Statistics department welcomes new faculty member
The Michigan State University Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of Guanyu Hu, who has joined the department as an associate professor with tenure effective August 16, 2025.
Guanyu comes to MSU after serving as an assistant professor for the past two years at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. Prior to that, he was an assistant professor for three years at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Guanyu received his master's degree and PhD in statistics from Florida State University. His research centers on Bayesian statistical modeling, with a focus on spatio-temporal analysis, point processes and sports analytics. He develops statistical tools that help understand and forecast complex systems—ranging from infectious disease dynamics to team performance in competitive sports.
Guanyu is particularly excited about sports analytics, where he applies advanced statistical models to uncover patterns in player behavior, team strategies, and game outcomes. From modeling shot selection in basketball using spatial point processes to studying home-field advantage using hierarchical causal inference, he aims to bridge theory and application in ways that are both rigorous and impactful.
Away from academics, Guanyu is an avid football fan and a devoted supporter of FC Barcelona, noting that the club's tradition of creativity, precision, and teamwork resonates with his own values as a researcher. Whether it's watching a perfectly timed through ball or designing a well-structured model, Guanyu is drawn to systems where every element plays a role in a larger story.
