Robin Ryder
@robinryder.bsky.social
Mathematician at Imperial College London. Bayesian statistics, Data science, Languages, Phylogenies.
Reposted by Robin Ryder
November 12, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Reposted by Robin Ryder
The detectCores() apocalypse is creeping up on us 👻🐛
As more people are getting access to 128+ CPU cores, code spinning up parallel cluster with detectCores() workers fails - not enough #RStats connections available
Friends, do *not* default to detectCores(), bc www.jottr.org/2022/12/05/a...
As more people are getting access to 128+ CPU cores, code spinning up parallel cluster with detectCores() workers fails - not enough #RStats connections available
Friends, do *not* default to detectCores(), bc www.jottr.org/2022/12/05/a...
Please Avoid detectCores() in your R Packages
The detectCores() function of the parallel package is probably one of the most used functions when it comes to setting the number of parallel workers to use in R. In this blog post, I’ll try to explai...
www.jottr.org
November 5, 2025 at 11:55 PM
The detectCores() apocalypse is creeping up on us 👻🐛
As more people are getting access to 128+ CPU cores, code spinning up parallel cluster with detectCores() workers fails - not enough #RStats connections available
Friends, do *not* default to detectCores(), bc www.jottr.org/2022/12/05/a...
As more people are getting access to 128+ CPU cores, code spinning up parallel cluster with detectCores() workers fails - not enough #RStats connections available
Friends, do *not* default to detectCores(), bc www.jottr.org/2022/12/05/a...
Reposted by Robin Ryder
New article in collaboration with @chrisbuckley.bsky.social , @thomaspellard.bsky.social @robinryder.bsky.social on the phylogeny of Kra-Dai languages and of the looms used by their speakers:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Contrasting modes of cultural evolution: Kra-Dai languages and weaving technologies | Evolutionary Human Sciences | Cambridge Core
Contrasting modes of cultural evolution: Kra-Dai languages and weaving technologies - Volume 7
www.cambridge.org
November 5, 2025 at 1:08 PM
New article in collaboration with @chrisbuckley.bsky.social , @thomaspellard.bsky.social @robinryder.bsky.social on the phylogeny of Kra-Dai languages and of the looms used by their speakers:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Robin Ryder
We’re hiring!
Join Imperial's Department of Mathematics as an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Stats or Math Finance.
We have several posts available, so apply by 30 Nov 2025!
imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
@imperialmaths.bsky.social
Join Imperial's Department of Mathematics as an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Stats or Math Finance.
We have several posts available, so apply by 30 Nov 2025!
imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
@imperialmaths.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 12:14 PM
We’re hiring!
Join Imperial's Department of Mathematics as an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Stats or Math Finance.
We have several posts available, so apply by 30 Nov 2025!
imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
@imperialmaths.bsky.social
Join Imperial's Department of Mathematics as an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Stats or Math Finance.
We have several posts available, so apply by 30 Nov 2025!
imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
@imperialmaths.bsky.social
Absolutely crazy that Harvard had to resort to this.
PhD students are society's future experts. What happens when even elite universities can no longer afford to train them?
PhD students are society's future experts. What happens when even elite universities can no longer afford to train them?
Wow. Harvard nuking its PhD programs
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
Harvard FAS Cuts Ph.D. Seats By More Than Half Across Next Two Admissions Cycles | News | The Harvard Crimson
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences slashed the number of Ph.D. student admissions slots for the Science division by more than 75 percent and for the Arts & Humanities division by about 60 percent for th...
www.thecrimson.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Absolutely crazy that Harvard had to resort to this.
PhD students are society's future experts. What happens when even elite universities can no longer afford to train them?
PhD students are society's future experts. What happens when even elite universities can no longer afford to train them?
Reposted by Robin Ryder
Applications are invited for Chapman Fellow in Mathematics (Statistics Section) at the Department of Mathematics.
Closing date: 11 November 2025
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs//search...
Closing date: 11 November 2025
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs//search...
October 9, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Applications are invited for Chapman Fellow in Mathematics (Statistics Section) at the Department of Mathematics.
Closing date: 11 November 2025
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs//search...
Closing date: 11 November 2025
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs//search...
Reposted by Robin Ryder
Jane Goodall was my first childhood hero, as I loved animals as a kid and was inspired by her story. I still remember the National Geographic specials about her. RIP.
