Alexander Rakhlin Appointed Director of MIT Statistics and Data Science Center

Alexander “Sasha” Rakhlin PhD ’06, a respected professor at MIT, has stepped into an exciting new role. He has recently been tapped to be the new director of the MIT Statistics and Data Science Center (SDSC). Dual-rolled at MIT, Rakhlin works as a professor in the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS) and the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. He’s taking over the reins from Ankur Moitra, who has lead the SDSC with distinction since 2021.

A Fresh Chapter in SDSC’s Leadership

Rakhlin’s appointment isn’t just a personnel change – it signifies a fresh chapter in SDSC’s esteemed history. His succession draws a line under an era led by Moitra, who is the Norbert Wiener Professor of Mathematics and a renowned figure in the field of electrical engineering. The SDSC’s leadership seat was held warm for a time by Philippe Rigollet, an important figure in his own right, who stepped in as interim director during 2024-25. It’s clear though, that the appointment of Rakhlin is a significant step forward, moving the Center towards a future enriched by his unique expertise.

Fotini Christia, the Ford International Professor of the Social Sciences and director of IDSS, voices her confidence in Rakhlin’s new role, citing his deep knowledge of statistics and machine learning and his commitment to mentorship as key qualities that make him an ideal leader. As an active participant in the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Statistics (IDPS), Rakhlin’s influence has already been felt as he has nurtured a new generation of cross-disciplinary researchers.

Rakhlin’s Vision and Goals for the Center

Rakhlin, the first holder of the Distinguished Professorship in Data, Systems, and Society, is fired up about his new leadership role at SDSC. He’s on a mission to build a thriving community within the Center, and is keen to promote collaboration across a myriad of fields at MIT. As he rightly puts it, the strength of the SDSC lies in its people, with diversity being key to solving modern-day challenges in statistics, machine learning, and AI.

Academically, Rakhlin is no stranger to diverse challenges. With experience that includes a postdoctoral stint at UC Berkeley and an associate professorship at the University of Pennsylvania, his fascination with machine learning has fueled his research for over two decades. He’s particularly intrigued by the crossroads of statistics, probability, algorithms, and game theory.

Always eager to foster collaboration, Rakhlin views statistics as a common language across different disciplines at MIT. His vision for the SDSC includes enhancing connections, turning the center into a hub not only for rigorous data science and AI research but also for addressing pressing scientific and societal questions.

Amid the rapid evolution of AI, Rakhlin sees crucial statistical and mathematical questions as integral to ensuring its safety and effectiveness. “Answering them demands a rigorous science of the tools themselves,” he says, underlining the necessity of understanding potential AI failures and quantifying uncertainty.

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