ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1471-4026
Scopus Author ID: 57209715895
Google Scholar Profile: 5emLpPkAAAAJ

Metrics for Academic and Research Impact

Education

2020        PhD in Biostatistics, University of Minnesota

2017        MS in Biostatistics, University of Minnesota

2011        BEng in Management Information Systems, Chu Kochen Honors College, Zhejiang University

Employment

2022 - Present       Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics and School of Data Science, City University of Hong Kong

2020 - 2022           Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University

Dr. Yang received a PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Minnesota and a BEng in Management Information Systems from Chu Kochen Honors College, Zhejiang University. Prior to joining CityU, he served as a postdoctoral research scientist in the Department of Biostatistics at Columbia University under the supervision of Professor Iuliana Ionita-Laza. He is also a four-time recipient of the First Prize in the National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI), China.

Dr. Yang's research focuses on variable selection methods for high-dimensional data using knockoff statistics, machine learning, and Bayesian hierarchical models, with applications to genome-wide association studies. He has developed a number of statistical methods to identify risk variants for human diseases in genetic data with complex hierarchical and correlation structures. His research is supported by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (RGC) Early Career Scheme 21303323 (sole PI).

I am looking for highly motivated PhD students to join my group in the Department of Biostatistics at City University of Hong Kong. The PhD students will have opportunities to (1) develop statistical methods to identify genetic risk variants for human diseases and (2) implement proposed methods in R or Python. The PhD students will receive rigorous training in statistical theory, statistical computing, and academic writing, which will prepare them for careers in both academia and industry.

Qualifications

• Strong programming skills in R or Python are required
• Interests and prior research experiences in statistical genetics
• A bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in statistics, computer science, bioinformatics, data science, or related fields

Application

Please send your resume/CV and transcript(s) to yi.yang at cityu.edu.hk. I will also work closely with qualified candidates to apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), which will provide them with an annual stipend of US$41,690, a travel allowance of US$1,740, and one year of free tuition and on-campus housing.

• Statistical genetics
• Knockoff statistics
• Bayesian statistics
• Machine learning
• High-Dimensional Variable Selection

• Senate member for the University Senate of City University of Hong Kong (2022 - Present)
• Staff member for the Sub-committee on Research Degrees of College Graduate Studies Committee at City University of Hong Kong (2024 - Present)
• Board member for the College of Science, City University of Hong Kong (2022 - 2024)
• Seminar chair for the Biostatistics Seminar Series at the Department of Biostatistics, City University of Hong Kong (2022 - Present)