I completed my BSc and MSc in Mathematical Statistics at Beijing Normal University. During my Master's study, I worked for a seismologist on a summer project to statistically distinguish earthquake signals from background noise in groundwater level data. I was fascinated by the fact that I could apply my statistical skills to solve a real-world problem, which led me to further my studies in New Zealand. After completing my PhD in Statistics and working as a postdoc at Massey University, I joined the University of Otago as a Lecturer in Statistics in 2012. My research field is multidisciplinary centering on the interface of statistics and geophysics. My main focus has been on the development of novel statistical models and their application to real-world problems in geosciences.
Professional Positions:
2021- Associate Professor, University of Otago
2017-2020 Senior Lecturer, University of Otago
2012-2016 Lecturer, University of Otago
2012.7-2012.11 Visiting Research Fellow, Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo
2010-2011 Postdoctoral Fellow, Volcanic Risk Solutions, Massey University
My research interests span across statistical theories and applications, including:
Point process theory
Stochastic models, especially in geophysics
Hidden Markov models and their applications
Survival analysis
My main application areas include modelling earthquakes, slow slip events, geodetic measurements, volcanic eruptions, and more recently geomagnetic storms.
Research Grants
2024-2026 Principal Investigator, Marsden Fund "Modelling the domino effect in complex systems", $712K. (co-Principal Investigator: Boris Baeumer; Associate Investigator: Mark Bebbington)
2022-2025 Principal Investigator, Science Leader, MBIE Smart Ideas, “Forecasting future megaquakes on New Zealand's biggest fault: The Hikurangi subduction zone”, $1M.
2020-2025 Research Aim leader and Key Researcher, MBIE Endeavour Research Program, “Solar Tsunamis: Space-Weather Prediction and Risk Mitigation for New Zealand's Energy Infrastructure", $15M (Leader: Craig Rodger).
2019-2024 Research Aim leader and Key Researcher, MBIE Endeavor Research Programme, “Transitioning Taranaki to a Volcanic Future”, $13M (Leaders: Shane Cronin, University of Auckland; Garry McDonald, Market Economics Ltd.).
2015-2018 Principal Investigator, Marsden Fund Fast-Start "Developing inversion methods for non-stationary thinning of point processes", $300K.
2015-2017 Associate Investigator, Natural Hazards Research Platform contestable grant, “First steps to a national volcano hazard model: Estimation of time varying hazard from New Zealand volcanoes through expert elicitation and Bayesian analogues”, $289K (Principal investigator: Mark Bebbington, Massey University).
Wang, T., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., & Carman, J. (2022). Forecasting eruptions at poorly known volcanoes using analogs and multivariate renewal processes. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2021GL096715. doi: 10.1029/2021GL096715
Journal - Research Article
Stoltz, M., Stoltz, G., Obara, K., Wang, T., & Bryant, D. (2021). Acceleration of hidden Markov model fitting using graphical processing units, with application to low-frequency tremor classification. Computers & Geosciences, 156(104902). doi: 10.1016/j.cageo.2021.104902
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T., Schofield, M., Bebbington, M., & Kiyosugi, K. (2020). Bayesian modelling of marked point processes with incomplete records: Volcanic eruptions. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series C, 69(1), 109-130. doi: 10.1111/rssc.12380
Journal - Research Article
Buckby, J., Wang, T., Zhuang, J., & Obara, K. (2020). Model checking for hidden Markov models. Journal of Computational & Graphical Statistics, 29(4), 859-874. doi: 10.1080/10618600.2020.1743295
Journal - Research Article
Zhuang, J., Wang, T., & Kiyosugi, K. (2020). Detection and replenishment of missing data in marked point processes. Statistica Sinica, 30(4), 2105-2130. doi: 10.5705/ss.202017.0403
Journal - Research Article
Griffin, J. D., Stirling, M. W., & Wang, T. (2020). Periodicity and clustering in the long-term earthquake record. Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2020GL089272. doi: 10.1029/2020GL089272
Journal - Research Article
Lube, G., Breard, E. C. P., Jones, J., Fullard, L., Dufek, J., Cronin, S. J., & Wang, T. (2019). Generation of air lubrication within pyroclastic density currents. Nature Geoscience, 12, 381-386. doi: 10.1038/s41561-019-0338-2
Journal - Research Article
Peng, M., Coutts, D., Wang, T., & Cakmak, Y. O. (2019). Systematic review of olfactory shifts related to obesity. Obesity Reviews, 20, 325-338. doi: 10.1111/obr.12800
Journal - Research Article
Bebbington, M. S., Stirling, M. W., Cronin, S., Wang, T., & Jolly, G. (2018). National-level long-term eruption forecasts by expert elicitation. Bulletin of Volcanology, 80, 56. doi: 10.1007/s00445-018-1230-4
