Michael Daniels Wins 2022 L. Adrienne Cupples Award
Biostatistician recognized for impact on academia and campus community
Michael Daniels, professor, chair and Andrew Banks Family Endowed Chair of the Department of Statistics, has been awarded the 2022 L. Adrienne Cupples Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Service in Biostatistics.
The annual award, presented by the Department of Biostatistics at the Boston University School of Public Health, is given to a biostatistician whose academic contributions emulate those of the late L. Adrienne Cupples.
In an announcement released by the Boston University School of Public Health, Daniels shared his excitement for receiving the honor. “Dr. Cupples was a leader in all areas of biostatistics — teaching, research and service,” he said. “I am thrilled that my record in these three areas has been deemed at a high enough level for me to receive this award.”
Cupples, an emeritus professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health, enjoyed an illustrious career spanning more than five decades of teaching and research. She was celebrated for her supportive guidance of students and excellence in teaching. Cupples also advanced the field of biostatistics through over 600 publications in major academic journals and book chapters. She passed away in January 2022 after a long battle with cancer.
Daniels’ own demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring factored into his selection for the award. According to Josée Dupuis, professor and chair of biostatistics at Boston University School of Public Health, “Colleagues have deep admiration and respect for Dr. Daniels, describing him as kind, humble, exceptionally response, and generous in giving his time to help others.”
Daniels has taken on a variety of leadership roles, leading the development of the PhD program in biostatistics and co-leading the creation of a new undergraduate major in data science as well as serving as the president of the Eastern North American Region of the International Biometric Society and chair of several sections of the American Statistical Association.
Daniels’ current research focuses on Bayesian (nonparametric) approaches for missing data and casual inference. Daniels has also been influential at expanding the work of the department by collaborating with research groups across the university and at other major institutions — taking on an interdisciplinary approach to statistics by proactively widening its applications.
Daniels will receive the award and deliver a lecture of his work at a ceremony held in the Department of Biostatistics at Boston University on April 7. Read more about his research here.
