Paula Maçaira has a degree in Statistics, Masters’s in Electrical Engineering (Decision Support Methods), and a PhD in Industrial Engineering (Production Management). She is a professor of statistics at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her research interests include applied statistics, time series analysis, forecasting, data analytics, and statistical learning with expertise in R software. She is the co-founder of the Forecasting Resource and Optimization Group (FROG) and the Center for Healthcare Operations and Intelligence (NOIS). She is also the founder of @r_descomplicado, an Instagram account that gives R tips in Portuguese.
How did you become a forecaster?
My first contact with Time Series forecasting was in the second year of my graduation in Statistics, in 2009, when my future advisor presented the topic. Since then, I started working with Time Series and Forecasting, and I have never stopped.
What areas of forecasting interest you?
Since my first contact with time series analysis and forecasting, my field of work has been mostly in the Brazilian Electricity Sector. However, in the last two years, I have developed much research in Epidemiology. Thus, my two main areas of interest are forecasting in decision-making in the electricity and health sectors.
How has the International Institute of Forecasters influenced you?
For me, the IIF introduced me to my “home”, where the people who have always been my references in the forecasting area were and contributed. I joined the Institute and attended the ISF from the first opportunity I had. The opportunity to meet the Jedi masters of forecasting and chat is unmissable. I am very grateful for everything the IIF provides forecasters, and I hope to contribute more and more to the community.
What do you do in your free time?
I like to be with my family and dog in my free time, go for walks outdoors, play sports, and go to good restaurants.