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T., Zhuang, J., Buckby, J., Obara, K., & Tsuruoka, H. (2018). Identifying the recurrence patterns of nonvolcanic tremors using a 2-D hidden Markov model with extra zeros. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123, 6802-6825. doi: 10.1029/2017JB015360
Journal - Research Article
Wang, Y., Wang, T., & Zhaung, J. (2018). Modeling continuous time series with many zeros and an application to earthquakes. Environmetrics, 29(4), e2500. doi: 10.1002/env.2500
Journal - Research Article
Stirling, M., Bebbington, M., Brenna, M., Cronin, S., Christophersen, A., Deligne, N., … Wang, T., White, J. D. L., … Wilson, T. (2017). Conceptual development of a National Volcanic Hazard Model for New Zealand. Frontiers in Earth Science, 5, 51. doi: 10.3389/feart.2017.00051
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T., Zhuang, J., Obara, K., & Tsuruoka, H. (2017). Hidden Markov modelling of sparse time series from non-volcanic tremor observations. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series C, 66(4), 691-715. doi: 10.1111/rssc.12194
Journal - Research Article
Zhuang, J., Ogata, Y., & Wang, T. (2017). Data completeness of the Kumamoto earthquake sequence in the JMA catalog and its influence on the estimation of the ETAS parameters. Earth, Planets & Space, 69(1), 36. doi: 10.1186/s40623-017-0614-6
Journal - Research Article
Kawabata, E., Bebbington, M. S., Cronin, S. J., & Wang, T. (2016). Optimal likelihood-based matching of volcanic sources and deposits in the Auckland Volcanic Field. Journal of Volcanology & Geothermal Research, 323, 194-208. doi: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2016.05.004
Journal - Research Article
Ndukwe, H. C., Nishtala, P. S., Wang, T., & Tordoff, J. M. (2016). Quality use of antipsychotic medicines in residential aged care facilities in New Zealand. Journal of Primary Health Care, 8(4), 335-343. doi: 10.1071/HC15054
Journal - Research Article
Ndukwe, H. C., Wang, T., Tordoff, J. M., Croucher, M. J., & Nishtala, P. S. (2016). Geographic variation in psychotropic drug utilisation among older people in New Zealand. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 35(4), 242-248. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12298
Journal - Research Article
Williams, J. N., Toy, V. G., Massiot, C., McNamara, D. D., & Wang, T. (2016). Damaged beyond repair? Characterising the damage zone of a fault late in its interseismic cycle, the Alpine Fault, New Zealand. Journal of Structural Geology, 90, 76-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2016.07.006
Journal - Research Article
Kawabata, E., Cronin, S. J., Bebbington, M. S., Moufti, M. R. H., El-Masry, N., & Wang, T. (2015). Identifying multiple eruption phases from a compound tephra blanket: An example of the AD1256 Al-Madinah eruption, Saudi Arabia. Bulletin of Volcanology, 77, 6. doi: 10.1007/s00445-014-0890-y
Journal - Research Article
Kiyosugi, K., Connor, C., Sparks, R. S. J., Crossweller, H. S., Brown, S. K., Siebert, L., Wang, T., & Takarada, S. (2015). How many explosive eruptions are missing from the geologic record? Analysis of the quaternary record of large magnitude explosive eruptions in Japan. Journal of Applied Volcanology, 4, 17. doi: 10.1186/s13617-015-0035-9
Journal - Research Article
Zheng, H., Li, Y., Chen, J. M., Wang, T., Huang, Q., Huang, W. X., … Jiang, F. (2015). A global carbon assimilation system based on a dual optimization method. Biogeosciences, 12(4), 1131-1150. doi: 10.5194/bg-12-1131-2015
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T., & Bebbington, M. S. (2015). Estimating the likelihood of volcanic eruptions with incomplete eruption records. Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. V33D-3145. Retrieved from https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/meetingapp.cgi/Home/0
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Williams, J. N., Toy, V., Massiot, C., McNamara, D. D., & Wang, T. (2015). Quantitative characterisation of fracturing around the damage zone surrounding New Zealand's Alpine Fault using X-ray CT scans of DFDP-1 core. Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. T23D-2989. Retrieved from https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/meetingapp.cgi/Home/0
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Ndukwe, H. C., Tordoff, J. M., Wang, T., & Nishtala, P. S. (2014). Psychotropic medicine utilization in older people in New Zealand from 2005 to 2013. Drugs & Aging, 31(10), 755-768. doi: 10.1007/s40266-014-0205-1
Journal - Research Article
Nishtala, P. S., Narayan, S. W., Wang, T., & Hilmer, S. N. (2014). Associations of drug burden index with falls, general practitioner visits, and mortality in older people. Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety, 23(7), 753-758. doi: 10.1002/pds.3624
Journal - Research Article
Zheng, H., Li, Y., Chen, J., Wang, T., Huang, Q., & Sheng, Y. (2014). Applying a dual optimization method to quantify carbon fluxes: Recent progress in carbon flux inversion. Chinese Science Bulletin, 59(2), 222-226. doi: 10.1007/s11434-013-0016-5
