Nagham Mohammad
Associate Professor, Statistics
College of Computational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Available positions for grads/undergrads: Inquire by email I am a teaching focused faculty member, and much of my time is spent teaching statistics and mathematics courses. My teaching interests include the development of course content and resources for all levels of statistics and mathematics courses. Research Themes: My research interests cut across several areas of statistics and pedagogy. In the areas of statistics, I am interested in developing, applying statistical models for estimation and prediction, and the analysis of incomplete data. I am motivated by scientific and technical issues that arise in public health, the social sciences and other areas. My research typically involves strong statistical computing skills. I have supervised many fantastic undergraduate student projects and URA that have focused on: Regularized Gamma Regression Variable Selection in Gamma Regression Model. Comparing Gamma and Log-Normal GLMS in R using. Model Fitting for Gamma Distributed Data In the areas of teaching and learning, my current research interests are in the mathematical and statistical education particularly focusing on the impact of technology-enhanced and group activities on student learning and attitudes toward statistics and mathematics. I have held surveys to capture student perspectives, study habits, confidence, and many other pieces of information. I presented papers on various issues related to the use of technology in large mathematics and statistics classes. My goal is to use some of this research to continue to improve the delivery of courses that I am involved with. I am also interested in graduate supervision.
Career and Education
EDUCATION AND DEGREES
- Ph.D. (2014) – Doctor of Philosophy Statistics (Biostatistics) – Western University - London, Canada
- M.Sc (2009) – Master of Science Statistics – Western University, Canada
- M.Sc (1993) – Master Degree in Statistics – Baghdad University, Baghdad - Iraq.
- B.Sc (1989) – Bachelor Degree in Statistics – Baghdad University, Baghdad- Iraq
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Work Experience
- Assistant Professor, University of Guelph (September, 2018 - Present), Guelph, Canada.
- Lecturer, Dept of Statistics & Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo (2014 - 2018), Waterloo, Canada-Ontario.
- Assistant Professor, McMaster University (September, 2013 - September, 2014), Ontario, Canada.
- Lecturer, Western University (2012 - 2013), London, Canada.
- Assistant Professor, Al-Fatah University (1997 - 2005), Tripoli, Libya.
- Assistant Professor, Baghdad University (1994 - 1997), Baghdad, Iraq.
- Assistant Programmer, Baghdad University (1988 - 1991), Baghdad, Iraq.
Awards
SCHOLARLY HONOURS AND AWARDS
AWARDS
- 2024 CEPS Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (May 2024). University of Guelph, Canada. 500 Canadian dollar ($500 CAD).
- OSSTF/FEESO Research Grant for Emergent Issues and Priorities (Feb. 2023). The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. 3,500 Canadian dollar ($3,500 CAD) Pedagogy related research. Promote Professional and Personal Development Opportunities to Recruit and Retain Workers in Education
- Physical Science and Engineering Education Research Centre Grant for pedagogy related research (Jan. 2022). University of Guelph, Canada. 4,000 Canadian dollar ($4,000 CAD) View supplementary material
- 2021 UGFA Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (Jun. 2021). University of Guelph. 500 Canadian dollar ($500 CAD) View supplementary material
HONOURS AND DISTINCTIONS
- Nominated for the 2024-2025 Professor Recognition Award by students in residence, through the professor recognition program set up by Student Housing Services (Sep. 2024 - Apr. 2025). University of Guelph, Canada
- Favourite winter professor in 2023 (MATH*1080) by students in residence, through the professor recognition program set up by Student Housing Services (Jan. 2023 - Apr. 2023). University of Guelph, Canada
- Favourite winter professor in 2021 (MATH*1160) by students in residence, through the professor recognition program set up by Student Housing Services (Jan. 2021 - Apr. 2021). University of Guelph, Canada.
- Nominated for Favourite Fall Semester Professor by students (mostly first-year) in residence halls across the campus of Guelph University as their favourite fall Semester professor, who positively impacted their academic experience at Guelph (Sep. 2020 - Dec. 2020). University of Guelph, Canada.
- Top Teachers. Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science (Sep. 2017 - Aug. 2018). University of Waterloo, Canada.
- Top Teachers. Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science (Sep. 2016 - Aug. 2017). University of Waterloo, Canada.
- Top Teachers. Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science (Sep. 2015 - Aug. 2016).University of Waterloo, Canada.
