
Xiaowu Dai (戴晓æ¦)
I am a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Department of Statistics and Data Science (primary) and Department of Biostatistics, UCLA.
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My research focuses on the area of economics and machine learning, blending game theory with online learning and developing predictive models with uncertainty quantification in economic and LLM contexts. Another area of focus is statistical machine learning, especially in dynamical models, multimodal learning, and kernel methods, with applications to neuroimaging, diabetes, and kidney exchanges. I currently serve as an Associate Editor for JASA T&M and Stat.
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Recruiting: UCLA graduate students and visitors interested in machine learning, mechanism design, or biostatistics research, feel free to contact me.​​
E-mail: daix@ucla.edu
Education ​​
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University of California, Berkeley
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Postdoc in Computer Sciences and Economics, 2019-2022; Advisor: Michael I. Jordan. I also worked with Lexin Li, and Robert M. Anderson.
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Ph.D. Statistics, 2019; Advisor: Grace Wahba. M.S. Computer Sciences, 2018; M.S. Mathematics, 2015.
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Shanghai Jiao Tong University
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B.S. Mathematics, with distinction, 2014; Advisor: Ya-Guang Wang. B.A. Economics, double degree, 2014.
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Research Interests [Papers]​​
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Economics and Machine Learning: Matching markets, Auction designs, Incentives and social welfare.
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Foundation Models and LLMs: Mechanism design for LLMs, Uncertainty with ML models.
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Statistical Machine Learning: ODE/PDE Models, Multimodal learning, Kernel-based learning.
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Biomedical Discovery and Applications: Neuroimaging data analysis, Diabetes, Kidney exchange.
News​
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Xiaowu is awarded the Hellman Fellows Award, 2025 [UCLA StatsDS News]
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UCLA news on NIH grant awarded for diabetes research using artificial intelligence, 2025
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Commencement Speaker, School of Mathematical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2024
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UCLA Physical Sciences news on teaching artificial intelligence about complicated structures, 2024 [UCLA StatsDS News]
Services​
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Associate Editor, Journal of the American Statistical Association (JASA) Theory and Method, 2026-Present
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Guest Editor, Statistical Learning and Data Science: Special Issue on Statistics and AI, 2025-2026
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Editorial Board Reviewer, Journal of Machine Learning Research, 2022-Present
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Outreach Committee Chair, International Chinese Statistical Association (ICSA), 2026
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Board Member, Institute for Digital Research and Education (IDRE), UCLA, 2025-2028
Contact​
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Office: 8917 Math Sciences Bldg
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Phone: 424-259-5110
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Email: dai@stat.ucla.edu / daix@ucla.edu
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Mail: 8125 Math Sciences Bldg #951554
University of California
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1554
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