Hashan Fernando

I'm a Data Scientist and Researcher with 6+ years of experience applying machine learning, Bayesian modeling and NLP to healthcare, public health and marketing domains.

My research focus on unlocking insights from real-world clinical and public health data, developing reproducible data frameworks, and delivering deployable, domain-specific solutions. As a Graduate Research Assistant at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, I designed novel algorithms combining topological data analysis with Bayesian spatial modeling to uncover complex spatial patterns in opioid overdose risk across the USA.

In industry and applied research, I have developed models for marketing modeling, inventory optimization, risk prediction, route optimization, and IoT-based monitoring systems. My work spans academia, labs, and startup environments, where I have learned to balance curiosity with impact.

I hold an M.S. in Statistics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, an M.S. in Data Science from the University of Peradeniya, and a B.Sc. in Statistics and Operations Research.