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Undergrad Research Symposium

Research Topics

Details

Research Topic: Ranking US College Football Teams
Supervisor: Paul Marriott
Abstract:   At the end of each US college football season there is always considerable controversy about the way that the final ranking of the teams has been calculated. Ranking from complex data, such as exists on the relative performance of sports teams, has many important statistical and computational issues. The project will investigate these issues, review the current methods and see if we can do better. Knowledge of the sport is not a requirement.

Suitable for: A small team with statistical and computing expertise top

Research Topic: American Option Pricing using Local Least Squares Regression
Supervisor: Guangzhe Fan (co-author K.S. Tan)
Abstract:   Pricing American Option is challenging since the flexibility of early execution. Longstaff and Schwartz (2001) proposed a simple least squares regression model with Monte Carlo simulation to solve this kind of problems backwardly. Here we propose to use local least squares regression to improve their method.  References below can be found electronically on school library website:

[1] Valuing American Options by Simulation: A Simple Least-Squares Approach
Francis A. Longstaff; Eduardo S. Schwartz
The Review of Financial Studies > Vol. 14, No. 1 (Spring, 2001), pp. 113-147

[2] Assessing the Least Squares Monte-Carlo Approach to American Option Valuation
Lars Stentoft. Review of Derivatives Research. Boston: Aug 2004. Vol. 7, Iss. 2; p. 129

The project is a very good exercise for Monte-Carlo simulation in financial derivatives, regression and local regression in statistics and C programming.

Suitable for: A small team of 3rd or 4th year students with statistics-finance and computational background and interests. top

Research Topic: Role Playing Game Character Classes
Supervisor: Riley Metzger
Abstract:   There are many questions surrounding which character class in a role playing game (such as dungeons and dragons) is the “best”.  It is obvious that the classes are different (i.e. wizard, thief, fighter) and have different strengths.  Is there a clear “winner” and what does that mean?

http://www.helium.com/knowledge/8206-winning-characters-in-dungeons-and-dragons

Suitable for: It would be of interest to anyone with at least Stat 230 and some computing experience.  A course such as Stat 340 would be beneficial but not necessary.  top

Research Topic: Level Floatation Standard and Canoe (Kayak) Accidents
Supervisor: Riley Metzger
Abstract:   There has been talk of enforcing a level floatation standard on canoes.  In layman’s terms, the top of the boat shouldn’t be sitting too close to the water.  Is this legislation really associated with a reduction in the number of deaths, accidents etc?

http://www.sponsonguy.com/Ontario%20Law.html

Suitable for: A single student would be able to research this question.  Minimal statistical expertise would be necessary. top

Research Topic: Environmental Comparison of Energy Production Techniques
Supervisor: Riley Metzger
Abstract:     Nuclear power results in the storage of radioactive waste.  Hydro electric dams result in changed ecosystems.  Solar panels and batteries contain toxic chemicals.  Windturbines are dangerous for flying birds and it is suspected that they produce a sub-sonic sound (noise pollution).  How might we compare the environmental impact of each method? 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_concerns_with_electricity_generation

Suitable for: A small group of students with statistical expertise. top

Research Topic: Student's simplest distribution on 2 degrees of freedom
Supervisor: Ilham Akhundov
Abstract:     There is an existing, but largely ignored simple symmetric distribution on the real line It is the Student's t_2 distribution with 2 degrees of freedom. We will learn basic properties of t_2 distribution, relationship with other distributions, distributions of order statistics from the t_2 distribution, and maybe some characterizations of t_2 distribution.

Suitable for: I would like to offer a research project for a student at the level of STAT 330. top

 



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