Jeffrey S. Rosenthal
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey S. Rosenthal is an award-winning Canadian
statistician
and author. He is a professor in the University of Toronto
's Department of Statistics
. He received the CRM
-SSC Prize in 2006 and the COPSS Presidents' Award
in 2007. He has written numerous research papers about the theory of Markov chain Monte Carlo
and other statistical computation algorithms, many joint with Gareth O. Roberts
. He won an Outstanding Teaching Award in 1998 and was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics
in 2005.
In 2005 Rosenthal wrote a book for the general public, Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Probabilities, which was a bestseller in Canada and has been published in nine languages. He has also written a graduate textbook on probability theory and co-authored an undergraduate textbook on probability and statistics. He has been interviewed by the media about such diverse topics as crime statistics, pedestrian deaths, gambling probabilities, and television game shows, and has appeared on William Shatner's Weird or What?.
In 2006 Rosenthal did the statistical analysis used by The Fifth Estate
to expose the Ontario lottery retailer fraud scandal, which was debated in the Ontario
provincial legislature. In 2010 his research with Albert H. Yoon about the U.S. Supreme Court
was quoted in the New York Times. He has also written about the Monty Hall problem.
Rosenthal graduated from Woburn Collegiate Institute
in 1984, received his B.Sc. (in mathematics, physics, and computer science) from the University of Toronto
in 1988, and received his Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard University
in 1992 (supervised by Persi Diaconis
). He also performs music
and improvisational comedy
, including at The Bad Dog Theatre Company
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
statistician
Statistician
A statistician is someone who works with theoretical or applied statistics. The profession exists in both the private and public sectors. The core of that work is to measure, interpret, and describe the world and human activity patterns within it...
and author. He is a professor in the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
's Department of Statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
. He received the CRM
Centre de Recherches Mathématiques
The Centre de Recherches Mathématiques is the first mathematical research institute in Canada. It was founded in 1969, and was recognized as a national research center for the mathematical sciences in 1984....
-SSC Prize in 2006 and the COPSS Presidents' Award
COPSS Presidents' Award
The COPSS Presidents' Award is given annually by the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies to a person under the age of 40, in recognition of outstanding contributions to the profession of statistics...
in 2007. He has written numerous research papers about the theory of Markov chain Monte Carlo
Markov chain Monte Carlo
Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are a class of algorithms for sampling from probability distributions based on constructing a Markov chain that has the desired distribution as its equilibrium distribution. The state of the chain after a large number of steps is then used as a sample of the...
and other statistical computation algorithms, many joint with Gareth O. Roberts
Gareth Roberts (statistician)
Gareth O. Roberts is a professor of Statistics in the Department of Statistics and Director of the Centre for Research in Statistical Methodology at the University of Warwick....
. He won an Outstanding Teaching Award in 1998 and was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics
Institute of Mathematical Statistics
The Institute of Mathematical Statistics is an international professional and scholarly society devoted to the development, dissemination, and application of statistics and probability. The Institute currently has about 4,000 members in all parts of the world...
in 2005.
In 2005 Rosenthal wrote a book for the general public, Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Probabilities, which was a bestseller in Canada and has been published in nine languages. He has also written a graduate textbook on probability theory and co-authored an undergraduate textbook on probability and statistics. He has been interviewed by the media about such diverse topics as crime statistics, pedestrian deaths, gambling probabilities, and television game shows, and has appeared on William Shatner's Weird or What?.
In 2006 Rosenthal did the statistical analysis used by The Fifth Estate
The fifth estate
the fifth estate is a Canadian television newsmagazine, which airs on the English language CBC Television network. The name is a play on the fact that the media are sometimes referred to as the Fourth Estate, and was chosen to highlight the program's determination to go beyond everyday news into...
to expose the Ontario lottery retailer fraud scandal, which was debated in the Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
provincial legislature. In 2010 his research with Albert H. Yoon about the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
was quoted in the New York Times. He has also written about the Monty Hall problem.
Rosenthal graduated from Woburn Collegiate Institute
Woburn Collegiate Institute
Woburn Collegiate Institute is a non-semestered secondary school on Ellesmere Road in the Scarborough district of Toronto. Its motto is Let the Zeal for Learning Flourish.- History :...
in 1984, received his B.Sc. (in mathematics, physics, and computer science) from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1988, and received his Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1992 (supervised by Persi Diaconis
Persi Diaconis
Persi Warren Diaconis is an American mathematician and former professional magician. He is the Mary V. Sunseri Professor of Statistics and Mathematics at Stanford University....
). He also performs music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and improvisational comedy
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
, including at The Bad Dog Theatre Company
The Bad Dog Theatre Company
The Bad Dog Theatre Company is an improvisational theatre company based in Toronto, Canada, and established in 2003. The theatre is eclectic and broad in its production of shows, with a focus on short-form improv, but it has branched out to include the work of other schools of thought in...
.