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Adjunct Professor
Kerrie Mengersen
Faculty of Science,
School of Mathematical Sciences
Biography
BackgroundKerrie Mengersen holds a BA (Hons) in Mathematical Statistics and Computing and a PhD in Mathematical Statistics, both from the University of New England, NSW Australia. She has held positions as a commercial statistical consultant and an academic staff member at four Australian Universities. She is currently a Distinguished Research Professor in Statistical Science and the Director of the QUT Centre for Data Science at QUT, and holds a concurrent role as Associate Member in the Department of Statistics at the University of Oxford, UK. She was a Deputy Director in the ARC Centre of Excellence in Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (2015-2021) and an ARC Laureate Fellow (2015-2021). In 2018 she was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) and the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences (QAAS). She is an active member of the Institute for Mathematical Sciences, International Biometrics Society, International Statistical Institute and the Statistical Society of Australia.
Research
Distinguished Professor Mengersen focuses on using and developing new statistical and computational methods that can help to solve complex problems in the real world. These problems are in the fields of environment, genetics, health and medicine, and industry. She enjoys working with a diverse range of people doing outstanding things in many different areas, and contributing expertise in an important component of their work. Her research interests include:
- complex systems modelling
- Bayesian statistical modelling, computational methods and applications
- Bayesian networks
- applied statistics.
- NGGP Next Generation Graduate Program
- ARC Laureate Fellow
- Discovery Projects: 6
- ARC Linkage Projects: 19
- ARC Linkage International Projects: 1
- ARC Centre of Excellence: 1
- NHMRC Program Grant: 1
- NHMRC Projects: 3
- CRC substantive projects: 8
Distinguished Professor Mengersen’s national and international reputation in statistics research and its application is supported by:
- over 350 refereed journal publications
- over 50 invited international conference presentations
- attraction of over 30 large research grants
- the successful supervision of over 30 postgraduate students in the past 5 years.
- 2024 Recipient of the Ruby Payne-Scott Medal. Australian Academy of Science.
- 2024 Geospatial Award 2024. Technical Excellence Award. Cancer Council Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology for its Australian Cancer Atlas 2.0
- 2022 Technologist of the Year Award, Women in Technology (WIT)
- 2022 Honorary Doctorate of Science, University of New England (UNE)
- 2020 Asia-Pacific Spatial Excellence Award (APSEA) for People & Community: Virtual Reef Diver team
- 2020 Asia-Pacific Spatial Excellence Award (APSEA) for Spatial Enablement: The Australian Cancer Atlas team
- 2020 Asia-Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards (APSEA), JK Barrie Award for Industry Excellence: The Australian Cancer Atlas team
- 2019 Eureka Prize finalist: Virtual Reef Diver team
- 2019 Regional (Queensland) Asia-Pacific Spatial Excellence Award for Spatial Enablement: The Australian Cancer Atlas team
- 2018 Invited Fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences (QAAS)
- 2018 Lindley Prize for best paper at the World Meeting of International Society for Bayesian Analysis (ISBA), Edinburgh, Mengersen, Sutton, Pettitt
- 2018 Elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA)
- 2018 Elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (AAS)
- 2018-2023 International Guest Chair, Energy Environment Solutions (E2S), University of Pau and the Pays de l’Adour (UPPA)
- 2017 International Jean-Morlet Chair, Aux-Marseille, France, taken up in 2018
- 2016 Awarded the title of Distinguished Professor by Queensland University of Technology.
- 2016 Awarded the Pitman Medal, by the Statistical Society of Australia and the first time awarded to a woman since its inception 35 years ago
- 2016 Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information Research Excellence Award
- 2016 J.S Hunter Award (The International Environmetrics Society), awarded in tandem with the annual J Stuart Hunter Lecture
- 2016 Outstanding Science Researcher Award, Wesley Research Institute, first non-clinical researcher
- 2015 Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship
- 2015 Biennial Medal by the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (MSSANZ)
- 2015 Fellow of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (MSSANZ)
- 2014 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence, Team.
