Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Statistics, Iowa State University, 2021
  • M.S., Statistics, Iowa State University, 2017
  • B.A., Chemistry and Mathematics, Saint Louis University, 2014
Professional Honors
  • First Place, NASA International Space Apps Challenge (Hackathon) in Cleveland, 2018.
  • Second Place, Statistical Significance Award, Joint Statistical Meetings, 2018.
  • Second Place, Prudsys Data Mining Cup, 2016.
  • Teaching Excellence Award, Iowa State University, 2018.
  • Alumni Fellowship, Iowa State University, 2014.
  • Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellowship, 2013-2014.
  • Vice President’s Scholarship, Saint Louis University, 2010-2014.
  • Bright Flight Scholarship, Missouri Department of Higher Education, 2010-2014.

Dr. Manju Johny is a data scientist with over seven years of experience applying statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) to solve complex challenges across scientific and engineering domains. She has worked on diverse applications spanning biological, ecological, and environmental sciences, aerospace engineering, remote sensing, oceanography, maritime analytics, computer science, marketing, and business analytics.

Dr. Johny specializes in data analysis and software development for a variety of data types, including time series, images, satellite imagery, and geospatial datasets, ranging from small-scale studies to large-scale (big data) projects. Her expertise includes:

  • Advanced Data Modeling — Bayesian statistics, neural networks, predictive inference, classification, and hypothesis testing.
  • Data Fusion and Uncertainty Quantification — Integrating multimodal and multi-instrument data sources with robust uncertainty estimation.
  • Experimental Design & Analytics — Developing statistical methodologies for experimental studies.
  • Data Visualization & Interpretability — Emphasizing explainability and visualizations in statistical and machine learning models for actionable insights.

Dr. Johny holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Statistics from Iowa State University. She began her career as a postdoctoral researcher at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, where she developed statistical and machine learning solutions for Earth-observing satellites. Her work included constructing long-term atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) datasets from multiple sources, and assessing post-wildfire vegetation recovery using SIF, a measure of photosynthesis. She had internships at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she developed capabilities for identifying adulteration of pharmaceutical materials, and at NASA Glenn Research Center, where she developed an artificial intelligence system to generate engineering design suggestions inspired by biomimicry.

Beyond her technical expertise, Dr. Johny is passionate about data science communication. She has taught statistics courses to STEM and non-STEM students and enjoys collaborating with scientists and engineers across disciplines. She is always eager to explore new applications of data science and welcomes opportunities to collaborate on solving complex challenges across diverse fields.