Interests
- Functional linear models/ Model selection
- Analysis of missing data
- Survey sampling design and estimation
- Time Series analysis
- Applied Statistics
Publications
PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Publications
Journal Articles
- Mohammad, Nagham, Demers, Matthew, McCubbin, Erin, Mitchell, Jackson & Fulmer, Sara M. (2025, Nov.). How college students use ChatGPT. Pedagogical Research, Volume 10, Issue 4, Article No: em0250. (Published) https://www.pedagogicalresearch.com/download/how-college-students-use-chatgpt-17428.pdf,
- Mohammad, Nagham, Kraus, Daniel, Richards, Geordie, & McCubbin, Erin (2025, Feb). Students’ perception on blending mathematics teaching with kindness. Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher, Volume 5, Issue 2, 2025, Article No: em077. (Published) https://doi.org/10.29333/mathsciteacher/16057
- Mohammad, Nagham, Demers, Matthew, & Kopel, Kayla (2025, Feb.). Promote professional and personal development opportunities to recruit and retain workers in education. Pedagogical Research, Volume 10, Issue 2, Article No: em023. (Published) https://www.pedagogicalresearch.com/article/promote-professional-and-personal-development-opportunities-to-recruit-and-retain-workers-in-15998
- Mohammad, Nagham, Nica, Mihai, Kraus, Daniel, Levere, Kimberly M. & *Okner, Rachel. (2024, April). Students Experience using Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning in Mathematics Classes. Pedagogical Research, 9(2). Retrieved from https://www.pedagogicalresearch.com/article/student-experience-using-synchronous-and-asynchronous-instruction-in-mathematics-classes-14244 (Published)
- Mohammad, Nagham, Demers, Matthew & *Kopel, Kayla. (2023, September). A comparison of flipped learning with traditional (face-to-face) learning: The effects on students' mathematics achievement and cognitive engagement. Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher, 3(2). https://www.mathsciteacher.com/article/a-comparison-of-flipped-learning-with-traditional-learning-face-to-face-in-large-calculus-courses-13720 (Published)
- Mohammad, Nagham, Nica, Mihai, Levere, Kimberly M. & * Okner, Rachel. (2023, February). Promoting engagement via engaged mathematics labs and supportive learning. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 18((2) em0732). Retrieved from https://www.iejme.com/download/promoting-engagement-via-engaged-mathematics-labs-and-supportive-learning-12960.pdf (Published)
- Mohammad, Nagham M., McLeod, A.I., Veenstra, Justin & El-Shaarawi, Abdel. (2014, December). cents: Censored Time Series Analysis. The R Journal, Vol. 6/2(2073-4859). (Published)
- Mohammad, N. (n.d.). Diagnose and Estimate the Outlier on Some of Agricultural Experiments, (1996). Iraqi Agricultural Centre for Researches-Baghdad, Iraq.
Non-Refereed Publications
Conferences
- Mohammad, Nagham, Demers, Matthew & Richards, Geordie (2025, May). Planting Seeds: Preparing for MATH*1080/MATH*1200 and the Journey into University-Level Calculus. In University of Guelph Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference 2025 Canada.
- Mohammad, Nagham, Kraus, Daniel & Richards, Geordie. (2023, May). Kindness in Academic Life! In 14th Annual University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference Canada.
- Mohammad, Nagham. (2023, May). Flipped Classroom is an Effective Approach in Teaching and Learning Mathematics in Large Classes. In University of Guelph Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference 2023 Canada.
- Mohammad, Nagham. (2023, May). Student Engagement around EDI Principles. In University of Guelph Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference 2023 Canada.
- Barker, Jenelle, Ali, Ayesha, Mohammad Nagham & Okner, Rachel. (2023, May).
- Mohammad, Nagham. (2021, May). Engaging Students Remotely. In Remote Teaching Reflection Series: as part of CEPS Remote Teaching Reflections Series Canada.
- Mohammad, Nagham. (2020, February 1). Student engagement in the virtual classroom. In CEPS Remote Teaching Reflections Series.
- Mohammad, Nagham, Dawoud, Dina & Skrzydlo, Diana. (2018, April). Keeping the Learner Interested in Class: Engaging Students with Clickers. In University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference.
