Anru Zhang, PhD, has received the 2026 Leo Breiman Junior Award from the Section on Statistical Learning and Data Science of the American Statistical Association . The award recognizes the significant impact of his work in statistical learning and data science.
Zhang, the Eugene Anson Stead Jr., MD, Associate Professor of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, will receive a monetary prize and a plaque and deliver an invited lecture at the 2027 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM), the largest gathering of statisticians in North America.
The Leo Breiman Awards, given every two years, are named for Professor Leo Breiman (1928-2005), whose work helped to bridge the gap between statistics and computer science, particularly in the field of machine learning.
“It is especially meaningful to receive an award honoring Professor Leo Breiman, whose work helped shape modern data science,” Zhang said. “I have been particularly inspired by his perspective on the ‘two cultures’ of statistical modeling, which continues to influence how we integrate methodological rigor with real-world scientific and clinical challenges. I am deeply grateful to my mentors, collaborators, and students for their partnership and support.”