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June 2010 • Issue #396 AmstatNews The Membership Magazine of the American Statistical Association • http://magazine.amstat.org

Board Approves Accreditation Guidelines ALSO: ASA Releases Statement on Risk-Limiting Publications Agreement No. 41544521 Audits ASA Endorses Recommendations to Improve Forensic Methods

JUNE 2010 • Issue #396

Executive Director Ron Wasserstein: [email protected]

Associate Executive Director and Director of Operations FEATURE S Stephen Porzio: [email protected]

Director of Education 3 President’s Corner Martha Aliaga: [email protected] 5 Highlights of the April 2010 ASA Board of Director of Science Policy Directors Meeting Steve Pierson: [email protected] 7 ASA Releases Statement on Risk-Limiting Audits Managing Editor 7 FREE Writing Workshop at JSM Megan Murphy: [email protected] 8 ASA Endorses Recommendations to Improve Production Coordinators/Graphic Designers Forensic Methods Melissa Muko: [email protected] Kathryn Wright: [email protected] 8 sPAIG to Provide List of Advisers Publications Coordinator 9 ASA President Appointed to NSF Directorship Val Nirala: [email protected]

Advertising Manager Claudine Donovan: [email protected]

Contributing Staff Members Amy Farris • Eric Sampson • Keith Crank Board Approves Amstat News welcomes news items and letters from readers on matters Accreditation Guidelines of interest to the association and the profession. Address correspondence p. 10 to Managing Editor, Amstat News, American Statistical Association, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 USA, or email [email protected]. Items must be received by the first day of the preced- ing month to ensure appearance in the next issue (for example, June 1 for the July issue). Material can be sent as a Microsoft Word document, PDF, or within an email. Articles will be edited for space. Accompanying art- work will be accepted in graphics file formats only (.jpg, etc.), minimum 300 dpi. No material in WordPerfect will be accepted. Amstat News (ISSN 0163-9617) is published monthly by the American Statistical Association, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 USA. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Amstat News, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 9 Nominations Sought for JSM USA. Send Canadian address changes to Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor Mentoring Program ON N9A 6J5; [email protected]. Annual subscriptions are $50 per year for nonmembers. Amstat News is the member publication of the 10 Board Approves Accreditation Guidelines ASA. For annual membership rates, see www.amstat.org/join or contact ASA Member Services at (888) 231-3473. 12 ASA Offers Free Article Downloads American Statistical Association 732 North Washington Street 13 statistics Without Borders to Meet at JSM 2010 Alexandria, VA 22314–1943 USA (703) 684–1221 • FAX: (703) 684-2036 13 Editor Sought for CHANCE Magazine

ASA GENERAL: [email protected] 15 Congress Views Results of NSF-Funded ADDRESS CHANGES: [email protected] Research Projects AMSTAT EDITORIAL: [email protected] 17 CoC Sponsors Sessions Featuring Scientific ADVERTISING: [email protected] Applications of Statistics Web Site: www.amstat.org Printed in USA © 2010 17 Members Elected to National Academy American Statistical Association of Sciences

VISION STATEMENT 18 Journal of Nonparametric Statistics Highlights To be a world leader in promoting statistical practice, applications, 19 Statistical Analysis and Data Mining Highlights and research; publishing statistical journals; improving statistical education; and advancing the statistics profession 20 Significance Highlights

MISSION STATEMENT 21 The American Statistician Highlights Support excellence in statistical practice, research, journals, and 22 UMBC Statistics Program Celebrates meetings. Work for the improvement of statistical education 25th Anniversary at all levels. Promote the proper application of statistics. Anticipate and meet the needs of our members. Use our discipline to enhance human welfare. Seek opportunities to advance the statistics profession. Column Contributors Funding Opportunities Who Wants to Be a Biostatistician (or Environmental Statistician, or Social Science Statistician, or …)? p. 31

