About Me
PhD in Statistics (2016) through the Graduate Programs in Statistics (PPGEst-UFSCar) and Graduate Studies in Computer Science (PPGCC-UFSCar).
Since August 2021, Assistant Professor at Department of Statistics, Federal University of Paraná (DEST-UFPR), Curitiba-PR, Brazil. Assistant Professor at Department of Statistics, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador-BA, Brazil (2017-2021). Lecturer at Faculty of Technology SENAI-SP, São Carlos-SP, Brazil (2009-2015).
Lecturer in the Specialization in Data Science & Big Data (DSBD-UFPR), MBA in Financial Analytics (DAAGE-UTFPR) and in Specialization in Data Science and Big Data (ECD-UFBA). Head of Data Science of LED-UFBA, Statistics and Data science Laboratory (2017-2019). Head of DataSci Labs - UFPR.
Researcher at Statistics and Geoinformation Laboratory (LEG-UFPR), also at Center for Data Integration and Knowledge for Health (Cidacs/Fiocruz) and at Center for Mathematical Sciences Applied to Industry (CeMEAI-USP).
Researcher of the Graduate Program in Numerical Methods in Engineering (PPGMNE-UFPR), Graduate Program in Informatics (PPGInf-UFPR) and the Graduate Program in Mathematics (PGMAT-UFBA).
Since July 2022, Tutor of the Tutorial Education Program (TEP) of the Statistics Undergraduation course (DEST-UFPR).
Research Interest
Statistical Machine Learning, Statistical Inference and Computational Methods
Selected Publications
Methodological papers
📃 PIMENTEL, J. S.; OSPINA, R.; ARA, A.. A novel fusion Support Vector Machine integrating weak and sphere models for classification challenges with massive data. Decision Analytics Journal, v. 11, p. 100457, 2024. [Link]
📃 DO ESPIRITO SANTO, J. S., DA CONCEIÇÃO, J. S., da COSTA, L. C. C., FIACCONE, R. L., BARRETO, M. E., ICHIHARA, M. Y., ARA, A. . K-means DTW Barycenter Averaging: a clustering analysis of COVID-19 cases and deaths on the Brazilian federal units. International Journal of Data Science and Analytics, 1-21, 2024. [Link]
📃 LOCH, A. A. ; GONDIM, J. M. ; ARGOLO, F. C. ; LOPES-ROCHA, A. C. ; ANDRADE, J. C. ; VAN DE BILT, M. T. ; DE JESUS, L. P. ; HADDAD, N. M. ; CECCHI, G. A. ; MOTA, N. B. ; GATTAZ, W. F. ; CORCORAN, C. M. ARA, A.. Detecting at-risk mental states for psychosis (ARMS) using machine learning ensembles and facial features. Schizophrenia Research, v. 258, p. 45-52, 2023. [Link]
📃 MAIA, M. ; PIMENTEL, J. S. ; OSPINA, R. ; ARA, A. . Wavelet Support Vector Censored Regression. Analytics, v. 2, p. 410-425, 2023. [Link]
📃 ARA, A.; MAIA, M. ; LOUZADA, F. ; MACÊDO, S. Regression random machines: An ensemble support vector regression model with free kernel choice. Expert Systems with Applications, v. 202, p. 117107, 2022. [Link]
📃 MAIA, M. ; AZEVEDO, A. R. ; ARA, A. . Predictive comparison between random machines and random forests. Journal of Data Science, v. 19, p. 593-614, 2021. [Link]
📃 ARA, A.; LOUZADA, F. Alpha Skew Gaussian Naïve Bayes Classifier. International Journal Of Information Technology & Decision Making, v. 21, p. 1-22, 2021. [Link]
📃 ARA, A.; MAIA, M. ; LOUZADA, F. ; MACÊDO, S. Random Machines: A bagged-weighted support vector model with free kernel choice. Journal of Data Science, 2021. [Link]
📃 ARA, A.; LOUZADA, F . The Multivariate Alpha Skew Gaussian Distribution. Bulletin of The Brazilian Mathematical Society, v. 1, p. 1-21, 2019. [Link]
