Sithija Manage

I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Statistics and Data Science at Cornell University, advised by Martin Wells and Sam Wang. I am currently a visiting graduate student researcher in the Department of Biostatistics at Harvard University, working with Curtis Huttenhower.

My research centers on nonparametric regression and statistical methods for microbiome data, with broader interests in causal inference and statistical machine learning. I am really excited about my recent work, which includes tree-guided feature aggregation for kernel regression and confounding-aware permutation methods for PERMANOVA in microbiome analysis. I have also recently started a project on improving group relative policy optimization (GRPO) for large language models using statistically-grounded ideas from reinforcement learning with verifiable rewards (RLVR).

Before Cornell, I completed my B.S. in Applied Mathematical Sciences at Texas A&M University, where I worked on variable selection methods for high-dimensional genomic data and discrete Schrödinger operator problems.

I am on the academic job market for postdoctoral positions starting in Fall 2027! I am actively seeking out opportunities, and if you believe my research interests align with your group’s work, please reach out. I would love to apply! 😄