Contact: Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu

University of Missouri researchers are constantly pushing the boundaries of science to drive breakthroughs that transform lives. Their relentless curiosity fuels discoveries that shape the future of Missouri and beyond.

Today, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) recognized four Mizzou researchers as 2024 Fellows for their distinguished efforts in advancing various fields of science.

Among this year's recipients is Scott H. Holan – a professor and chair of the Department of Statistics in the College of Arts and Science.

Holan is being recognized for his distinguished contributions to the field of statistics, including Bayesian inference, spatio-temporal hierarchical methods, functional methods, time series and survey methodology, as well as his exemplary public service through collaborations with statistical agencies.

Holan studies ways to analyze complex data patterns over space and time using statistics and machine learning. His work helps improve government data, economic predictions and environmental research. He develops new methods to make data analysis more accurate and useful in real-world applications.

“I have been at Mizzou for over 20 years, spending my entire career here thus far,” Holan said. “During this time, I have felt supported by my colleagues, department and college to pursue innovative research at the intersection of spatio-temporal modeling and official statistics. Mizzou has also provided me access to great collaborators working on interesting scientific problems and a strong research infrastructure.”