Zicklin Prof Wins National Science Foundation Grant to Track Patterns in Data
August 22, 2025Despite a challenging funding environment, Associate Professor Chung Eun Lee (Paul H. Chook Department of Information Systems and Statistics) has won a National Science Foundation grant for her project, entitled “Novel Dependence Metrics in Spectral Analysis for Modern Time Series Data.”
Thanks to advancements in technology and computing, vast amounts of time-based data are being created in fields from finance to medicine to climate science. But current methods of analyzing such data are not sophisticated enough to detect patterns. This limitation restricts our ability to detect early disease markers, predict economic trends, or identify financial risks.
Dr. Lee’s project, for which she received upwards of $245,000, aims to create more advanced methods for data analysis. “This project will develop advanced statistical tools capable of analyzing complex modern time series data to uncover hidden signals that could lead to better medical diagnoses, economic patterns that inform policy decisions, and financial indicators that enhance market stability,” Lee said.
“This research directly supports the National Science Foundation’s mission to advance national health, prosperity, and welfare through scientific progress, while also providing new computational tools that will benefit researchers across multiple disciplines and enhance educational opportunities in data science and statistical modeling,” she added.
Lee says that the grant money will also enable her to train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students engaged in the project, and to foster intellectual exchange by inviting leading experts in relevant fields to collaborate with her. Finally, funding will cover travel expenses to conferences where she can present her work and thereby enhance the Zicklin School’s visibility, both nationally and internationally.