📃 LOUZADA, F.; ARA, A. ; FERNANDES, G. B. The Bivariate Alpha-Skew-Normal Distribution. Communications in Statistics-Theory and Methods, v. 46, n. 14, p. 7147-7156, 2017. [Link]
📃 LOUZADA, F.; ARA, A. Bagging k-dependence probabilistic networks: An alternative powerful fraud detection tool. Expert Systems with Applications, v. 39, p. 11583-11592, 2012. [Link]
Applied papers
📃 DE FÁTIMA COBRE, A., ARA, A., ALVES, A. C., NETO, M. M., FACHI, M. M., BECA, L. S. D. A. B., TONIN, F. T.,PONTAROLO, R. Identifying 124 new anti-HIV drug candidates in a 37 billion-compound database: An integrated approach of machine learning (QSAR), molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 250, 105145, 2024. [Link]
📃 LOCH, A.A.; ARA, A.; HORTÊNCIO, L.; HATAGAMI MARQUES, J.; TALIB, L. L.; ANDRADE, J. C. ; SERPA, M. H.; SANCHEZ, L.; ALVES, T. M.; VAN DE BILT, M. T.; RÖSSLER, W; GATTAZ, W. F. Use of a Bayesian Network Model to predict psychiatric illness in individuals with -at risk mental states? from a general population cohort. Neuroscience Letters, v. 770, p. 136358, 2022. [Link]
📃 MAIA, M. ; PIMENTEL, J. ; PEREIRA, I. S. ; GONDIN, J. ; BARRETO, M. E. ; ARA, A. . Convolutional Support Vector Models: Prediction of Coronavirus Disease Using Chest X-rays. INFORMATION, v. 11, p. 548, 2020. [Link]
📃 PAZ, H. ; MAIA, M. ; MORAES, F. ; LUTOSA, R. ; MACEDO, S. ; COSTA, L. C. C. ; BARRETO, M. E. ; ARA, A. . Local Processing of Massive Databases with R: A National Analysis of a Brazilian Social Programme. Stats, v. 3, p. 444-464, 2020. [Link]
📃 LOUZADA, F.; MAIORANO, A.C.; ARA, A. iSports: A web-oriented expert system for talent identification in soccer. Expert Systems with Applications, Volume 44, 400-412, 2016. [Link]
📃 LOUZADA, F.; ARA, A.; FERNANDES, G. B. Classification methods applied to credit scoring: Systematic review and overall comparison. Surveys in Operations Research and Management Science, 2016. [Link]
Awards
🔘 2023. SIRS Early Career Awards, Advisor, Toronto, Canada.
🔘 2023. Best Master Dissertation. Finalist. Advisor, 67RBras 20SEAGRO, RBras, Londrina, PR.
🔘 2023. Best Undergraduate Research. Finalist. Advisor, 67RBras 20SEAGRO, RBras, Londrina, PR.
🔘 2022. Best Master Dissertation. Advisor, 24º SINAPE, ABE, Gramado, RS.
🔘 2022. Best Undergraduate Research. Advisor, 24º SINAPE, ABE, Gramado, RS.
🔘 2022. 1st Sport Innovation Award, Brazilian Olympic committee.
🔘 2020. 1st Highly Accessed Article, Stats Journal.
🔘 2018. Best Paper Award, III International Seminar on Statistics with R (III SER), Niterói, RJ.
🔘 2018. Best Poster Award, VI Encontro Baiano de Estatística, Salvador, BA.
🔘 2017. Best LACSC Poster Award, 2nd Latin American Conference On Statistical Computing (LACSC), Valparaiso, Chile.
🔘 2016. Best LACSC Paper Award, 1st Latin American Conference On Statistical Computing (LACSC), Gramado-RS.
🔘 2013. Honoured Professor of the 5th Class Degree in Mechanical Manufacturing at Faculty of Technology SENAI-SP.
🔘 2010. Honorable Mention, Competition “Best Work of Undergraduate Research”, 19º SINAPE, ABE.
🔘 2010. SOBRAPO World Cup 2010 Football Forecast Competition - Track B, com o CER World Cup Model.
🔘 2010. Medal of Honor. Federal University from São Carlos - UFSCar.
🔘 2000. Top 5 in 2nd Regional Science Olympics. Centro de Divulgação Científica e Cultural CDCC-USP.
Hobbies
Programming; Music; Tennis; RPG and Board games.