Marvin Zelen Leadership Award in Statistical Science

We are extremely pleased to announce Dr. Paul Rosenbaum will be the recipient of the 2026 Marvin Zelen Leadership Award in Statistical Science!

We will host Dr. Rosenbaum for a lecture on Thursday, May 7^th in Kresge G2 at 4 pm followed by a reception in the Kresge Atrium.

Biography of 2026 Recipient

Dr. Rosenbaum is widely recognized for his significant contributions to statistical science, especially in improving methods for understanding cause-and-effect relationships in observational studies. His work has helped researchers draw more reliable conclusions from real-world data when randomized experiments are not possible.

Dr. Rosenbaum currently serves as a Professor of Statistics and Data Science at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he has held a longstanding faculty appointment and continues to play a leading role in both research and mentorship. In addition to his academic work, he is deeply engaged in collaborative health research, including a longstanding partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he contributes to studies addressing important questions in medicine and public health.

Dr. Rosenbaum received his Ph.D. in Statistics from Harvard University, where he developed the foundations of his work in causal inference and observational studies—an area in which he would go on to become a leader in the field.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Rosenbaum’s contributions—including work on propensity scores, matching techniques, and sensitivity analysis—have become widely used tools across health, social, and policy research. His work has also helped shape best practices in study design, placing a strong emphasis on transparency, rigor, and the careful evaluation of potential bias in real-world data. In addition to his research contributions, Dr. Rosenbaum has shaped the field through a series of influential books that have helped define how observational studies are taught and understood. His writing is known for its clarity and accessibility, making complex ideas more approachable for both statisticians and applied researchers.

Dr. Rosenbaum’s impact also extends through his mentorship and collaboration. He has guided many students and colleagues, many of whom have gone on to make significant contributions of their own, while also fostering meaningful collaborations across disciplines. He has worked closely with researchers in medicine, public health, and the social sciences, helping to apply statistical methods to important real-world problems. His commitment to thoughtful study design, collaboration, and mentorship reflects the spirit of the Marvin Zelen Leadership Award.In recognition of his contributions to statistical science, his impact on applied research, and his leadership within the field, we are honored to present Dr. Paul Rosenbaum with the 2026 Marvin Zelen Leadership Award.

About the Award

This annual award, supported by colleagues, friends and family, was established to honor Dr. Marvin Zelen’s long and distinguished career as a statistician and his major role in shaping the field of biostatistics.

The award recognizes an individual in government, industry, or academia, who by virtue of his/her outstanding leadership, has greatly impacted the theory and practice of statistical science. While individual accomplishments are considered, the most distinguishing criterion is the awardee’s contribution to the creation of an environment in which statistical science and its applications have flourished. The award recipient will deliver a lecture on statistical science and will be presented with a citation and an honorarium.

Nominations

This year’s award will be given in May 2026. Nominations should include a letter describing the contributions of the candidate, specifically highlighting the criteria for the award, and a curriculum vita. Other supporting materials would be extremely helpful to the committee.

All nominations must be received by Friday, February 13th, 2026.

Please send nominations to: kpietrini@hsph.harvard.edu

Past Awardees

Past recipients include:

• 2025 Peter Gilbert
• 2024 Bhramar Mukherjee
• 2023 David Harrington
• 2022 Xihong Lin
• 2021 Marie Davidian
• 2020 Roderick J. Little
• 2019 Colin B. Begg
• 2018 Constantine Gatsonis
• 2017 Richard Simon
• 2016 Karen Bandeen-Roche
• 2015 Nan M. Laird
• 2014 Xiao-Li Meng
• 2013 John J. Crowley