Joseph Blitzstein

Professor Joseph K. Blitzstein serves as Professor of the Practice in Statistics and Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies at Harvard University, where he has transformed statistical education since 2006. After completing his PhD in Mathematics and MS in Statistics from Stanford University under Persi Diaconis, and his undergraduate studies at Caltech, he has become one of Harvard's most influential educators. His signature course, Statistics 110: Introduction to Probability, has grown from 80 to over 500 students annually, becoming a cornerstone of Harvard's quantitative education. He co-authored the widely-used textbook "Introduction to Probability" and pioneered Harvard's first data science course in 2013. Beyond his teaching achievements, which include winning the Fannie Cox Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching and being voted "Favorite Professor" in the Harvard College Yearbook for 11 consecutive years, Blitzstein's research focuses on statistical inference for networks and complex data structures. A chess expert who advises the Harvard Chess Club, he has earned particular recognition during the pandemic for his innovative teaching methods and dedication to student support. His expertise spans probability theory, data science, and statistical education, making complex concepts accessible while maintaining rigorous academic standards