News

Dr Christian Hennig to speak in the president's invited session at IFCS 2013, Tilburg

Dr Christian Hennig was invited by the president of the International Federation of Classification Societies (IFCS), Iven van Mechelen, to give a presentation on "Measurement of quality in cluster analysis" in the president's invited session at the IFCS 2013 conference in Tilburg, the Netherlands, 15-17 July 2013. Dr Hennig will give further invited presentations on the same topic at the Summer Working Group on Mixture Models, Bologna, 22-26 July and the ISI conference in Hong Kong, 26-30 August. Dr Hennig was also invited to the ERCIM conference 2013 in London, 14-16 December (title to be announced).

Dr Christian Hennig awarded EPRSC standard research grant

Dr Christian Hennig was awarded an EPSRC standard research grant for work on "A multicriterion approach to cluster validation". In this research, Dr Hennig will look at the notoriously difficult problem of estimating the number of clusters from a fresh angle, connecting criteria properly to different research aims. The project includes collaborations with the robust clustering group of the University of Valladolid led by Prof Carlos Matran, the expert for biological species delimitation Dr Bernhard Hausdorf, University of Hamburg, the IFCS cluster benchmarking initiative led by IFCS president Prof Iven van Mechelen, KU Leuven and Dr Hennig's former PhD student Dr Pietro Coretto, University of Salerno.

EPSRC grant for Advanced Stochastic Computation for Inference from Tree, Graph and Network Models

PI: M. De Iorio; CO-I A. Beskos, D. Balding, A. Jasra

The main objective is to develop and characterise principled approximations to complex statistical models.

The research work aims to reduce both the variance of simulation-based estimates, and the computational time of stochastic algorithms. This will facilitate the implementation of stochastic models in real biological applications. The grant will support a postdoctoral researcher for three years.

EPSRC grant funding for Gabriel Brostow, Mark Girolami and Kate Jones (#EP/K015664/1)

Funded by EPSRC for 3 years

ENGAGE: Interactive Machine Learning Accelerating Progress in Science, An Emerging Theme of ICT Research In short, it brings together Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Human-Computer Interaction, and Biodiversity Science to help cope with the global extinction crisis.

The PI's on the project are:
Gabriel Brostow - UCL CS
Mark Girolami - UCL Stats
Kate Jones - UCL Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment Mike Terry - University of Waterloo, CS and ZSL Chair, Ecology and Biodiversity

Our vision is to establish and lead a new theme in ICT research based on Interactive Machine Learning (IML). Our expansion of IML will give scientists and non-ICT specialists unprecedented access to cutting-edge Machine Learning algorithms by providing a humancomputer interface by which they can directly interact with large scale data and computing resources in an intuitive visual environment. In addition, the outcome of this particular project will have a direct transformative impact on the sciences by making it possible for non-programming individuals (scientists), to create systems that semi-automatically detect objects and events in vast quantities of A) audio and B) visual data.

By working together across two parallel, highly interconnected streams of ICT research, we will develop the foundations of statistical methodology, algorithms and systems for IML. As an exemplar, this project partners with world leading scientists grappling with the challenge of analysing enormous quantities of heterogeneous data being generated in Biodiversity Science.

i-like Opening workshop - 31 January 2013, 2:10pm to 5:30pm

Please go to http://www.i-like.org.uk/launch-day-31st-january-2013.html for details of this event.

The day is principally aimed at phd and post doc level, although others are more than welcome to attend as well.

Faculty Member In Machine Learning Or Statistics

The Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit at University College London is looking to recruit a junior or senior level faculty member in machine learning or statistics. We especially seek candidates who work in probabilistic or statistical machine learning.

The closing date for applications is 20 December 2012

For further information, please see www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/vacancies/FacultyJD.pdf

Professor Mark Girolami awarded EPSRC funding to lead UK research network on computational statistic

EPSRC are providing three years of funding to establish and build a UK wide research network on Computational Statistics and Machine Learning. This network will be led by the UCL Centre of Computational Statistics and Machine Learning (www.csml.ucl.ac.uk). Website http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/K009788/1

RSS Ordinary Meeting - Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 5.00 p.m. - How to find an appropriate cluster

The paper “How to find an appropriate clustering for mixed type variables with application to socio-economic stratification” by Christian Hennig (Department of Statistical Science/CSML, University College London, UK) and Tim F. Liao (the University of Illinois, Champaign, USA) will be read at an Ordinary Meeting at the RSS. It will be presented to the Society on Wednesday, November 14th, 2012, at 5 p.m. Information about Ordinary Meetings including a PDF file of the paper can be obtained from the RSS website www.rss.org.uk/preprints. Everybody can controbute to the discussion.

CFP: Two NIPS workshops

NIPS 2012 Workshop on the Confluence between Kernel Methods and Graphical Models
https://sites.google.com/site/kernelgraphical
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This workshop addresses two main research questions: first, how may kernel methods be used to address difficult learning problems for graphical models, such as inference for multi-modal continuous distributions on many variables, and dealing with non-conjugate priors? And second, how might kernel methods be advanced by bringing in concepts from graphical models, for instance by incorporating sophisticated conditional independence structures, latent variables, and prior information?