October 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Jane Goodall was my first childhood hero, as I loved animals as a kid and was inspired by her story. I still remember the National Geographic specials about her. RIP.
We are hiring!
We are inviting applications for the Chapman Fellowship in Statistics at Imperial College London.
This is a kind of super-postdoc: 3 years contract, excellent working conditions, and candidates are expected to propose an independent research plan.
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs//search...
We are inviting applications for the Chapman Fellowship in Statistics at Imperial College London.
This is a kind of super-postdoc: 3 years contract, excellent working conditions, and candidates are expected to propose an independent research plan.
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs//search...
Imperial College London Authentication - Stale Request
www.imperial.ac.uk
October 1, 2025 at 12:39 PM
We are hiring!
We are inviting applications for the Chapman Fellowship in Statistics at Imperial College London.
This is a kind of super-postdoc: 3 years contract, excellent working conditions, and candidates are expected to propose an independent research plan.
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs//search...
We are inviting applications for the Chapman Fellowship in Statistics at Imperial College London.
This is a kind of super-postdoc: 3 years contract, excellent working conditions, and candidates are expected to propose an independent research plan.
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs//search...
Reposted by Robin Ryder
Proposals for contributed talks & posters are now being accepted for the 2026 ISBA World Meeting! The world meeting will take place in Nagoya, Japan between 28 June and 3 July, 2026. Proposals may be submitted here: forms.gle/dVTUrdEuVF6g...
September 24, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Proposals for contributed talks & posters are now being accepted for the 2026 ISBA World Meeting! The world meeting will take place in Nagoya, Japan between 28 June and 3 July, 2026. Proposals may be submitted here: forms.gle/dVTUrdEuVF6g...
Reposted by Robin Ryder
The newest section of ISBA has been formed to promote Bayesian methods in the social sciences! Find out more 👇
The new Bayesian Social Sciences section of @isba-bayesian.bsky.social has just been created: bss-isba.github.io. The committee is myself as chair, @robinryder.bsky.social, chair elect from 2027, @nialfriel.bsky.social, program chair, @monjalexander.bsky.social, Treasurer, EJWagenmakers, Secretary.
Home - BSS-ISBA
bss-isba.github.io
September 22, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The newest section of ISBA has been formed to promote Bayesian methods in the social sciences! Find out more 👇
I'm super excited to announce that ISBA @isba-bayesian.bsky.social has voted to start a new section on Bayesian Social Sciences! It will be a great way to further collaborations with many disciplines in the Social Sciences and Humanities.
bss-isba.github.io
bss-isba.github.io
Home - BSS-ISBA
bss-isba.github.io
September 22, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I'm super excited to announce that ISBA @isba-bayesian.bsky.social has voted to start a new section on Bayesian Social Sciences! It will be a great way to further collaborations with many disciplines in the Social Sciences and Humanities.
bss-isba.github.io
bss-isba.github.io
Reposted by Robin Ryder
Really nice coverage of our work on bonobo syntax with Simon Townsend and Martin Surbeck, by @rfieldmouse.bsky.social. Thanks so much, Rachel!
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
AI is helping to decode animals’ speech. Will it also let us talk with them?
The complexity of vocal communication in some primates, whales and birds might approach that of human language.
www.nature.com
September 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Really nice coverage of our work on bonobo syntax with Simon Townsend and Martin Surbeck, by @rfieldmouse.bsky.social. Thanks so much, Rachel!
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Just finished delivering a course on 'Robust and scalable simulation-based inference (SBI)' at Greek Stochastics. This covered an introduction to SBI, open challenges, and some recent contributions from my own group.
The slides are now available here: fxbriol.github.io/pdfs/slides-....
The slides are now available here: fxbriol.github.io/pdfs/slides-....
August 28, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Reposted by Robin Ryder
Do diversification rates and molecular evolution covary? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s surprising how much falls into place if we assume they do doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
Evolutionary Tempo, Supertaxa, and Living Fossils
Abstract. A relationship between the rate of molecular change and diversification has long been discussed, on both theoretical and empirical grounds. Howev
doi.org
August 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Do diversification rates and molecular evolution covary? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s surprising how much falls into place if we assume they do doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
Reposted by Robin Ryder
The wonderful Niamh Cahill is recruiting a PhD student (co-supervised by me!) to work on estimating and projecting population exposure to extreme sea levels. Please contact me if interested!