- 2014 Elected Fellow of the International Society for Bayesian Analysis
Personal details
Positions
- Adjunct Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Mathematical Sciences
Keywords
Bayesian statistics, computational statistics, environmental, genetic and health statistics, statistical consulting and expert advice
Research field
Statistics
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020
Qualifications
- PhD (University of New England)
- BA(Hons) (University of New England)
Professional memberships and associations
- 2021-2025 Elected Vice-President of the International Statistical Institute (ISI)
- 2022 to 2023 Member, inaugural Advisory Committee for the Rural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, NSW
- 2022-Present Member, Scientific Advisory Committee of the Canadian Statistical Science Institute
- 2021 Chair Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies (COPSS) GW Snedecor Award Committee 2021 Member of the Scientific Committee: AMSI Winter School on Statistical Data Science
- 2020 – 2023 Invited Member, National Committee for Mathematical Sciences, Australian Academy of Science (AAS)
- 2020 Invited Chair, Australian Academy of Science (AAS), Moran Medal Honorific Awards Committee
- 2019 – Present Scientific Council Committee, Centre International De Rencontres Mathematiques (CIRM), Marseille, France
- 2019 – Present Visiting Professor and International Guest Chair, Energy Environment Solutions (E2S), University of Pau and the Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), University of Pau, France
- 2019 Member of the International Statistical Institute Pearson Award Committee
- 2018 Appointed member of Executive Committee for the Australian Academy of Science (AAS)
- 2018 - 2019 Invited Member of the Expert Working Group for the Learned Academies Special Project (LASP): Big data in Australian research: issues, challenges and opportunities for the Australian Academy of Science (AAS)
- 2018 Appointed member of Executive Committee for the American Statistical Association (ASA)
- 2018 – 2021 Elected Member of Council, Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS)
- 2018 – 2023 Appointed member of Executive Committee for the International Statistical Institute (ISI)
- 2018 Past President, International Society for Bayesian Analysis
- 2018-Present Member of the panel: the Moran and Hannan Medals for the Australian Academy of Science
- 2018-Present Member of the Bayes4Health, UK, Advisory Board
- 2018 Nominations panel for the International Prize in Statistics
- 2018 Member of QUT’s new Learning Potential Fund Speakers Circle
- 2018 Steering Committee, The World of Statistics (https://www.worldofstatistics.org/)
- 2017 President, International Society for Bayesian Analysis 2017
- 2015 - Fellow of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (MSSANZ)
- 2015-2020 Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow
- 2015 - Associate Member, University of Oxford
- 2015-2016 Member of the ISBA Fellows Selection Committee
- 2014 - Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics Management Committee
- 2013-2014 Elected Member of the International Advisory Board, International Biometrics Society
- 2011-2012 National President of the Statistical Society of Australia
- 2011 Member of the National Heads of Mathematical Sciences
- 2005 Elected Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences
- 2004 Elected Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society
- 2005-2008 Executive Member of the International Society for Bayesian Analysis
- 2004-2006 Inaugural President of the Australasian Chapter of ISBA
- 2004 - Executive Member of the Statistical Society of Australia; Section Coordinator
- Member of the International Biometrics Society (IBS)
- Member of the International Environmetrics Society.
For more information, visit Kerrie Mengersen's website: https://bragqut.wordpress.com/mengersen/
Teaching
Supervisions
Distinguished Professor Mengersen has a strong commitment to training the next generation of researchers, with 36 postgraduate researchers in statistics completed under her direct supervision. A further 22 graduate students completed at Australian and international universities (Malaysia, France) under her associated supervision. Currently at QUT, she is Principal Supervisor of 5 PhD and 4 Masters by Research students and Associate Supervisor to 10 HDR students.
