Summary

As a statistician passionate about uncovering data insights, I specialize in applying statistical methods to address real-world problems. With expertise in methods including regression analysis, survival analysis, meta-analysis, longitudinal data analysis, Bayesian analysis, sample size determination, power analysis, and machine learning techniques, I thrive in environments where data-driven decisions are essential. I am committed to delivering rigorous and reliable analyses that inform evidence-based strategies. Throughout my career and PhD work, I have also enhanced my skills in statistical analysis using industry-standard tools such as SAS, R, Python, SPSS, and Power BI.

Experience

• Data Curator and Analyst | FORRT (Freelancer)
• Postdoctoral Researcher | Hasselt University (10/2024 - Present)
• PhD Researcher | Hasselt University (1/2020 - 9/2024)
• Statistical Expert | Haramaya University (12/2016 - 9/2017)
• Assistant Professor of Statistics | Haramaya University (2/2017 - 9/2017)
• Lecturer | Haramaya University (7/2013 - 2/2017)
• Assistant Lecturer | Haramaya University (9/2011 - 7/2013)
• Graduate Assistant | Haramaya University (9/2009 - 9/2011)

Education

• PhD, Economics | Hasselt University, Belgium (Sept. 2024)
• MSc, Biostatistics | Hasselt University, Belgium (Sept. 2019)
• MSc, Statistics | Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia (Jul. 2013)
• BSc, Statistics | Hawassa University, Ethiopia (Jul. 2009)

Skills

• Experience in cleaning large datasets, exploration, and visualization using R and Power BI
• Analyzed over 60,000 samples collected over 5-years of PhD research using R
• Proficient in statistical software such as R, Python, SAS, SPSS, SQL, JMP
• Proficient in preparing reports using MS Office (Word, PPT, Excel), LaTeX, and R Markdown
• Ability to communicate statistical results to non-technical stakeholders

Certifications

• Microsoft Power BI Desktop for Business Intelligence: www.udemy.com
• Data Analysis with Python: www.courses.edx.org.
• Machine Algorithm with Python: www.coursesm.edx.org.
• SAS Certified Base Programmer for SAS 9: www.sas.com with verification number: 5V3LSQVK2M1115W2.

Publications

1. Deressa, T.K. and Stern, David and Vangronsveld, Jaco and Minx, Jan and Lizin, Sebastien and Malina, Robert and Bruns, Stephan B. 2023. “More than half of statistically significant research findings in the environmental sciences are actually not.” Preprint DOI.
   • Media attention: De Morgen in Dutch - www.demorgen.be and Le Point in French - www.lepoint.fr.
2. Bruns, Stephan B. and Deressa, T.K. and Stanley, T.D. and Doucouliagos, Chris, and Ioannidis, John P.A. 2024. “Estimating the extent of selective reporting: An application to economics.” Res. Synth. Methods, 1-13, DOI.
3. Bartoš, František, Maier, Maximilian, Wagenmakers, Eric-Jan, Nippold, Franziska, Doucouliagos, Hristos, Ioannidis, John P. A., Otte, Willem M., Sladekova, Martina, Deressa, T.K. and Bruns, Stephan B. and Fanelli, Daniele, and Stanley, T. D. 2024. “Footprint of publication selection bias on meta-analyses in medicine, environmental sciences, psychology, and economics.” Res. Synth. Methods, 1-12, DOI.
4. Temesgen, Aboma and Genati, Kasahun T. and Bekalo, Daniel B., and Deressa, T.K. 2020. “Spatiotemporal dynamics of tuberculosis in East Hararge Zone, Oromiya Region, Ethiopia.” Spat. Inf. Res. 28 (6): 623–633, DOI.
5. Temesgen, Aboma and Deressa, T.K. 2016. “Joint modeling of longitudinal CD4 count and weight measurements of HIV/TB co-infected patients at Jimma University Specialized Hospital.” Ann Data Sc. 3 (3): 321–338, DOI.
6. Geneti, Kasahun T. and Deressa, T.K. 2014. “Correlates of under-five child mortality in Ethiopia: A logistic regression analysis.” Adv. App. Stat. 39 (1): 61.

Conference presentations

• 08/10/2022 - MAER-Net Colloquium 2022, Kyoto University, Japan
• 28/09/2022 - Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC), Berlin, Germany
• 23/10/2021 - MAER-Net Colloquium 2021, University of Piraeus, Greece

Teaching and supervision

• Supervised 6 master theses at Hasselt University (2020 - 2023)
• Teaching member of the Microeconomics course at Hasselt University, Belgium (2020 - 2022)
• Supported undergraduate and postgraduate students on how to analyze data using R and SAS during my stay at Hasselt University and Haramaya University
• Courses I taught at Haramaya University (2010 - 2017):
  • Applied Spatial Statistics
  • Time Series Analysis
  • Statistical Quality Control
  • Introduction to Statistics
  • Introduction to Probability Theory

Short training delivered

• Analysis of Variance Models Using SAS (25-26 June 2016), for College of Agro-Industry and Land Resource staff, Haramaya University, Chiro Campus, Ethiopia
• LaTeX Document Preparation System Using WinEdt Software (18-20 June 2015), for postgraduate students at the College of Computing and Informatics, Haramaya University, Main Campus, Ethiopia

Scholarship awards

• Fully funded doctoral scholarship | Hasselt University (2020 - 2024)
• Fully funded master scholarship | Hasselt University - VLIR-UOS (2017 - 2019)

Professional service (refereeing)

Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, Journal of Economic Survey, Journal of Human Ecology