Staff Profile

I've remained with Newcastle University since my UG studies in statistics in 2010-2014. I did my PhD in petroleum geochemistry in Natural and Environmental Sciences 2014-2019. I then re-joined the Statistics department in 2019 as a research associate and became a lecturer in 2022.

I am interested in statistical surrogate models and Bayesian inference, with applications to engineering/biological problems. I am currently part of the ACHILLES consortium. My current work falls into the following broad categories:

• Gaussian process emulation of static and dynamical models
• Bayesian inference
• Markov chain Monte Carlo methods using STAN, JAGS, and R
• Collaborating with scientists/engineers/industrial stakeholders
• Enabling use of our models through building UI 

I've recently developed the ACHIMULATOR app that allows to predict deterioration of infrastructure assets in real-time.

This academic year Semester 2 I will be teaching engineering statistics in the following modules

• SFY0002 Basic Statistics
• CME1027 Data Analysis in Process Industries. This will be jointly taught with ENG2031 Mathematical Modelling and Statistical Methods for Engineering

• Spencer-Jones CL, McClymont EL, Bale NJ, Hopmans EC, Schouten S, Muller J, Abrahamsen EP, Allen C, Bickert T, Hillenbrand C-D, Mawbey E, Peck V, Svalova A, Smith JA. Archaeal intact polar lipids in polar waters: A comparison between the Amundsen and Scotia seas. Biogeosciences 2021, 18(11), 3485-3504.
• Svalova A, Helm P, Prangle D, Rouainia M, Glendinning S, Wilkinson DJ. Emulating computer experiments of transport infrastructure slope stability using Gaussian processes and Bayesian inference. Data-Centric Engineering 2021, 2, e12.
• Svalova A, Walshaw D, Lee C, Demyanov V, Parker NG, Povey MJ, Abbott GD. Estimating the asphaltene critical nanoaggregation concentration region using ultrasonic measurements and Bayesian inference. Scientific Reports 2021, 11(1), 6698.
• Svalova A, Helm P, Prangle D, Rouainia M, Glendinning S, Wilkinson DJ. Emulating computer experiments of transport infrastructure slope stability using Gaussian processes and Bayesian inference. Data-Centric Engineering 2021, 2.
• Svalova A, Parker NG, Povey MJW, Abbott GD. Determination of Asphaltene Critical Nanoaggregate Concentration Region Using Ultrasound Velocity Measurements. Scientific Reports 2017, 7. In Preparation.