Strength of evidence for composite hypotheses

D. R. Bickel, “The strength of statistical evidence for composite hypotheses with an application to multiple comparisons,” Preprint, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, COBRA Preprint Series, Article 49, available at tinyurl.com/7yaysp (2008).

Preprint servers for statistical bioinformatics

The COBRA Preprint Series was selected for the dissemination of the Statomics Lab’s working papers because it offers more flexibility than the other main services for statistical genomics preprints:

• Unlike arXiv, COBRA accepts PDF files generated by LaTeX. Preparing LaTeX source code specifically for a preprint server can require large time investments.
• Unlike Nature Precedings, COBRA does not require authors to irrevocably license their work for commercial reuse. Such licenses might conflict with the interests of some commercial publishers since they allow competitors to distribute the preprints for profit.

Information-theoretic analysis of -omics data

To view the slides and plots of the lecture “Information-theoretic analysis of -omics data,” delivered 17 November 2008 in BIO 5106 (BIOL 5506) Bioinformatics, follow this link and select “Download.” The slides are also available separately.

Corrected 16 January 2009.

License: Attribution Non-commercial.

Postdoctoral training in model selection & applications

Scientific breakthroughs from genome-sequencing projects brought the realization that reliable interpretation of the resulting information makes unprecedented demands for advances in statistical methodology. As the complexity of genomic data sets drives innovative research in statistics, the Statistical Inference and Computation in Genomics (Statomics) Lab of the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology attacks inferential challenges of importance to human health. The lab seeks a postdoctoral researcher who will collaboratively develop and apply statistical methods of model selection to solve current problems in analyzing transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and/or SNP-chip data.

A thorough knowledge of statistical theory is essential, as is the demonstrated ability to quickly and accurately implement complex statistical methods in software. Strong initiative, excellent communication skills, and reception of a PhD or equivalent doctorate in biostatistics, statistics, or a closely related field within the four years prior to the start date are also absolutely necessary. The following qualities are desirable but not required: expertise in one or more methods of frequentist model selection; knowledge of biology; familiarly with R, S-PLUS, C, Fortran, and/or LaTeX; experience in a UNIX or Linux environment.

To apply, send a PDF CV that has contact information of three references to dbickel0@uottawa.ca (without the zero), with “model selection & applications” and the year of your graduation or anticipated graduation in the subject field of the message. In the message body, concisely present evidence that you meet each requirement for the position and describe your most significant papers and software packages with summaries of how you contributed to them. All applicants are thanked in advance; only those selected for further consideration will receive a response.

Local false discovery rate software

Zahra Montazeri and David Bickel developed empiricalBayes, an R software bundle that provides a simple solution to the extreme multiple testing problem. It contains two packages:

• localFDR estimates local false discovery rates given a vector of p-values.
• HighProbability determines which p-values are low enough that their alternative hypotheses can be considered highly probable.

Meet the team

Past and current Statomics Lab members

Conference on statistics in biology

The Department of Statistics at Iowa State University is pleased to host an ASA and IMS co-sponsored conference on statistics in biology. The conference will feature a series of talks and posters on statistical theory, methods, and applications motivated by problems from the biological sciences. Contributed talks or posters by students expecting a Ph.D. in 2009 or new researchers who have received Ph.D. degrees in 2007 or 2008 are especially welcome. Limited financial support is available for such participants.

On statisticians and men

Nature 453 (7197) xi:

…people don’t behave like statisticians.

Making the paper: Arnon Lotem : Article : Nature

Perhaps Arnon Lotem meant to say statisticians don’t behave like people.

Bioinformatics graduate program

Ottawa-Carleton MSc/MCI Program in Bioinformatics

David Bickel is currently accepting new students.

For more information on the field of bioinformatics, see the slides from the First Canadian Workshop on Statistical Genomics, the links provided by Georgia Tech, and the jobs posted at the Canadian Bioinformatics Workshops.

Application: cis- & trans-effects on gene expression

M. Guo, S. Yang, M. Rupe, B. Hu, D. R. Bickel, L. Arthur, and O. Smith, “Genome-wide allele-specific expression analysis using Massively Parallel Signature Sequencing (MPSS) reveals cis- and trans-effects on gene expression in maize hybrid meristem tissue,” Plant Molecular Biology 66, 551-563 (2008).

Related statistical genomics papers