- Mohammad, Nagham & Dawoud, Dina. (2017, April). Student Feedback on the use of Clickers in Large Courses with Multiple Sections. In University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference.
- Mohammad, N & I. McLeod. (2012, June). Left-Censored Gamma. In 40th Annual Meeting of the Statistical Society of Canada.
- Mohammad, Nagham & I. McLeod. (2012, April). Censored Gamma Regression for Forest Fire prediction. In 9th Annual Earth Day Colloquium.
Journal Articles
- Mohammad, Nagham & *McGivern, Lucinda. (2020, August). Comparing Gamma and Log-Normal GLMs in R Using Simulation and Real Data Set. ERIC (an online library of education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education). https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED607605 (Published)
Other Scholarly Publications
Thesis/Dissertation
- Ian A. McLeod (Supervisor). (2014). Censored Time Series Analysis (Doctorate). University of Western Ontario, Canada, Ontario. Retrieved from https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3998&context=etd
- Ian A. McLeod (Supervisor). (2009). Topics in Modern Regression (Master's Thesis). University of Western Ontario, Canada, Ontario.
- University of Baghdad (Iraq- Baghdad -Academic), Tafar Hassan (Supervisor). (1993). Evaluation of the Missing and Outlier Data in the Analysis of Unbalanced Experiments Design (Master's Thesis).
Online Resources
- Mohammad, Nagham & * McGivern, Lucinda. (2020, August). Comparing Gamma and Log-Normal GLMS in R using Simulation and Real Data Set. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED607605.pdf
- Mohammad, Nagham & McLeod, Ian A. (2013, August 24). Estimating and Diagnostic Checking in Censored Normal Random Samples. The Wolfram Demonstrations Project. Retrieved from https://demonstrations.wolfram.com/EstimatingAndDiagnosticCheckingInCensoredNormalRandomSamples
- El-Shaarawi, Abdelhameed, Mohammad, Nagham & McLeod, Ian A. (2013, August 13). Comparing Gamma and Log-Normal Distributions. The Wolfram Demonstrations Project. Retrieved from https://demonstrations.wolfram.com/ComparingGammaAndLogNormalDistributions
- Mohammad, Nagham & McLeod, Ian A. (2013, July 24). Monte Carlo Expectation-Maximization (EM) Algorithm. The Wolfram Demonstrations Project. Retrieved from https://demonstrations.wolfram.com/MonteCarloExpectationMaximizationEMAlgorithm
- McLeod, Ian A. & Mohammad, Nagham. (2013, July 8). Comparing Exact and Approximate Censored Normal Likelihoods. The Wolfram Demonstrations Project. Retrieved from https://demonstrations.wolfram.com/ComparingExactAndApproximateCensoredNormalLikelihoods
- McLeod, Ian A. & Mohammad, Nagham. (2013, June 25). Transformation to Symmetry of Gamma Random Variables. The Wolfram Demonstrations Project. Retrieved from https://demonstrations.wolfram.com/TransformationToSymmetryOfGammaRandomVariables
Supervised Undergraduate Student Publications
- Peer-reviewed: Erin McCubbin (2025, Feb). Students’ perception on blending mathematics teaching with kindness. Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher. (Published) https://doi.org/10.29333/mathsciteacher/16057
- Peer-reviewed: Kayla Kopel, (2025, Feb.). Promote professional and personal development opportunities to recruit and retain workers in education. Pedagogical Research (Published). https://www.pedagogicalresearch.com/article/promote-professional-and-personal-development-opportunities-to-recruit-and-retain-workers-in-15998
- Peer-reviewed: Rachel Okner (2024, April). Student experience using synchronous and asynchronous instruction in mathematics classes. Pedagogical Research, 9. https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/14244
- Peer-reviewed: Kayla Kopel (2023, September). A comparison of flipped learning with traditional learning (face-to- face) in large calculus courses: The effects on students’ achievement and cognitive engagement. Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher Issue 2 ed., 3. https://doi.org/10.29333/mathsciteacher/13720
- Peer-reviewed: Rachel Okner (2023, February). Promoting Engagement Via Engaged Mathematics Labs and Supportive Learning. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/12960
- McGivern, Lucinda (2020, August). Comparing Gamma and Log-Normal GLMS in R using Simulation and Real Data Set. Education Resources Center https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED607605.pdf
Recent Student Projects/Theses
STUDENT AND RESEARCHER SUPERVISION
SUPERVISORY ACTIVITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH
Graduate Supervision
Principal Supervisor
- Principal Supervisor: Master’s Non-Thesis
- Sep. 2022 - August 2024
- Kartheeka Hebbale, University of Guelph, Status: Completed
- Other Supervisor(s): Ayesha Ali (Co-Supervisor)
Co-Supervisor
Number of Students: 2
Co-Supervisor: Master’s Thesis
Sep. 2024 - present
- Kayla Kopel
- Description: MSc in Collaborative Specialization in AI to start in Fall 2024 (Supervised by A. Ali).
