Researcher

Concha Bielza

Also known as María Concepción Bielza Lozoya

Concha Bielza is a researcher in decision analysis and Bayesian networks whose work strengthens statistical methods for machine learning and AI. She earned a mathematics degree at Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1989 and received UPM's extraordinary doctorate award in 1996. A 1999 paper with coauthors used Monte Carlo simulation for decision analysis, and in May 2021 she joined NorwAI's Scientific Advisory Council. She became an ELLIS Fellow in 2023 and received Spain's National Statistics Award in 2024 for work on statistical methods behind machine learning and AI. In September 2025 she delivered UPM's inaugural lecture on interpretable AI; as of October 2026 she is a Full Professor of Statistics and Operations Research in UPM's Department of Artificial Intelligence.

Works
395
Citations
8,671
h-index
40
Badges

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 19 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1989–1996

    Mathematics and a doctorate award

    She earns a mathematics degree from Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1989 and receives UPM's extraordinary doctorate award in 1996.

  2. 1999

    Decision analysis by simulation

    In 1999, she and coauthors introduce a Monte Carlo method for finding decision alternatives with maximum expected utility.

  3. May 2021

    A NorwAI advisory role

    In May 2021, she joins the Scientific Advisory Council of the Norwegian Research Center for AI Innovation (NorwAI).

  4. September 2021–April 2026

    Bayesian network methods

    In a 2021 paper, she and coauthors introduce semiparametric Bayesian networks that combine parametric and nonparametric conditional distributions. A 2026 preprint presents two transfer-learning methods for nonparametric Bayesian networks under scarce data.

  5. 2023

    An ELLIS fellowship

    In 2023, she becomes an ELLIS Fellow.

  6. 2024

    The National Statistics Award

    In 2024, she receives Spain's National Statistics Award for work strengthening statistical methods that underpin machine learning and AI.

  7. September 2025

    An interpretable AI lecture

    In September 2025, she delivers UPM's inaugural lecture on interpretable artificial intelligence at the opening of the academic year.

  8. Since 2010

    Professor in UPM's AI department

    As of October 2026, she is a Full Professor of Statistics and Operations Research in UPM's Department of Artificial Intelligence, a post she has held since 2010.

Career

  1. Since 2010Technical University of MadridFull Professor of Statistics and Operations Research
  2. From 2021Norwegian Research Center for AI InnovationScientific Advisory Council member
  3. 1996–2010Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Education

  1. 1989Complutense University of MadridMathematics degree

Most-cited works

  1. Machine learning in bioinformatics2006 · Briefings in Bioinformatics · 865 citationsWith Pedro Larrañaga
  2. New insights into the classification and nomenclature of cortical GABAergic interneurons2013 · Nature reviews. Neuroscience · 833 citationsWith Pedro Larrañaga
  3. A survey on multi‐output regression2015 · Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery · 667 citationsWith Pedro Larrañaga
  4. The Fourth Industrial Revolution2018 · CRC Press eBooks · 660 citationsWith David Atienza and Pedro Larrañaga
  5. Discrete Bayesian Network Classifiers2014 · ACM Computing Surveys · 247 citationsWith Pedro Larrañaga

Sources and credits

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  1. Concha Bielza - Computational Intelligence Group cig.fi.upm.es. Checked 19 October 2026.
  2. La catedrática de la UPM Concha Bielza, Premio Nacional de Estadística upm.es. Checked 19 October 2026.
  3. Decision Analysis by Augmented Probability Simulation ideas.repec.org. Checked 19 October 2026.
  4. Concha Bielza, nombrada miembro del Consejo Científico Asesor del Norwegian Research Center for AI Innovation (NorwAI) upm.es. Checked 19 October 2026.
  5. Semiparametric Bayesian Networks arxiv.org. Checked 19 October 2026.
  6. Transfer learning for nonparametric Bayesian networks arxiv.org. Checked 19 October 2026.
  7. Resolución de 8 de noviembre de 2024, del Instituto Nacional de Estadística, por la que se concede el Premio Nacional de Estadística 2024 boe.es. Checked 19 October 2026.
  8. La IA interpretable resulta imprescindible en decisiones críticas donde está en juego la confianza, la seguridad o la equidad upm.es. Checked 19 October 2026.
  9. Bielza Lozoya, Mª Concepción - Departamento de Inteligencia Artificial dia.fi.upm.es. Checked 19 October 2026.