Submissions due: Sep 26
Notification: Oct 14

NIPS 2012 Workshop on Modern Nonparametric Methods in Machine Learning
https://sites.google.com/site/nips2012modernnonparametric
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Statistical analysis of big, high-dimensional data has become frequent in many scientific fields ranging from biology, genomics and health sciences to astronomy, economics and machine learning. The aim of this workshop is to bring together practitioners, who work on specialized applications, and theoreticians that are interested in providing sound methodology. We hope to advertise recent successes of nonparametric methods in a number of domains, involving large scale high-dimensional problems, and to dismiss the common belief that nonparametric methods are not suitable for dealing with challenges arising from big data.

Submissions due: Sep 16
Notification: Oct 7

CSML Research Network is to be funded

We have just been informed by EPSRC that our proposed CSML Research Network is to be funded. This is really great news for the Computational Statistics and Machine Learning communities in the UK. More details will be released in due course.

Dr Simon Byrne awarded EPSRC Fellowship

Dr Simon Byrne has been awarded a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for his project entitled "Information geometry for Bayesian hierarchical models". This will provide support for three years, with the aim of developing both theoretical understanding of the geometric structure of hierarchical models, as well as practical computational tools to make these models feasible for larger and more complex problems.

Michael Epstein wins Best Poster at the Second Annual CLMS Symposium

Michael Epstein won a prize for Best Poster at the recent Second Annual CLMS Symposium. The symposium included sessions in a variety of interdisciplinary approaches to Life Science problems such as Drug Design, Motion Tracking and Immunology. The UCL Computational Life and Medical Sciences (CLMS) Network supports collaboration, communication and co-operation between the various domains that promote the development of computational life and medical sciences at UCL. The poster can be found at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucbpmep/PhD/CLMS/Poster.pdf

dCSE Funding Awarded To Ben Calderhead and Mark Girolami

Dr Ben Calderhead, Research Fellow in CoMPLEX, and Professor Mark Girolami, Director of CSML, have been awarded dCSE funding from EPSRC and The Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG) to employ a software developer for 1 year for an ambitious plan to develop highly parallelised code implementing differential geometric MCMC statistical methodology for cluster computers in UCL, and for HECToR, the national supercomputer.

Chris Bracegirdle Runner-up for Best Student Paper at ICML

The paper Bayesian Conditional Cointegration by CSML PhD student Chris Bracegirdle and his supervisor David Barber has been selected as runner-up for the best student paper award at the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) 2012.

Larry Wasserman's Blog

Larry Wasserman, who recently visited CSML as the first speaker in the Master Class series, just started a blog, where he will share his Thoughts on Statistics and Machine Learning.

Lecturer in Statistics Ref:1257485

A new post is available, please see: Lecturer in Statistics Ref:1257485

Two New Papers by CSML Members

Two papers of CSML members Prof. Mark Girolami and Dr. Arthur Gretton have recently been published. These two are the first papers to carry the official CSML affiliation.

EPSRC Grants and Fellowships Awarded to CSML Members

Professor Mark Girolami, Director of CSML, has been awarded an EPSRC Established Career Research Fellowship: "Advancing the Geometric Framework for Computational Statistics: Theory, Methodology and Modern Day Applications". Furthermore, three members of CSML have been awarded EPSRC grants supporting their research projects:

CSML on Facebook and Twitter

CSML now has a Facebook page and a Twitter account where news and events are announced. So like CSML on Facebook, follow @uclcsml and spread the word!

Model selection meeting 29th March

The Biritsh and Irish region of the International Biometric Society are holding the meeting: Model selection for genetic and epidemiological data, on 29 March 2012, 1:30PM-5PM in the Manson Lecture theatre, LSHTM.

Cost and Registration: £20 for International Biometric Society-British and Irish region members, £40 for non members and free for student members (paypal payment available or by cheque on site).

For the program or to register go to: http://bir.biometricsociety.org/events/model-selection

CSML Annual Open Members Meeting, May 10th

On May 10th there will be the first annual open meeting of the membership of CSML to help define forward plans and strategy. Please mark your calendar with the following details (see event details or subscribe to the CSML events calendar):

Date: 10th May Time: 12-2pm Location: Wilkins Haldane Room, Wilkins Building

Lunch will be provided from 12 noon. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there!

IT Future of Medicine (ITFoM) to present a “virtual patient” at the FET Flagship Midterm Conference

The IT Future of Medicine (ITFoM) project, involving work by Professor Mark Girolami, is to present a “virtual patient” at the FET Flagship Midterm Conference in Warsaw. The full press release is available here.

Collaboration between ISM and CSML

The Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM) in Tokyo and CSML have signed an agreement to undertake academic and collaboration to develop mutually beneficial, creative and productive scholarly activities in the field of statistical machine learning. Professor Shiro Ikeda from ISM visited UCL this week to officially sign the agreement, here seen with the Dean of MAPS Richard Catlow, Ricardo Silva and Mark Girolami both from CSML. This is an important agreement and opens a number of new developing collaborations between UCL and ISM.

One collaboration currently underway is on the application of kernel methods from machine learning to problems in statistics (hypothesis testing and Bayesian inference), undertaken by Professor Fukumizu at the department of statistical modelling at ISM, and Arthur Gretton at the Gatsby Unit.

New Website

Welcome to the new CSML website. We hope the new structure will make it easier to keep up to date with all the exciting things that are happening at CSML!