Working on novel statistical analysis of physical activity data to create new models for predicting health risks and benefits.

Melina holds a BSc in Actuarial Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and an MSc in Probability and Statistics from the Center for Research in Mathematics (CIMAT). Melina has five years of work experience focused on Statistics and before joining Bath she was working in PepsiCo as LATAM Principal Scientist in global R&D. In her Master’s thesis she modelled the ecological niche of succulent plants and found its relationship with aridity levels in the world by using statistical methods. Her thesis won the prize of the best Statistical thesis at Master’s level in the 2021 Mexican Statistical Forum. Outside of Statistics, Melina enjoys drawing and reading, and loves the Harry Potter books.

Research project title:
Mathematical and statistical analysis of physical activity data to create new models for predicting health risks and benefits.

Supervisor(s):
Dylan Thompson, Matthew Nunes

Project description:
Wearable monitors have been recently introduced as a new technology for monitoring energy expenditure more objectively and reliably than the usual self-reported methods. The overall goal of the research is to find mathematical and statistical models for analyzing longitudinal data gathered using wearable technology, and to draw meaningful conclusions in the physiological context based on these models. The external partner of the project is KiActiv®, a digital health company that has minute-by-minute resolution data coming from more than 2000 patients that took their 12-week KiActiv® Health programme.