Aaron Smith

Associate Professor, University of Ottawa ยท Researcher, Tutte Institute for Mathematics and Computing (TIMC)

I work on probability theory, computational statistics, Markov chains, Monte Carlo methods, embeddings, and applied data problems.

Research interests

I am generally interested in probability theory and computational statistics. Some clusters of research projects include:

  • Markov chains in statistical physics.
  • Markov chain Monte Carlo and related methods in computational statistics.
  • Links between random matrices, embeddings, and rankings.

At the time of writing (Spring 2026), I am also quite interested in the statistical properties and robustness of unsupervised and semisupervised embeddings. I enjoy collaborating on applied problems in statistics and machine learning, with particular interest in cybersecurity.

Publications

A largely complete list of my publications is available on Google Scholar.

Opportunities and collaboration

Please reach out at asmi28@uottawa.ca.

  • Graduate students and postdocs: I have funding available for projects related to my research interests, especially through co-supervision. Prospective students are welcome to get in touch; if you tell me your interests, I will try to connect you with a current student with related interests.
  • Applied collaborations: I am almost always interested in applied collaborations in statistics, machine learning, and related areas.
  • Undergraduates: Much of my research, especially on Markov chains and statistical work with embeddings, is accessible to motivated undergraduate students. Please reach out with a quick description of your interests.