Associate Professor Ting Wang

(PhD (Massey University, Dean's List of Exceptional Doctoral Theses);
MSc (graduated 1 year ahead of schedule), BSc (Beijing Normal University))

Office: Science III, room 518
Tel +64 3 479 7773
Email ting.wang@otago.ac.nz

About

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

Teaching responsibilities

My teaching responsibilities include:

• STAT 270 Probability and Inference
• STAT 370 Statistical Inference
• STAT 372 Stochastic Modelling
• STAT 402 Regression Models for Complex Data

Research Interests

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

• 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).

Postdoc opportunities

• Fully funded postdoctoral position in earthquake detection/slow slip detection/statistical modelling of seismic swarms

New PhD and MSc opportunities

• PhD: Detecting seismic swarms using stochastic models
• PhD: Modelling occurrence patterns of slow slip events
• MSc: Time series analysis of geomagnetic storms

Awards

• 2017 University of Otago Early Career Award for Distinction in Research
• 2013 Worsley Early Career Research Award from the New Zealand Statistical Association

Postgraduate students

PhD Students

Current:

• Yiming Ma (co-supervising with: Fabien Montiel)

Completed:

• Jonathan Griffin (Department of Geology) (Primary supervisor: Mark Stirling, Co-supervisor: Matt Gerstenberger)
• Amina Shahzadi (Co-supervisors: Matthew Parry, Mark Bebbington)
• Henry Ndukwe (School of Pharmacy) (Primary supervisor: Prasad Nishtala, Co-supervisors: June Tordoff)
• Emily Kawabata (Massey University) (Primary supervisor: Mark Bebbington, Co-supervisors: Shane Cronin, Gill Jolly)

MSc Students

• Jessica Allen, 2022
• Joel Carman, 2022 (Co-supervisors: Marco Brenna, Mark Bebbington, Shane Cronin)
• Lara Najim, 2022 (Co-supervisor: Matthew Parry)
• Jodie Buckby, 2018 (completed)
• Yunan Wang, 2016 (completed)

Honours and PGDipSci students

• Jessica Allen, 2021
• Joel Carman, 2021
• Willie Huang, 2018
• Jie Kang, 2017
• Qing Ruan, 2017 (Primary supervisor: Tilman Davies)
• Jodie Buckby, 2016
• Yunan Wang, 2015