Journal - Research Article
Kawabata, E., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., & Wang, T. (2014). Bayesian age reconciliation for the Auckland Volcanic Field. Proceedings of the Australian Statistical Conference in conjunction with the Institute of Mathematical Statistics Annual Meeting. Retrieved from http://ims-asc2014.com/program/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Ndukwe, H. C., Tordoff, J. M., Wang, T., & Nishtala, P. S. (2014). Psychotropic drug utilisation in older people in New Zealand from 2005 to 2013. Proceedings of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT) and the Molecular Pharmacology of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (MPGPCR) Joint Scientific Meeting. (pp. 16). Retrieved from http://www.asceptasm.com/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Nishtala, P. S., Narayan, S. W., Wang, T., & Hilmer, S. N. (2014). Associations of drug burden index with falls, general practitioner visits, and mortality in older people. Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety, 23(Suppl. 1), (pp. 126). doi: 10.1002/pds.3701
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Deaker, L., Harraway, J., Wang, T., Parry, M., Schofield, M., Cox, N., & Davie, G. (2014, August). Where is Statistics heading? What should we be doing to future proof the profession? Invited presentation at the Box Plot II Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Kawabata, E., Bebbington, M. S., Cronin, S. J., & Wang, T. (2013). Modeling thickness variability in tephra deposition. Bulletin of Volcanology, 75(8), 738. doi: 10.1007/s00445-013-0738-x
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T., & Bebbington, M. (2013). Identifying anomalous signals in GPS data using HMMs: An increased likelihood of earthquakes? Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, 58, 27-44. doi: 10.1016/j.csda.2011.09.019
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T., & Bebbington, M. (2013). Robust estimation for the Weibull process applied to eruption records. Mathematical Geosciences, 45(7), 851-872. doi: 10.1007/s11004-013-9461-6
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T., Zhuang, J., Kato, T., & Bebbington, M. (2013). Assessing the potential improvement in short-term earthquake forecasts from incorporation of GPS data. Geophysical Research Letters, 40(11), 2631-2635. doi: 10.1002/grl.50554
Journal - Research Article
Kawabata, E., Bebbington, M. S., Cronin, S. J., & Wang, T. (2013). Modelling thickness variability in tephra deposition. Proceedings of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) Scientific Assembly. Retrieved from http://www.kazan.or.jp/iavcei2013/index.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Kawabata, E., Bebbington, M. S., Cronin, S. J., Moufti, R., & Wang, T. (2013). Multi-vent/lobe tephra deposition from the 1256 Al-Madinah eruption, Saudi Arabia. Proceedings of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) Scientific Assembly. Retrieved from http://www.kazan.or.jp/iavcei2013/index.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Kawabata, E., Bebbington, M., Cronin, S., & Wang, T. (2013). Bayesian age reconciliation for the Auckland volcanic field. Proceedings of the Joint New Zealand Statistical Association (NZSA) and Operations Research Society of New Zealand (ORSNZ) Conference: Analytics for a Changing World: From Data to Decisions. (pp. 64). Retrieved from https://secure.orsnz.org.nz/conf47/index.php
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Ndukwe, H. C., Tordoff, J. M., Wang, T., & Nishtala, P. S. (2013). Utilisation of psychotropic medicines in older people in New Zealand from 2005 to 2011. Proceedings of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA) Conference. Retrieved from http://apsa-online.org/home.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Wang, T., & Bebbington, M. (2013). Incompletely observed point processes in time: An application to volcanic eruption records. Proceedings of the Joint New Zealand Statistical Association (NZSA) and Operations Research Society of New Zealand (ORSNZ) Conference: Analytics for a Changing World: From Data to Decisions. (pp. 55). Retrieved from https://secure.orsnz.org.nz/conf47/index.php
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Wang, T., Zhuang, J., Kato, T., & Bebbington, M. (2013). Assessing the potential improvement in short-term earthquake forecasts from incorporation of GPS data. Proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Statistical Seismology. Retrieved from http://geophy.pku.edu.cn/statsei8/file/statsei8_program.pdf
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Wang, T., & Bebbington, M. (2012). Estimating the likelihood of an eruption from a volcano with missing onsets in its record. Journal of Volcanology & Geothermal Research, 243-244, 14-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.06.032
