140.751.01 ADVANCED METHODS IN BIOSTATISTICS I

Introduces students to applied statistics for biomedical sciences. Illustrates the motivations behind many of the methods explained in 140.752-756. Focuses on analyzing data and interpreting results relevant to scientific questions of interest. Presents various case studies in detail and provides students with hands-on experience in analyzing data. Requires students to present results in both written and oral form, which in turn requires them to learn the software package R and a handful of statistical methods. General topics covered include descriptive statistics, basic probability, chance variability, sampling, chance models, inference, and regression.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1) Review key concepts in linear algebra; 2) Understand random vectors and matrices; 3) Develop the least squares approach for linear models; 4) Understand projections in vector spaces; 5) Understand the connection between least squares and maximum likelihood approaches; 6) Understand estimability, and in particular, the Gauss Markov theorem; 7) Develop the distribution theory under normality assumptions; 8) Compare least squares to generalized least squares; 9) Understand the concept of testing linear hypothesis; 10) Compare approaches to calculate simultaneous confidence intervals.