MU Prof Niamh Cahill has been awarded nearly €520,000 in funding by the @epaireland.bsky.social for a research project on rising sea levels and their impact on Ireland.
https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/faculty-science-engineering/news/mu-researcher-awarded-epa-funding-project-rising-sea-levels
https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/faculty-science-engineering/news/mu-researcher-awarded-epa-funding-project-rising-sea-levels
MU researcher awarded EPA funding for project on rising sea levels | Maynooth University
Prof Niamh Cahill of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the Hamilton Institute and ICARUS has been awarded nearly €520,000 in funding by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a research project on rising sea levels and their impact on Ireland. Prof Cahill received €519,880 for...
www.maynoothuniversity.ie
July 28, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The wonderful Niamh Cahill is recruiting a PhD student (co-supervised by me!) to work on estimating and projecting population exposure to extreme sea levels. Please contact me if interested!
Reposted by Robin Ryder
I am pleased to announce that together with some friends, we are organising a workshop on Non-Reversible MCMC Sampling, taking place at Newcastle University from 8–10 September 2025.
Details on the programme and registration can be found at the workshop website (sites.google.com/view/probai-...).
Details on the programme and registration can be found at the workshop website (sites.google.com/view/probai-...).
July 24, 2025 at 11:28 AM
I am pleased to announce that together with some friends, we are organising a workshop on Non-Reversible MCMC Sampling, taking place at Newcastle University from 8–10 September 2025.
Details on the programme and registration can be found at the workshop website (sites.google.com/view/probai-...).
Details on the programme and registration can be found at the workshop website (sites.google.com/view/probai-...).
Reposted by Robin Ryder
Exciting new opening @nccrlanguage.bsky.social with the option of permanent extension. If you work in cutting-edge stats and are interested in joining a highly inter-disciplinary, vibrant community, don't hesitate to apply at tinyurl.com/3fxwjk8e
UZH: Statistician
Within the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) Evolving Language and its 46 different research groups from a large variety of disciplines across Switzerland, and the University of Zurich ...
tinyurl.com
July 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Exciting new opening @nccrlanguage.bsky.social with the option of permanent extension. If you work in cutting-edge stats and are interested in joining a highly inter-disciplinary, vibrant community, don't hesitate to apply at tinyurl.com/3fxwjk8e
Reposted by Robin Ryder
New on the blog: Using Bayesian tools to be a better frequentist
Turns out that for neg. bin. regression with small samples, standard frequentist tools fail to achieve their stated goals. Bayesian computation ends up providing better frequentist guarantees. www.martinmodrak.cz/2025/07/09/u...
Turns out that for neg. bin. regression with small samples, standard frequentist tools fail to achieve their stated goals. Bayesian computation ends up providing better frequentist guarantees. www.martinmodrak.cz/2025/07/09/u...
Using Bayesian tools to be a better frequentist
www.martinmodrak.cz
July 11, 2025 at 5:49 AM
New on the blog: Using Bayesian tools to be a better frequentist
Turns out that for neg. bin. regression with small samples, standard frequentist tools fail to achieve their stated goals. Bayesian computation ends up providing better frequentist guarantees. www.martinmodrak.cz/2025/07/09/u...
Turns out that for neg. bin. regression with small samples, standard frequentist tools fail to achieve their stated goals. Bayesian computation ends up providing better frequentist guarantees. www.martinmodrak.cz/2025/07/09/u...
New preprint on arXiv, led by PhD student Antoine Luciano:
Permutations accelerate Approximate Bayesian Computation.
arxiv.org/abs/2507.06037
Permutations accelerate Approximate Bayesian Computation.
arxiv.org/abs/2507.06037
July 9, 2025 at 9:11 AM
New preprint on arXiv, led by PhD student Antoine Luciano:
Permutations accelerate Approximate Bayesian Computation.
arxiv.org/abs/2507.06037
Permutations accelerate Approximate Bayesian Computation.
arxiv.org/abs/2507.06037
New paper, led by @ambresalis.bsky.social and just out in Scientific reports:
Birds combined calls more than 11 million years ago
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Birds combined calls more than 11 million years ago
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Birds combined calls more than 11 million years ago - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Birds combined calls more than 11 million years ago
www.nature.com
July 2, 2025 at 4:25 PM
New paper, led by @ambresalis.bsky.social and just out in Scientific reports:
Birds combined calls more than 11 million years ago
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Birds combined calls more than 11 million years ago
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This. ⤵️
Some of us are manifesting for the algorithm to be called Metropolis-Rosenbluth-Teller-Hastings, or MRTH. It better recognizes the scientists who had an instrumental role in the original paper. It's what I use in my papers and lectures. I hope it will eventually become the standard name!
