The astronomer and cosmologist Karim Benabed got killed on Wednesday in Paris. While cycling, run over by a truck-driver (with no further details at the moment). He was a senior research at IAP (Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris) and we actively collaborated together between 2005 and 2010 on an ANR project on efficient simulation methods for inferring cosmological parameters, based on PMC. And Bayesian model comparison. He was a very congenial person, very sharp in assimilating new methods and keen on exploring novel hypotheses. While we did not keep closely in touch, I would meet him now and then while visiting the IAP. Ironically, Darren Wraith, formerly a postdoc with him at IAP, was visiting me last week and we were reminiscing of that era as late as Saturday night over dinner… So sad (and also so absurd, a truck stopping the trajectory of someone managing to travel to the origins of the Universe). The above is a cartoon of him drawn during his cosmic microwave background presentation during the Nuit de l’Astronomie.
Archive for ANR
Karim Benabed, astrophysician
Posted in Statistics, Travel, University life with tags ABC, adaptive importance sampling, ANR, astronomy, Bayesian inference, Bayesian model comparison, CMB, cosmology, cycling, dark energy, evidence, gravitational lensing, IAP, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, Nuit de l'Astronomie, Planck experiment, PMC, population Monte Carlo, traffic accident on December 5, 2025 by xi'anBASICS workshop in Paris [29-30/09]
Posted in pictures, Statistics, Travel, University life with tags ANR, Bayesian non-parametrics, Paris, satellite workshop, Sorbonne Université, uncertainty quantification, Université Pierre et Marie Curie on September 19, 2022 by xi'an
There will be a workshop on Bayesian non-parametrics, deep learning and uncertainty quantification, marking the closure of the BASICS ANR project, at Paris Sorbonne University, on campus Pierre et Marie Curie, on 29-30 September, with many friends speaking there. The participation is free. Registration is, however, compulsory and now open.
mathematical understanding of neural networks through mean-field analysis [PhD studenship]
Posted in Kids, Mountains, pictures, Running, Statistics, Travel, University life, Wines with tags ANR, Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, mean field analysis, neural network, PhD fellowship on June 26, 2020 by xi'an
Arnaud Guillin and Manon Michel from the Université Clermont-Auvergne are currently looking for PhD candidates interested in the mathematical analysis of neural networks via the tool of mean-field analysis. With full funding available. Candidates can contact Arnaud Guillin at uca.fr.
repulsive postdoc!
Posted in Statistics with tags ABC, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, ANR, approximate Bayesian inference, ERC, European Research Council, France, Lille, postdoctoral position, repulsiveness, Université Paris Dauphine on December 20, 2019 by xi'an
Rémi Bardenet has been awarded an ERC grant on Monte Carlo integration via repulsive point processes and is now looking for a postdoc starting next March. (Our own ABSINT ANR grant still has an open offer of a postdoctoral position on approximate Bayesian methods, feel free to contact me if potentially interested.)
postdoc position still open
Posted in pictures, Statistics, University life with tags ABC, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, ANR, approximate Bayesian inference, bois de Boulogne, La Défense, misspecified model, Paris, Paris-Saclay campus, PhD thesis, postdoctoral position, PSL Research University, Université de Montpellier, Université Paris Dauphine, University of Oxford on May 30, 2019 by xi'an
The post-doctoral position supported by the ANR funding of our Paris-Saclay-Montpellier research conglomerate on approximate Bayesian inference and computation remains open for the time being. We are more particularly looking for candidates with a strong background in mathematical statistics, esp. Bayesian non-parametrics, towards the analysis of the limiting behaviour of approximate Bayesian inference. Candidates should email me (gmail address: bayesianstatistics) with a detailed vita (CV) and a motivation letter including a research plan. Letters of recommendation may also be emailed to the same address.
