Xiaolan Liao, Ph.D.

Home address

*** ** ***** **, ******, OK 73012

Phone: 405-***-****

Email: adet0i@r.postjobfree.com

Education

Doctor of Philosophy Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology, the University of Oklahoma Dec. 2018

Master of Science Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology, the University of Oklahoma Dec. 2013

Master of Science Health Psychology, the Sun Yat-sen University July 2010

Bachelor of Medicine The Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences July 2006

Statistical Knowledge & Skills

Specialized knowledge

Basic statistics: descriptive analysis, inferential analysis, exploratory data analysis, hypothesis testing, t test, ANOVA, experimental design, A/B testing, survey design

Psychometrics: Classical test theory, Item response theory, factor analysis, measurement invariance, structure equation modeling

Advanced statistics: linear regression, logistic regression, GLM, predictive modeling, feature selection, dimension reduction, growth curve modeling

Machine learning: supervised learning, unsupervised learning, classification, regression, clustering, decision trees, boosted trees, random forest, support vector machine, social network analytics

Programming languages

Python

−Fluent in using scikit-learn library to build machine learning models and visualize the results

−Familiar with numpy, scipy, pandas, matplotlib, tensorflow libraries

−Able to write, and test code for statistical methods & machine learning methods

R

−Fluent in using available packages to build statistical models and visualize the results

−Familiar with glm, glmnet, ggplot pacakages

SAS, SPSS, Mplus, Statistica

−Fluent in using the listed statistical softwares for data preparation, data cleaning, and model building, as well as interpreting the results

SQL

−Working experience using SQL to conduct data extraction

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Work Experiences (Fall 2010 to present)

Dell/Quest/TIBCO Statistica (May 2015 to present) STATISTICIAN/Software Engineering Quality Assurance

I work as a statistician at Statistica. My role is to mainly work with product managers and software engineers to ensure that the analytics solutions are using proper statistical approaches/models and meet the need from a wide range of customers including financial companies, oil companies, and pharmaceuticals, etc.

My major duties include researching for cutting edge solutions to business problems, conducting proof of concepts, designing and conducting experiments, providing statistical guidance and support, evaluating and assessing module performance. Below are the sample projects to which I made exceptional contributions

−Implementing auto feature selection algorithms by using ensembles, artificial variables and redundancy elimination to replace the existing module (2019). I was invited to present the work in analytics knowledge share meeting. The work and the presentation received high praise from colleagues.

−Nonparametric statistical analysis on big data (2015). After evaluating the business requirements, I proposed that this project was not applicable because the nonparametric methods were designed for small datasets. The project was terminated shortly after based on my suggestion, which helped the company avoid further financial loss. I was later recognized by DELL as the outstanding employee of the quarter and awarded for this contribution.

−Implementing Network Analytics for fraud detection, clustering, credit scoring (2017 - 2018). Quickly cleared the misunderstandings of the algorithms for the team and the algorithms were timely implemented.

−A series of projects related to machine learning models: implementing algorithms to compare multiple models and select the champion (2016-2017), and enabling scoring machine learning models (e.g. clustering, boosted tree, random forest, support vector machine, automated neural network) using JPMML evaluator to support the latest Predictive Model Markup Language (PMML) models (2019 – 2020), etc. My contribution to these projects lies at evaluating the machine learning models, and making sense for people why certain metrics were chosen and minor differences are expected.

My duties also include identifying the root cause of defects in existing modules. For example, by implementing the algorithm in Python, I identified the root cause of discrepancies in existing exhaustive CHAID module and node.

I create sample workspaces with workflow from importing data, checking data health, cleaning data, sampling, feature selection, model building, and results visualization for customer-facing team members.

I’m responsible for statistics-related trainings for new Software Engineers and help them onboard.

I serve as an in-house statistician addressing statistics questions from members across the teams.

The University of Oklahoma (August 2010 to May 2015) DATA ANALYST

I worked as a data analyst/research assistant at the Office of Academic Assessment at OU. Did the analyses for projects including Student Satisfaction evaluation, and Study Abroad Program evaluation.

I worked as a statistician for a NIH grant research project on investigating implicit math ability differences across three ethnic groups (PI: Dr. Snyder, Lori Anderson at OU) at the Center for Applied Social Research.

I worked as a statistician for a research project on investigating the effectiveness of a writing intervention program on students’ writing outcome (PI: Dr. Priscilla Griffith at OU).

Research Experiences (2010 to 2015)

Studied the use of bifactor modeling in handling multidimensionality (Doctoral Dissertation).

Investigated the impact of measurement non-equivalence on second-order latent growth curve modeling using both empirical and simulated data (Master Thesis).

Investigated the implicit math ability differences across three ethnic groups (NIH grant project).

Studied the risk and protective factors of relational aggression among Mexican American adolescents.

Analyzed the data from both multilevel modeling and latent growth curve modeling framework (NIH grant project).

Investigated the risk and predictive factors of alcohol use among adolescents. Used three most popular longitudinal models to analyze the data: a Hierarchical Generalized Linear Model, a Growth Mixture Model and a Latent Class Growth Analysis (First year project).

Selected Presentations and Publications

Liao, X. (2018). Several Issues Concerning the Use of Bifactor Model in Understanding Dimensionality. Dissertation.

Shi, D., Song, H., Liao, X., Terry, R., & Snyder, L.A (2017). Bayesian SEM for Specification Search Problems in Testing Factorial Invariance. Multivariate Behavioral Research.

Lin, L., Snyder, L. A., Lee, T., Liao, X., & Taylor, W. D. (2017). Implicit theories of math ability: You cannot be an incremental theorist and an entity theorist at the same time. Presented at the 2017 Association for Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, Boston, MA.

Tan, Y., Liao, X.*, Su, H., Li, C., Xiang, J., & Dong, Z. (2016). Disaster preparedness among university students in Guangzhou, China: assessment of status and demand for disaster education. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 1-8. (*Contributed equally).

Lewis, M., Song, H., Shi, D., & Liao, X. (2016). Consequences of Partial Factorial Invariance in Fitting First-Order Latent Growth Curve Models. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal.

Chung, C., Liao, X.*, Song, H., & Lee, T. (2015). Bifactor Approach to Modeling Multi-Dimensionality of Physical Self-Perception Profile. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 1-15. (*Corresponding author)

Chung, C., Wao, F., & Liao, X. (2015). Integrating Institutional Data to Reinforce Your Retention Model. https://ouacademictechnologyexpo2015.sched.org/ Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research.

Chung, C., & Liao, X., Kickhem, L. (2015). A Series of Workshops on Qualtrics: Introduction to Qualtrics, Survey Design and Implementation, and Data Analysis. The University of Oklahoma.

Li, H., & Liao, X. (2013). Loneliness, Warmth-Seeking Behavior, and Posttraumatic Stress among Survivors of the Sichuan Earthquakes. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal 41(10).

Liao, X., & Li, H. (2011). Loneliness and Warmth Seeking among Sufferers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Poster presentation. Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. August 2011.

Liao, X., & Li, H. (2011). Emotional Numb and Avoidance: Different Correlation Patterns with Loneliness. Poster presentation. Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. August 2011.

Liao, X., Song, H., Conger, R., & Stockdale, G. (2011). Long-Term Change of Relational Aggression among Mexican American Youth. Poster presentation. 2011 International Meeting of the Psychometric Society, Hong Kong, China. July 2011.

Peng, S, & Liao, X. (2011). A Comparison of Physiological Indices Before and After the Wenchuan Earthquakes of Survivors. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology 1: 028.

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