Congratulations to all of the spring 2025 graduates of the Department of Statistics!
The hundreds of new graduates from across academic programs in the Department of Statistics are poised for impactful careers harnessing statistics and data science to benefit organizations and society.
Below you’ll meet a few outstanding new graduates of our department, learn about what made their time at UW–Madison special, and hear about their exciting plans for the future.
Harshet Anand: BS Data Science, BS Computer Science
Harshet Anand has made the most of his undergraduate years at UW–Madison. As a Data Science Peer Mentor, he has helped peers understand the nuances of data science and supported them in their academic endeavors. Anand also completed a data analytics internship with the Badger volleyball team, working extensively with match data using Python and R and extracting valuable insights that directly informed the team’s game plans.
With multiple internships under his belt, Anand is ready to leverage his skills outside the classroom as he seeks full-time data or computing-related roles after graduation. “I hope to use data and technology to uncover patterns, solve problems, and create meaningful solutions in the fields I care about,” he said.
What peers said:
“Harshet has a diverse range of experiences which makes it so fun to have a conversation with him. Whether it’s interning for the volleyball team or an insurance company or working with a business consulting firm or even working as a data science peer mentor, he has a range of work experiences which makes his background unique.”
Albert Dorador: PhD Statistics
When Albert Dorador took the course STAT 761, Decision Trees for Multivariate Analysis, he didn’t know it would inspire his research focus for the remainder of his PhD program. But that’s exactly what happened. Taught by Professor Wei-Yin Loh, the course “had such a lasting impact on me that decision trees became the focus of my current research,” Dorador said.
“What I particularly enjoy about working in this area is how it connects to all the core topics of Statistics and Statistical Learning – including inference, testing, optimization, and algorithm design – and how it can be applied to a wide range of problems,” Dorador said. He is particularly proud of a model he created called TRUST (Transparent, Robust and Ultra-sparse Trees) designed to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to solve statistical problems.
“After graduation, my goal is to continue developing innovative and trustworthy AI tools that empower users in high-stakes domains (e.g. healthcare, finance, public policy) to stop choosing between accuracy and interpretability – and, in doing so, help make a positive impact on society,” Dorador said.
Alex Hayes: PhD Statistics
During his time on campus, Alex Hayes helped develop the widely used R package Tidyverse, a suite of coding tools to make data science tasks easier and more efficient. A researcher at the intersection of statistics and economics, Hayes also recently won a Best Student Paper award in the Business and Economics section of the American Statistical Association.
Hayes expressed appreciation for those who influenced his PhD journey: “The entire department has been wonderfully supportive of me. I’m especially grateful to my advisors Keith Levin and Karl Rohe for their encouragement and mentorship, to all the faculty members who shared their wisdom with me and answered my questions, and to the administrative staff for helping navigate the university.”
Next up for Hayes is a postdoctoral research position in Economics at Stanford University. Beginning in September 2026, he will join Oregon State University as an Assistant Professor in Statistics.
Niko Klekas: BS Statistics, BS Data Science
Niko Klekas has served as president of the UW–Madison chapter of Biokind, a student organization dedicated to helping healthcare nonprofits through data science and statistical methods. In addition, he has excelled as a tutor for the Center for Academic Excellence at the College of Letters & Science, helping other students grasp statistical concepts and their applications. With his leadership experience and academic success, Klekas is sure to be an asset for any organization he joins.
What peers said:
“What stands out to me about Niko is that he goes above and beyond to help others in spite of his busy schedule. Overall, his dedication to his club and his work is inspiring; he truly embodies what it means to be a Badger.”
Francisco Mandujano-Reyes: PhD Statistics
Since arriving at UW–Madison in 2020, Francisco Mandujano-Reyes has completed multiple data science internships, including at Microsoft and Walmart. As a PhD student, he has also taught courses and conducted research at the intersection of machine learning and environmental science.
Mandujano-Reyes expressed gratitude to his advisor, Professor Jun Zhu, for her guidance. “Working with Prof. Zhu was a great opportunity to gain experience in collaborative research, which I believe is key to becoming a great statistician,” he said. “Interacting with other students in the Statistics Department also gave me a broad perspective on the many ways statisticians and data scientists can make an impact in the world,” he added.
After graduation, Mandujano-Reyes will take on a full-time role as a Data Scientist at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington.
Emili Robles: BS Data Science, BS Computer Science
Emili Robles has connections to all three departments in the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences—she is a double major in Computer Sciences and Data Science, and her research mentor is Information School Assistant Professor Corey Jackson. Robles recently presented research conducted with Jackson, entitled “AI fairness and its relationship to cultural contexts”, at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research, the largest conference for undergraduate researchers in the world.
Looking ahead, Robles said she is “committed to bridging the gap in tech spaces for future Latinas. I love working with data in ways that support communities and inform better, more inclusive decisions.”
Robles will soon be moving to Seattle for a role as a Software Engineer with Starbucks.
What peers said:
“Emili is not only a proud Wisconsin Badger, but a shining star in our community. She has worked to stand out from her peers by participating in research, supporting the greater Wisconsin community, and promoting minority inclusion.”
Yuqing Wang: BS Data Science, BS Computer Science
Not many undergraduates accrue as much research experience as Yuqing Wang has at UW–Madison. With stints at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, as well as the People and Robots Laboratory and the madAbility lab within the Computer Sciences Department, where she helped design augmented reality (AR) tools to support people living with OCD, blending human-centered research with emerging technology. In addition, she co-founded a new app, CampusConnect, that helps students discover campus events, student org activities, academic workshops and more, all in one digital location.
Wang will soon begin her studies toward an MS in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University.
What peers said:
“Through her work at the madAbility Lab, Yuqing Beyond her technical skills, Yuqing is a thoughtful collaborator, a reliable team player, and someone with empathy and purpose who proactively identifies problems and builds creative, impactful solutions.”
Zoë Langhoff Weinstein: BS Data Science, BA Sociology
Zoë Weinstein has made her mark on campus through leadership of student organizations and internships across UW–Madison. As secretary of the data science student org dotData, she organized the popular annual MadData hackathon and oversaw communication and collaboration between the club’s board and its members.
Weinstein has completed data-driven internships with CNA Insurance and the Wisconsin School of Business, and will be moving to Chicago this summer for a full-time Tech Rotational role with CNA.
What peers said:
“Zoë is extremely hard-working and has created a real name for herself in the data science community at UW–Madison.”
Julia Woods: BS Statistics, BS Data Science
As a Statistics and Data Science double major, Julia Woods has enjoyed taking lessons from statistics courses and applying them to real-world challenges, including through research at the GLUE (Global Land Use and Environment) Lab and the Dinh Laboratory for cancer research.
“This has allowed me to grow holistically, moving beyond the sometimes abstract concepts in lecture and strengthening my communication and interpersonal skills,” Woods said.
She added, “I found my first research assistant position through the research quick talks hosted by the Statistics department, and I appreciate the department hosting this as I don’t know if I would have joined research as early otherwise.”
Post-graduation, Woods will be returning to PwC in Chicago, where she previously worked as a Data Analytics & AI Consulting Intern.
Congratulations, graduates!
Learn more about our undergraduate and graduate programs.