Meet the Lecturer – Matias Quiroz, University of Technology Sydney

We talk to Dr Matias Quiroz about the best piece of advice he ever received and his hope to convert as many students as possible to Bayesian Statistics at Summer School this January.

1. What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

During my PhD, I read a very successful researcher’s CV and commented to my supervisor that I felt bad. I questioned what the point was of doing all of this when others can do it so much better. He replied: ”Compete with others and you get bitter. Compete with yourself and you get better.” This really stuck with me and is the guiding principle of my career.

2. Rock star scientist, master chef, closet artist, what is something about you that might surprise people?

I discovered my real passion in life after moving to Australia — salsa dancing!

3. Deepening field knowledge and providing a networking platform, why are opportunities such as AMSI Summer School so valuable? What do you hope attendees take from your lectures?

A long standing interest in a field is best achieved by continuously learning new things in it. The AMSI Summer School is a perfect venue for that. Personally, I hope to be able to convert as many students as possible to Bayesian believers through my lectures. I promise you a future free of testing sharp null hypotheses!

4. If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

When this question was asked, the first place that came to mind was anywhere outside my 5 km LGA limit!

Dr Matias Quiroz will be presenting the topic Bayesian Statistical Learning at the 2022 Summer School hosted by University of Technology Sydney in January.