Some of us are manifesting for the algorithm to be called Metropolis-Rosenbluth-Teller-Hastings, or MRTH. It better recognizes the scientists who had an instrumental role in the original paper. It's what I use in my papers and lectures. I hope it will eventually become the standard name!
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
Nicolas Metropolis did not play any scientific role in the development of what is known as the "Metropolis" (and later Metropolis-Hastings) algorithm.
(pic: the MANIAC computer that Arianna Rosenbluth used to code the algorithm)
Nicolas Metropolis did not play any scientific role in the development of what is known as the "Metropolis" (and later Metropolis-Hastings) algorithm.
(pic: the MANIAC computer that Arianna Rosenbluth used to code the algorithm)
June 19, 2025 at 7:52 AM
This. ⤵️
Some of us are manifesting for the algorithm to be called Metropolis-Rosenbluth-Teller-Hastings, or MRTH. It better recognizes the scientists who had an instrumental role in the original paper. It's what I use in my papers and lectures. I hope it will eventually become the standard name!
Some of us are manifesting for the algorithm to be called Metropolis-Rosenbluth-Teller-Hastings, or MRTH. It better recognizes the scientists who had an instrumental role in the original paper. It's what I use in my papers and lectures. I hope it will eventually become the standard name!
Reposted by Robin Ryder
Is language complexity more likely to evolve in small, isolated populations? We test this idea using global occurrence of one particular form of morphological complexity - polysynthesis (complex word forms that embody whole phrases) www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Macroevolutionary analysis of polysynthesis shows that language complexity is more likely to evolve in small, isolated populations | PNAS
Evolution of complexity in human languages has been vigorously debated, including
the proposal that complexity can build in small, isolated populat...
www.pnas.org
June 17, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Is language complexity more likely to evolve in small, isolated populations? We test this idea using global occurrence of one particular form of morphological complexity - polysynthesis (complex word forms that embody whole phrases) www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Enjoying discovering Singapore, and ready for BayesComp 2025!
I'll be giving a talk tomorrow (Wed) on Saddlepoint Monte Carlo and its application to exact Ecological Inference. Come say hi at 16:10 in room LT51 - it's a cool paper, I swear!
arxiv.org/abs/2410.18243
I'll be giving a talk tomorrow (Wed) on Saddlepoint Monte Carlo and its application to exact Ecological Inference. Come say hi at 16:10 in room LT51 - it's a cool paper, I swear!
arxiv.org/abs/2410.18243
June 17, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Enjoying discovering Singapore, and ready for BayesComp 2025!
I'll be giving a talk tomorrow (Wed) on Saddlepoint Monte Carlo and its application to exact Ecological Inference. Come say hi at 16:10 in room LT51 - it's a cool paper, I swear!
arxiv.org/abs/2410.18243
I'll be giving a talk tomorrow (Wed) on Saddlepoint Monte Carlo and its application to exact Ecological Inference. Come say hi at 16:10 in room LT51 - it's a cool paper, I swear!
arxiv.org/abs/2410.18243
Sloppier-than-usual academic spam. 😬
I'd never thought of publishing a paper whose title would be my name. Sounds like a highly efficient plan, it would eliminate the whole headache of trying to pick a good title! 🙄
I'd never thought of publishing a paper whose title would be my name. Sounds like a highly efficient plan, it would eliminate the whole headache of trying to pick a good title! 🙄
June 11, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Sloppier-than-usual academic spam. 😬
I'd never thought of publishing a paper whose title would be my name. Sounds like a highly efficient plan, it would eliminate the whole headache of trying to pick a good title! 🙄
I'd never thought of publishing a paper whose title would be my name. Sounds like a highly efficient plan, it would eliminate the whole headache of trying to pick a good title! 🙄