Michael Salter-Townshend
Associate Professor of Statistics · University College Dublin
I am an Associate Professor of Statistics in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at University College Dublin, where I also serve as Head of Graduate Teaching and Learning and Director of Online Programmes in Data Analytics. Before joining UCD as faculty, I was a Postdoctoral Researcher in Simon Myers’ group in the Department of Statistics and a Junior Research Fellow at Mansfield College, University of Oxford.
My research develops statistical and computational methods—including Bayesian inference, latent variable and network models, Hidden Markov Models, and statistical machine learning—motivated by substantive problems in population and statistical genetics, social and ecological network analysis, palaeoclimate reconstruction, and text and sentiment modelling. Explore my selected publications, open-source software, or research projects by topic.
Appointments & Education
- Associate Professor of Statistics, University College Dublin (2025–present)
- Assistant Professor of Statistics, University College Dublin (2017–2025)
- Postdoctoral Researcher & Junior Research Fellow, Department of Statistics & Mansfield College, University of Oxford (2013–2016)
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Clique Strategic Research Cluster, University College Dublin (2009–2013)
- PhD in Statistics, Trinity College Dublin (2009)
- MSc in High Performance Computing, Trinity College Dublin (2004)
- BA (Mod.) in Computational Physics, Trinity College Dublin (2003)
Prospective Students & Collaborators: I supervise PhD and MSc researchers across statistical genetics, network science, and applied statistics (including through the Rinn AI Centre and SFI Centres for Research Training). If you are interested in PhD supervision, postdoctoral fellowships, or interdisciplinary collaboration, feel free to get in touch by with your CV and research interests.