Modern statistical methods involve the design and analysis of experiments and surveys, the quantification of biological, social and scientific phenomenon and the application of statistical principles to understand more about the world around us.
Since data are used in most areas of human endeavor, the theory and methods of modern statistics have been applied to a wide variety of fields. Some areas that use modern statistical methods are the medical, biological and social sciences, economics, finance, marketing research, manufacturing and management, government, research institutes and many more. Exciting new areas are opening up, due to developments in areas such as biotechnology, survey research and computing. One of the main goals of statistics is to provide crucial guidance in determining what information is reliable and which predictions can be trusted. Statisticians often help search for clues to the solution of a scientific mystery and sometimes keep investigators from being misled by false impressions.
The Chair of Statistics is involved in research, teaching, and statistical consulting for the whole school of economics and political science (SEPS) at the University. Because of its activities, the collaborative work with other disciplines and institutes such as for example finance related fields and the Swiss Institute of Banking and Finance (s/bf) give graduate students a wide range of opportunities to work with individuals in these disciplines and to learn practical applications of statistical principles from direct experience.
Positions offered by the Chair of Statistics are particularly interesting to all researchers in the above-mentioned fields, as well as to applicants who are interested in acquiring a high level of understanding of the main statistical methodologies applied to solve problems in economics and finance, such as the curse of dimensionality.