Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics
Contact Information
Campus: Fairfax
Building: Nguyen Engineering Building
Room 1709
Mail Stop: 4A7
Biography
Ben Lee’s research interests include (1) computational methods for modeling high-dimensional spatial/Spatiotemporal data; (2) statistical methods and algorithms for calibrating complex computer models; and (3) interdisciplinary research in the environmental sciences.
Lee's most exciting project was calibrating a hydrological computer model on flash floods and inland flooding in central Pennsylvania. His research goals included finding out how global warming affects the severity of inland floods and how those projections affect flood zones and insurance. So, he designed a hydrological computer model to project future inland flooding hazards. To aid him in his research, he studied data on the streamflow heights (water levels) in Selinsgrove, PA, and temperature inputs from high-quality climate models. He analyzed his data using the Sequential Monte Carlo to calibrate hydrological models and further assessed future hazards and risks based on climate change scenarios.
He teaches survival analysis (STAT668) and alternative regression methods (STAT676) for the department. He's involved in many organizations such as student seminar co-chair, faculty advisor to the graduate student association, and liaison to the National Institute of Statistical Science (NISS).
Degrees
- PhD, Statistics, Pennsylvania State University, 2020