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T., Bebbington, M., & Harte, D. (2012). Markov-modulated Hawkes process with stepwise decay. Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 64(3), 521-544. doi: 10.1007/s10463-010-0320-7
Journal - Research Article
Bebbington, M., Wang, T., & Harte, D. (2012). A Hidden Markov Model for the earthquake cycle. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Statistical Modeling and Real-time Probability Forecasting for Earthquakes. (pp. 3). Retrieved from http://bemlar.ism.ac.jp/sympo/all-abstract_merged-3-v2.pdf
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Wang, T., Zhuang, J., & Kato, T. (2012, October). Exploratory analysis of earthquake precursory information in GPS measurements. Verbal presentation at the Seismological Society of Japan Fall Meeting, Hakodata City, Japan.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Wang, T., Bebbington, M., & Harte, D. (2011). Extracting coseismic signals from groundwater level. Mathematical Geosciences, 43, 799-817. doi: 10.1007/s11004-011-9356-3
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T., & Bebbington, M. (2011, June-July). Robust estimation for the Weibull process applied to eruption records. Poster session presented at the XXV International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) General Assembly: Earth on the Edge: Science for a Sustainable Planet, Melbourne, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Wang, T., Bebbington, M., & Harte, D. (2011, June-July). Investigation of seismicity rate using Markov-modulated Hawkes process with stepwise decay. Verbal presentation at the XXV International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) General Assembly: Earth on the Edge: Science for a Sustainable Planet, Melbourne, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Wang, T., Bebbington, M., & Harte, D. S. (2010). A comparative study of coherence, mutual information and cross-intensity models. International Journal of Information & Systems Sciences, 6(1), 49-60.
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T. (2010, June-July). Markov-modulated Hawkes process with stepwise decay. Verbal presentation at the 61st New Zealand Statistical Association Annual Conference in conjunction with the Statistical Methodologies Symposium, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Wang, T., Bebbington, M. S., & Harte, D. S. (2009). A comparative study of coherence, mutual information and cross-intensity models. In Y. Zhang & J. Liu (Eds.), Advances in Information and Systems Sciences: Network Controls, Signal Processing, and other Mathematical Models and Methods in Engineering and Sciences (Vol. 3, Nos. 1-2). (pp. 484-495). Edmonton, Canada: Institute for Scientific Computing and Information. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Wang, T., & Bebbington, M. S. (2009). Mutual information between GPS measurements and earthquakes. Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. Retrieved from http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm09/program/index.php
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Wang, T. (2009, September). Hidden Markov models and mutual information investigation of possible link between GPS measurements and earthquakes. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Statistical Association Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Wang, T., Bebbington, M., Vere-Jones, D., Harte, D., & Ma, L. (2008, February). Coseismic responses at Tangshan Well for global teleseismics. Poster session presented at the Evision Symposium on Seismogenesis & Earthquake Forecasting, Wellington, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Wang, T. (2008, November). A hidden Markov model investigation of the possible link between GPS measurements. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Mathematics and Statistics Postgraduate (NZMASP) Conference, Whitianga, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Wang, T., Li, Y., & Cui, H. (2007). On weighted randomly trimmed means. Journal of Systems Science & Complexity, 20(1), 47-65. doi: 10.1007/s11424-007-9004-7
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T., Ma, L., Li, Y., & Huang, J. (2006). Limited power Law formula and Omori law. Earthquake Research in China, 22(3), 321-326.
Journal - Research Article
Ma, L., Wang, T., Yin, B., Wang, W., Huang, J., & Zhang, C. (2006). Exploratory statistical analysis with the data of various observations in Tangshan Well. In Y. Ogata, K. Z. Nanjo & T. Iwata (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Statistical Seismology. (pp. 150-155). Institute of Statistical Mathematics. Retrieved from http://www.ism.ac.jp/~ogata/Statsei4/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Wang, T., Ma, L., & Li, Y. (2006). A study on the limited power law model. In Y. Ogata, K. Z. Nanjo & T. Iwata (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Statistical Seismology. (pp. 248-251). Retrieved from http://www.ism.ac.jp/~ogata/Statsei4/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper