In developing and popular areas of research and professional activity, faculty form clusters to focus on common interests and problems, to promote interactions and formal collaborations, to open the areas to student participation, and to build connection to scientists outside the department. A listing of existing clusters is given in the left hand column

The Department is structured around several such programs. Clusters accomplish specific functions, bringing together faculty, postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate students with shared interests. Some clusters pursue methodological and theoretical research, focused on particular areas of application. Others focus on the study and delivery of effective statistics teaching and education, and yet others on the practice of statistics and on effective outreach and delivery of statistical advisory services.

Clusters provide a structure and mechanism within which research, training, and mentoring activities take place in a natural and mutually complementary way. Clusters are relatively small so that participants receive regular attention from those more senior, and the work of the cluster promotes interactions among the participants. Clusters tend to form into hierarchies with senior faculty mentors. Junior and senior members of a cluster gain a sense of belonging and shared purpose. In the physical sciences, where it is common to develop vertically integrated teams focused around laboratory research, the resulting sense of membership has proven a valuable catalyst for motivating and training young scientists. The Department's clusters provide the same benefits that research teams in the physical sciences do.

Revised ... May 21, 2008