Experience
Academic appointments
Since completing her PhD in Statistics in 1989, Distinguished Professor Mengersen has been appointed to several esteemed academic positions throughout her career. Her most recent include:
- 2026 – Adjunct Distinguished Professor, Statistical Data Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- Associate Member, Department of Statistics, Oxford University UK (one of 12 members)
- Research Professor in Statistics, School of Mathematical Sciences, QUT
Past Appointments
- Chair in Statistics and Distinguished Professor, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) (2016–2026)
- Founder and Lead Node, Australian Data Science Network (~20 research centres) (2020–2026)
- Advisory Committee Member, Queensland AI Hub (2023–2025)
- Founder and Director, QUT Centre for Data Science (~200 members; $7.5M funding) (2020–2024)
- International Guest Chair, University of Pau and the Pays de l’Adour, France (2018–2023)
- International Jean-Morlet Chair, Marseille, France (2018)
- ARC Laureate Fellow, Bayesian Learning for Decision Making in the Big Data Era ($2.4M) (2015–2021)
- Node Leader and Deputy Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Big Data and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS) ($20M) (2014–2021)
- Inaugural Director, Collaborative Centre for Data Analysis, Modelling and Computation, QUT (2011–2012)
- Director, Faculty of Science Research Centre, QUT (2005–2007)
- Professor and Head of Discipline in Statistics, University of Newcastle (2001–2004)
- Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Statistics, QUT (1994–2000)
- Visiting Associate Professor in Statistics, Colorado State University, USA (1993)
- Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Statistics, Central Queensland University (1990–1992)
- Assistant Professor in Statistics, Bond University (1989–1990)
- Commercial Statistical Consultant, Siromath Pty Ltd (1987–1989)
Key professional positions
Distinguished Professor Mengersen has actively contributed to professional societies, serving as National President for the Statistical Society of Australia and Managing Editor of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics. She has also taken various executive roles in the International Society for Bayesian Analysis and the International Biometrics Society. A selection of her current and most recent professional positions include:
- Invited Member, National Committee for Mathematical Sciences, Australian Academy of Science (AAS) 2020-2023
- Scientific Council Committee, Centre International De Rencontres Mathematiques (CIRM), Marseille, France 2019 - present
- Visiting Professor and International Guest Chair, Energy Environment Solutions (E2S), University of Pau and the Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), University of Pau, France 2019 - Present
- Appointed member of Executive Committee for the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) 2018
- Invited Member of the Expert Working Group for the Learned Academies Special Project (LASP): Big data in Australian research: issues, challenges and opportunities for the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) 2018-2019
- Appointed member of Executive Committee for the American Statistical Association (ASA) 2018
- Appointed member of Executive Committee for the International Statistical Institute (ISI) 2018-2023
- Steering Committee, The World of Statistics (https://www.worldofstatistics.org/) 2018
- President, International Society for Bayesian Analysis, 2017
- Associate Member, Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, 2015
- Member of the Task Team on Satellite Imagery, Remote Sensing and Geo-Spatial Data, under the UN, 2015
- Statistics Division Global Working Group (GWG) on Big Data for Official Statistics, 2015
- Executive member, International Society for Bayesian Analysis, 2015
- Invited member of Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence selection panel, 2014
- Invited Co-Editor of an issue of Statistical Science on ‘Big Bayes Stories’ 2014–present
- Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics Management Committee, 2014.
Publications
Filter publications:
A complete list of publications is available at: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/k.mengersen
Selected research projects
- Title
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- SR200100005
- Start year
- 2020
- Keywords
- Title
- Revolutionising Water-Quality Monitoring in the Information Age
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LP180101151
- Start year
- 2019
- Keywords
- Title
- Bayesian Learning for Decision Making in the Big Data Era
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- FL150100150
- Start year
- 2015
- Keywords
- Title
- Improving Productivity and Efficiency of Australian Airports - A Real Time Analytics and Statistical Approach
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LP140100282
- Start year
- 2015
- Keywords
- Bayesian Networks; Video Analytics; Operations Management
- Title
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers of Big Data, Big Models, New Insights (ACEMS)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- CE140100049
- Start year
- 2014
- Keywords
- Title
- New Directions in Bayesian Statistics: formulation, computation and application to exemplar challenges
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP140103564
- Start year
- 2014
- Keywords
- Bayesian statistics; latent variable models
- Title
- From Science to Policy: Quantifying and Managing the Risk of Mosquito Borne Disease in the Context of Climate Change
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP110100651
- Start year
- 2011
- Keywords
- Climate Change; Environmental Health; Risk Management; Public Health Policy
- Title
- Bayesian Statistical Models for Understanding Outcomes and Improving Decision-making for Women Screened for Breast Cancer
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LP100100570
- Start year
- 2010
- Keywords
- Bayesian modelling; Spatio-temporal modelling; cancer mapping; cancer epidemiology
- Title
- Airports of the Future
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LP0990135
- Start year
- 2009
- Keywords
- Complex Systems Engineering; Airport Operations Management; Business Process Modelling; Surveillance and Identity Management; Human Systems Interaction; Risk and Emergency Management
- Title
- International Networks in Applied Bayesian Statistics: Improving Australia's Knowledge Through Intelligent Data Analysis and Modelling
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LX0882876
- Start year
- 2008
- Keywords
- Bayesian Statistics; Environmental Statistics; Healthy Waterways; Bayesian Networks; Environmental Sustainability
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.
Supervision
Current supervisions
- Data informed talent identification in swimming
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Paul Wu, Professor Chris Drovandi - Correcting Bayesian Inference from Approximate Models and Algorithms
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Chris Drovandi, Dr Joshua Bon, Dr David Warne - Development of a framework for systematic contour evaluation in radiation therapy
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Supervision topics
The supervisions listed above are only a selection.