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HDSI Seminar – Dragan Radulović – A New Paradigm for the Analysis of Large Text Files

October 7, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Speaker:Dragan Radulović
Date & Time: Tuesday Oct 7th, 2pm
Location: HDSI Multipurpose Room 123, 1st floor
 
Title:  A New Paradigm for the Analysis of Large Text Files
 
Talk Abstract: The problem is as follows: a large text file containing information on thousands of individuals serves as the input. The output is a simple yes-or-no prediction. For example, the algorithm might receive a new patient’s file and must provide a prognosis—yes or no—for a given disease (or treatment, or test, etc.). I have developed a rather unusual (and quite peculiar) method for doing this. The algorithm has been successfully used for several years by an (undisclosed) American professional sports team. It has never been published, and until recently, I was not even allowed to share it with anyone. Now that the confidentiality clause in my agreement has expired, I am free to share it with the world.
 
Speaker Bio: Dragan Radulović is a mathematician specializing in probability on Banach spaces, empirical processes, and copula functions. Parallel to this more theoretical career, Dragan also explores applications—particularly in data analysis. He was the principal mathematician at the successful startup Quantiva (Princeton, 1999–2003), where he designed a suite of algorithms tailored to detecting anomalies in internet traffic. From 2002 to 2011, he worked on problems in molecular biology. In this area, he was the first author of several high-profile papers (Nature Genetics, PLOS Biology, Cancer Informatics). His key innovation was a novel algorithm that analyzes mass spectrometry data to provide protein quantification—something that was not possible at the time.

More recently, he worked as a contractor for the Chicago Blackhawks, a professional hockey team. There he designed a suite of algorithms that processed large numerical and textual datasets collected by scouts and hockey professionals. The output of these algorithms was predictive modeling of players’ future performances.

Dragan Radulović is also an author. His first book, On the Road Again (2018), recounts his road trip through Iran and Afghanistan. His second book, Why Does Math Work? (Cambridge, 2023), received praise in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society:

“If you have wondered about the philosophical underpinnings of mathematics, this book is for you. It contains insightful queries for a mathematician to ponder and could definitely be the start of some enlightening conversations, perhaps in a departmental book club or seminar course. I found myself enjoying the many tangents (pun intended!) and digressions in this wonderfully unique and well-articulated book.” —Emily J. Olson, Notices of the American Mathematical Society

Dragan has had stints at Princeton University and Yale University. He later moved to South Florida, where he surfs, writes, and does mathematics.

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