Sep. 2023 - present
- Jenelle Barker, Status: In Progress, Sep. 2023 - present
- Description: MSc in Collaborative Specialization in AI in Fall 2023 (Supervised by A. Ali).
Undergraduate Student Supervision
Principal Supervisor
Number of Students: 15
Principal Supervisor
- May 2025 - Aug. 2025
- Jackson Mitchell & Erin McCubbin, University of Guelph (URA)
- Project Title: How College Students use ChatGPT
- May 2024 - Aug. 2024
- Erin McCubbin, University of Guelph (URA)
- Thesis/Project Title: Students’ Perception on Blending Mathematics Teaching with Kindness
- May 2024 - Aug. 2024
- Erin Alex McCubbin, University of Guelph
- Thesis/Project Title: UNIV*4800-Independent Research
- May 2024 - Jul. 2024
- Kayla Kopel, University of Guelph (URA-OSSTF/FEESO Research Grant)
- Thesis/Project Title: Promote Professional and Personal Development Opportunities to Recruit and Retain Workers in Education.
- May 2023 - Aug. 2023
- Kayla Kopel, University of Guelph (URA)
- Thesis/Project Title: A comparison of flipped learning with traditional (face-to-face) learning: The effects on students' mathematics achievement and cognitive engagement. A paper is published in peer-reviewed Journal.
- View supplementary material
- Jan. 2024 - Apr. 2024
- Mohammadreza Salimaroony, University of Guelph
- Thesis/Project Title: A Comparison of Multiple Imputation Methods for Missing Data
- Description: STAT*4600-Advanced Research Project in Statistics.
- Aug. 2023 - Oct. 2023
- Arielle Ramnath, University of Guelph (URA-OSSTF/FEESO Research Grant)
- Thesis/Project Title: Promote Professional and Personal Development Opportunities to Recruit and Retain Workers in Education.
- Oct. 2022 - Sep. 2023
- Jenelle Barker, University of Guelph (URA)
- Other Supervisor(s): Ayesha Ali (Co-Supervisor)
- Thesis/Project Title: A comparative study on evolutionary algorithms and regularization methods for variable selection in gamma regression model
- May 2022 - Aug. 2022
- Rachel Okner, University of Guelph (URA)
- Other Supervisor(s): Ayesha Ali (Co-Supervisor)
- Thesis/Project Title: Regularized Gamma Regression
- Mar. 2022 - Aug. 2022
- Rachel Okner, University of Guelph (URA-PSEER Grant for pedagogy related research).
- Thesis/Project Title: Promoting Engagement Via Engaged Mathematics Labs and Supportive Learning.
- Description: This work was published in International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education (peer-reviewed journal).
- View supplementary material
- May 2021 - Sep. 2021
- Rachel Okner, University of Guelph (URA)
- Thesis/Project Title: Students Experience using Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning in Mathematics Classes
- Description: This work was published in Pedagogical Research (peer-reviewed journal).
- View supplementary material
- May 2021 - Aug. 2021
- Jenelle Barker, University of Guelph (URA)
- Thesis/Project Title: Variable Selection in Gamma Regression
- Description: This work is near completion for journal publication with the regularized gamma regression paper.
- May 2020 - Aug. 2020
- Lucinda McGivern, University of Guelph (URA).
- Thesis/Project Title: Comparing Gamma and Log-Normal GLMs in R Using Simulation and Real Data Set
- Description: This work was published in ERIC Augst 2020
- Jan. 2020 - Apr. 2020
- Rachel Broders, University of GuelphURA).
- Thesis/Project Title: Model Fitting of Gamma Distributed Data
- Description: STAT*4600- Advanced Research Project in Statistics.