bio
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Statistics and Data Science at Auburn University, working under the supervision of Dr. Roberto Molinari. My research focuses on model and feature selection, with an emphasis on network analysis and resampling-based methods. She has been working on SWAG, a method for sparse model selection, and is currently formalizing a statistical test to assess its performance.
Education
Bachelor Bogazici University 2018
Masters in Science Galatasaray University 2020
Professional Experience
I have extensive teaching experience across mathematics and statistics, serving as both instructor of record and teaching assistant at Auburn University. My teaching has included courses ranging from precalculus and calculus to probability and statistics, with an emphasis on active learning and student engagement. I have also taught and assisted in courses at Istanbul Bilgi University and Galatasaray University, and tutored high school students in SAT and IB exams. Beyond academia, I gained professional experience in project coordination, human resources, and finance through internships in Istanbul.
Innovation
My research focuses on multi-model inference, model and feature selection, and network analysis. I have been working on SWAG (Sparse Wrapper Algorithm), a method for sparse model selection, and am currently formalizing a statistical test to evaluate its performance. I have also collaborated on interdisciplinary projects, including applications of statistical methods to neuroimaging data for ADHD diagnosis and studies on the impact of sleep timing on childhood epigenetics. My work has been published in the Journal of Data Science and presented at leading conferences such as the Joint Statistical Meetings, SDSS, and SIAM MDS.
Engagement
I am actively engaged in outreach and science communication. I have volunteered as a judge for the Alabama Science Olympiad in events such as Air Trajectory and Codebusters. I contributed to the Mathematics Solidarity Platform, where I taught introductory calculus, and participated in EmpowHER 2023 as an exhibitor, sharing the Monty Hall Problem with a broader audience. Through these activities, I aim to make mathematics and statistics more accessible and inspiring for students and the community.
