Professors Studden and Coster will work on problems related to the optimal design of statistical experiments, the estimation of mixture distributions and density estimation. Design problems will be considered in polynomial, spline, and rational function regression models. Solutions to problems involving multi- objective methods for optimal designs will be sought. Estimation problems concerning mixtures of geometric distributions will also be considered along with some density estimation using spline kernels. This research is in the area of statistical experimental design which aims to provide experimental scientists with strategies that will optimize their utilization of resources, improve scientists' chances of correctly interpreting experimental observations, and thereby speed the rate of scientific progress.
