Sonja Petrović
Mathematician, statistician, entrepreneur.
Architect of the invisible.
@Academics: discovering, studying, and modeling structure in relational data.
@Passion: social responsibility, inclusion, community engagement, and empowering others.
For non-academic activities, check out my LinkedIn page.
Academic bio
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics, College of Computing, at Illinois Institute of Technology.
My research is in nonlinear algebra and nonlinear statistics. I develop, analyze, and apply statistical models for discrete relational data such as networks. I also study randomized algorithm approaches to computational algebra problems whose expected runtimes are much lower than the well-known worst-case complexity bounds, develop probabilistic models to study average and extreme behavior of algebraic objects, and use machine learning to predict and improve the behavior of algebraic computations.
At Illinois Tech, I am a member of the statistics, discrete math, and computational math research groups. Prior to joining this department in 2013, I was on faculty at Penn State Statistics. In 2015 I became an Elected Member of the International Statistical Institute (ISI), received the College of Science Dean’s Junior Research Excellence Award, in 2018 the College of Science Excellence in Teaching Award, and in 2021 the College of Computing Excellence in Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. My research has been supported by the DOE, NSF, AFOSR, DARPA, and the Simons Foundation.
Full CV.
I actively mentor and involve students in my projects.
I co-organize the Nonlinear algebra and statistics (NLASTATS) seminar at IIT, and am a Managing Editor of the journal Algebraic Statistics.
Inspired by the various difficulties of the year 2020, I led the creation of SoReMo: an initiative to help train students in multidisciplinary communication & enhance their social responsibility portfolio.
I share in Federico Ardila-Mantilla's axioms:
Mathematical talent is distributed equally among different groups, irrespective of geographic, demographic, and economic boundaries.
Everyone can have joyful, meaningful, and empowering mathematical experiences.
Mathematics is a powerful, malleable tool that can be shaped and used differently by various communities to serve their needs.
Every student deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Interested students should check out the Student Corner page and follow instructions listed there. I will not respond to general emails requesting an internship or a research position.
Apart from mathematics and statistics, I love living in Chicago and watching its spectacular sunsets, traveling (yes, still, even with small kids in tow!), playing bass guitar, dancing, biking, improvisational cooking, some easy rock climbing, and swimming in Lake Michigan (in the summer only!).
SoReMo & ME
A new initiative: Socially Responsible Modeling, Computation, and Design
Our central event - the Forum - kicked off in February 2021. Read more @LinkedIn.
Illinois Tech & me
Study mathematics & statistics:
Meet me @ Illinois Tech!
Learn more about the applied math department's research areas
Algebraic Statistics
The year 2020 had been very trying for many members of our community, but we can't fail to acknowledge two very important milestones for the field of algebraic statistics: that the 2020 MSC (Math Subject Classification) now includes code 62R01 for 'algebraic statistics', and that a new journal has been established!
Visit the AStat homepage and be inspired by the first issue from October 2020.
Here is the short editorial piece for the first volume.