News
- 3 NeurIPS 2026 papers:
- New TMLR paper: Keep Your Boundaries: From Finite Elements to Simplicial Convolution
- New ONR contract: "Topological Meta-Learning via Anchors for Resilience in Multi-Domain Networks"
Recent Research Interests
My current research agenda is largely inspired by the power of combining the mathematical formalism of topology and geometry with statistical inference to rigorously address fundamental challenges in data science and artificial intelligence (AI), including deep learning for non-Euclidean data such as graphs and manifolds, topological representation learning, topology-driven generative AI, and uncertainty quantification (UQ) in AI.
My work spans applications in forecasting, anomaly detection, digital twins, and risk analytics in environmental processes, cyber-physical systems, healthcare, and blockchains.
Selected Recent Publications
BOOK
Akcora, C., Kantarcioglu, M., and Gel, Y. R.
Blockchain: Fundamentals, Data Structures and
Algorithms for Data Science.
Cambridge University Press, 2026.
Large Language Models as Topological Thinkers:
A Benchmark on Graph Persistent Homology.
joint with H. Li, H. Wan, Y. Huang, Y. Chen,
and H. Jiang.
ICML, 2026.
Adversarial Attacks and Robust Training for
Hypergraph Neural Networks.
joint with N. A. Arafat, D. Basu, and D. Rawat.
ICML, 2026.
TEN-DM: Topology-Enhanced Diffusion Model
for Spatio-Temporal Event Prediction.
joint with Y. Liu, K. Wang, C. Yang, and Y. Chen.
ICLR, 2026.
Integrating Statistical Data Depth and Topological Methods
for Anomaly Detection in Weighted Dynamic Networks.
joint with A. Dey.
Technometrics, 2026.
Community detection robustness of graph neural networks.
joint with J. Goel, P. Moriano, and R. Kannan.
Physical Review Research, 2026.
Tensor Graphical Lasso for Cryptocurrency Portfolio Analytics.
joint with J. Goel, D. Ofori-Boateng, and I. Cribben.
Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A, 2026.
🏆 2025 Best Paper Award · ASA Section on Risk Analytics
Current External Research Funding
2026–2030
Topological Meta-Learning via Anchors
for Resilience in Multi-Domain Networks
ONR Artificial Intelligence Directed Energy (AI & DE)
·
Role: PI; joint with UT Dallas and UBuffalo
2025–2028
Collaborative Research: FDT-BioTech: Digital Twins &
with Statistical Topological Learning of Periodontal Diseases
National Science Foundation DMS-2533984
·
Role: PI; joint with UC Riverside
2025–2030
LEADS: LEarning-Accelerated Domain Science
Department of Energy SciML (subcontract from PNNL)
·
Role: PI
2025–2027
RAPID: Cyberinfrastructure Platform LAFireKG:
Learning from Los Angeles Fires with Knowledge Graphs,
Remote Sensing, and Large Language Models
National Science Foundation OAC 2530471
·
Role: PI; joint with UC Riverside
Recent Teaching Activity
STAT 4734 — Statistical Methods for Digital Twins,
Virginia Tech
STAT 5504 — Multivariate Methods,
Virginia Tech
Honors and Awards
- 2026 Okinawa Institute of Technology (OIST) Distinguished Visitor Research Fellowship , Japan
-
2023 NSF Director’s Award for Superior Accomplishment
Citation
“For exceptional leadership and collaboration in designing and implementing an innovative NSF-led multilateral funding opportunity, advancing use-inspired research to solve societal challenges and grow the impact of NSF’s international partnerships.” - 2023 NSF Staff Recognition Award (StaRS) for Outstanding Contributions in FY23
- 2022 NSF Staff Recognition Award (StaRS) for Outstanding Contributions in FY22
- 2018 American Statistical Association (ASA) Section on Statistics and the Environment Distinguished Achievement Medal .
-
2014 Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA)
Citation
“For pioneering research on regularization of weakly dependent processes, innovative approaches for analyzing spatio-temporal data, promoting the introduction of modern statistical methodologies in law, public policy, and the environmental sciences, championing the equality of women and other underrepresented groups in the mathematical and physical sciences.” -
2014 International Environmetrics Society (TIES)
Abdel El-Shaarawi Young Researcher’s Award
Citation
“For sustained and significant methodological contributions to high dimensional inference for temporal and spatial processes, spatio-temporal modeling, and robust nonparametric resampling approaches, for strong impact in areas such as climate change, hydrology, ecology and epidemiology, and for an outstanding professional contribution and outreach.” - 2004 JASA Applications and Case Studies Invited Discussion Paper of the Year at JSM
Service
Professional Service
- Senior Area Chair: NeurIPS 2026, NeurIPS 2025, NeurIPS 2024, NeurIPS 2023
- Senior Area Chair: ICML 2026, ICML 2025, ICML 2024
- Area Chair: AAAI 2027
Editorial Service
- Associate Editor, Transactions on Machine Learning Research
- Associate Editor, Statistica Sinica
- Associate Editor, Electronic Journal of Statistics
Professional Organizations
- 2024–2026 — Chair and Member, Committee on the Karl E. Peace Award for Outstanding Statistical Contributions for the Betterment of Society, American Statistical Association (ASA)
- 2021–2023 — President, International Environmetrics Society (TIES)
- 2021–2022 — Chair and Member, Committee on the Distinguished Achievement Award and Early Investigator Award, ASA Section on Statistics and the Environment (ENVR)
People
Current Postdoctoral Fellows and Visiting Scholars
- Hao Li — Virginia Tech (arriving soon!)
- Aleksei Luchinskii — Virginia Tech
- Bhanu Garg — Virginia Tech
Current Ph.D. Students
- Jaidev Goel — Virginia Tech
Former Ph.D. Students