Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Welcome to my Homepage! I am Associate Professor in the Department of Biostatistics in the University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Previously, I served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biostatistics at Emory University. My research is sponsored by extramural grants from National Institutes of Mental Health, National Institutes of Aging, and other funding sources.

My research spans Bayesian frameworks, high-dimensional imaging, and integrative data analysis, contributing significantly to personalized medicine and biomedical innovation. Key achievements include scalable Bayesian methods for biological networks, tensor-based imaging models for neuroimaging, and integrative approaches for multi-modal data. In cancer imaging, I developed advanced AI techniques, including novel radiomics and GANs, for early diagnosis and risk prediction. My collaborative efforts have driven translational research in cancer, neurodegeneration, and mental health, culminating in numerous high-impact publications, funded awards, and advancements in bench-to-bedside healthcare initiatives.

I currently have multiple open GRA and postdoc positions available in my Lab - please send me an email (skundu2@mdanderson.org) if interested.

Research Interests

  • Bayesian feature selection
  • Bayesian non- and semi-parametric methodology
  • Factor models
  • Functional data analysis
  • Graphical modeling
  • High-dimensional feature selection
  • Integrative analysis for multi-data and multimodal data
  • Integrative methods for imaging genomics data
  • Latent variable models
  • Neuroimaging statistics
  • Precision medicine
  • Statistical methods for cancer imaging
  • Statistical methods in genetics
  • Tensor methods for imaging data
  • Multivariate time-series modeling

Professional Experience

  • Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (June 2021–present)
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Statistics, Rice University (Aug 2022–present)
  • Adjunct Instructor, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Immunology (Sept 2024–present)
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University (June 2021–2024)
  • Director, Data Analytics and Biostatistics Core for Department of Medicine, Emory University (June 2019–May 2021)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University (Fall 2014–2021)
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, and Department of Biostatistics, MD Anderson (Sep 2012–Aug 2014)
  • Research Assistant, Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute, UNC Chapel Hill (2008–2012)

Additional Appointments

  • Associate Editor, Statistics and Data Science in Imaging (May 2024–present)
  • Ex-Officio Member, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), MD Anderson Cancer Center (Jan 2023–present)
  • Associate Editor, Biometrics (July 2019–present)
  • Core Faculty Member, Center for Biomedical Imaging Statistics, Department of Biostatistics, Emory University (Aug 2015–Aug 2020)

Educational Training

  • PhD in Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2008–2012)
    Thesis: Bayesian Non-parametric Methods for Conditional Distributions
    Advisor: Prof. David B. Dunson
  • MStat, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata (2006–2008)
    Passed with First Division with Distinction
  • BSc. Honors in Statistics, Presidency College, Kolkata, under Calcutta University (2003–2006)
    Passed with First Class

Awards and Honors

  • Elected Member of International Statistical Institute, June 2023 – Present.
  • Recipient of the 2019 Young Statistical Scientist Award in the Applications category by the International Indian Statistical Association, presented for “outstanding contributions to the development of statistical methods and algorithms for network modeling tools with important applications in neuroscience and cancer studies, and for sustained contributions to research and training of students.”
  • Received 10th percentile score in first submission for the R01 proposal to NIMH (role: PI), titled Integrative Brain Network-Based Analysis for Heterogeneous and Multimodal Neuroimaging Data, February 2019.
  • Featured Speaker at Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation Summit (ABEIS-2019), San Francisco, June 2019.
  • Received travel funding to attend SAMSI Deep Learning Opening Workshop, SAMSI, Raleigh, NC, August 2019.
  • Emory PI for research fellowship to study data privacy in fMRI data which was awarded to Dr. Shan Suthaharan at UNC-Greensboro, and funded by the Institute for Quantitative Methods and Theory at Emory University, 2018.
  • Recipient of Young Investigator Travel Award at 11th Conference on Bayesian Nonparametrics, Paris, June 2017.
  • Awarded Fund for Innovative Teaching (FIT) grant ($3000.00) by Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, Emory University, April 2017.
  • Nominated for best teaching award in the Department of Biostatistics, Emory University, 2016–2017.
  • Featured Speaker at the Georgia Statistics Day, 2016.
  • Nominated for Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award by the Department of Biostatistics, UNC Chapel Hill.
  • Distinguished Student Paper Award at the Eastern North American Region (ENAR) Conference, 2012, for the manuscript “Bayes Variable Selection in Semi-parametric Linear Models.”
  • Winning team member for 2011 American Statistical Association “Promoting the Practice and Profession of Statistics” Video Competition.
  • Stat Bowl champion, awarded by American Statistical Association at Joint Statistical Meetings, Miami, USA, 2011.
  • Winning team member of Stat Bowl team champion, awarded by American Statistical Association at Joint Statistical Meetings, Miami, USA, 2011.
  • Student Paper Competition winner for the Section on Bayesian Statistical Science (SBSS), Joint Statistical Meetings, 2011, for the manuscript “Single Factor Transformation Priors for Density Regression.”
  • Biostatistics International Travel Fund, awarded by the Department of Biostatistics, UNC Chapel Hill, 2010.
  • Satia Scholarship, offered by the School of Public Health, UNC, for innovative public health work in underdeveloped areas, 2010.
  • Reynolds Fellowship, offered by UNC for “highest academic potential and the most impressive record of achievement in undergraduate education and work and life experiences.”
  • 2009 Hardison scholarship, offered by the Department of Biostatistics, UNC, to “outstanding applicants in the Department of Biostatistics to encourage studies in health informatics in the department.”