Dr. Elias Krainski Leads INLA Course in Brazil
Demonstrating our research group’s ongoing commitment to international collaboration and knowledge sharing, Dr. Elias Krainski recently concluded a successful five-day online short course on advanced statistical modelling for two premier Brazilian institutions: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) and Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR).
About
A Full-Circle Moment
The intensive course was more than just a teaching engagement; it was a virtual homecoming. Dr. Krainski earned his Master’s degree at UFMG and previously served as a lecturer at UFPR. Returning to these prestigious institutions to train the next generation of researchers highlights both his distinguished career trajectory and our group’s expanding global footprint. In addition, Dr. Krainski was also invited to serve on two PhD examination committees at each university.
Expanding the Reach of INLA Methodology
Throughout the week, Dr. Krainski provided deep dives into INLA and Gaussian Markov Random Field (GMRF) models, alongside practical training on the INLAjoint and INLAspacetime packages. Importantly, he also showcased our group's latest methodological innovations, giving attendees an exclusive look at his recent work on modeling correlation matrices based on graphs using the newly developed `graphpcor` R package.
Partnering with Statistical Leaders
The sessions at UFMG were organized at the invitation of Dr. Marcos Prates. Dr. Prates is an Associate Professor and the current Director of the Data Science undergraduate program at UFMG. As a leading voice in Bayesian and spatial statistics—and the recent President of the Brazilian Statistical Association (2020-2022)—his invitation underscores the high regard the international statistical community holds for Dr. Krainski’s expertise.