This column highlights research activities that may be of interest to ASA members. These brief articles include information about new research solicitations and the federal budget for statistics. Comments or suggestions for future articles may be sent to ASA Research and Graduate Education Manager Keith Crank at [email protected]. DEPARTMENTS Contributing Editor 25 Statistician’s View Keith Crank has a BS in mathematics education and an MS in mathematics from Michigan State Feedback: Odds Are, It’s Wrong University and a PhD in statistics from Purdue statisticians Comment on Status of Climate University. Prior to joining the ASA as research and graduate education manager, he was a program Change Science officer at the National Science Foundation, primar- 37 Meetings ily in the probability program. 2010 FDA/Industry Statistics Workshop Registration Form Crank

Science Policy News Members Affect ASA Science Policy p. 33

This column is written to inform ASA members about what the ASA is doing to promote the inclusion of statistics in policymaking and the funding of statistics research. To suggest science policy topics for the ASA to address, contact ASA Director of Science Policy Steve Pierson at [email protected].

Contributing Editor Steve Pierson earned his PhD in physics from the University of Minnesota. He spent eight years in the physics department of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and later became head of government relations at the American Physical Society.

Find Your Fit p. 35 Pierson

MEMBER NEWS Master’s Notebook 39 People News Find Your Fit p. 35 43 Award Deadlines and Information This column is written for statisticians with master’s degrees and highlights areas 45 Section News of employment that will benefit statisticians at the master’s level. Comments 55 Calendar of Events and suggestions should be sent to ASA Research and Graduate Education “ Manager Keith Crank at [email protected]. 63 Professional Opportunities Contributing Editor Jack Nyberg is a senior manager within the statistics and pharmacokinetics department of Covance, a drug development services company. He holds a master’s degree in statistics and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Kentucky. cover design by Melissa Muko

Nyberg PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Half-Time Report

t is the time of year when proud parents and Members of the Membership Growth Working other family members congratulate their loved Group, chaired by Jeri Mulrow, have been working ones at graduation ceremonies across the coun- hard with various existing committees to propose try.I It is also the time when graduates receive good strategies for enhancing growth. Suggestions so far advice about how to use the core, computational, include the following: and communication skills they acquired in their programs to solve major challenges related to health, • Strongly encouraging department chairs/ energy, and the environment. As President Barack heads to get students in their departments to Obama said in one of his addresses, “The United participate in ASA activities States is still a land of infinite possibilities waiting to Sastry Pantula be seized, if you are willing to seize them.” • Supporting the creation of a mentoring Even in the current economic climate, it is good program to see that statisticians have options in all three • Providing opportunities for communicat- sectors—academia, industry, and government. For ing and networking among students and those who are looking for jobs, JSM 2010 will pro- recent graduates vide many opportunities, including a session titled “Recruitment for the Federal Sector.” There also will • Making use of peers and others to encourage be many mentoring opportunities for our younger lapsed members and ASA Fellows to renew statisticians. And I am excited about the President’s their memberships Invited Speaker, SAS CEO Jim Goodnight, who • Strongly encouraging higher-level industry will give a talk titled “The Forecast for Predictive statisticians to support ASA membership and Analytics: Hot and Getting Hotter.” Analytics is an involvement in ASA activities area in which statisticians have a future. All this talk about talks reminds me I have to • Continuing to actively engage the heads of get ready for mine! I can’t believe how the time is federal statistical agencies by regularly meeting flying by and that I am already halfway through my with them and encouraging them to support term as ASA president. Certainly, exciting things are and promote ASA membership and participa- happening within our association—our relationship tion in ASA activities with RSS through Significance, accreditation implementation, social media, electronic publications, • Promoting diversity within the ASA and a new winter conference on statistical practice, • Attracting new members from quantitative just to name a few. Amstat News issues are full of areas such as mathematics, computer science, goodies; there is something of interest to all our and the physical and social sciences who have members and the public. Also, there has been good a strong interest in statistics progress made on the initiatives related to Growth, Impact, Visibility, and Education.

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 3 Ideas aimed at new statisticians include to inform decisionmaking in public policy and sci- the following: ence policy.” The Visibility and Impact in Science Policy Working Group, chaired by Past President • Creating a group for new statisticians Sally Morton, is focusing on standardizing the pro- in research and a group for new applied cess for identifying emerging issues and providing statisticians a timely response to public and science policy matters in collaboration with ASA Director of Science • Promoting forums and publications aimed at Policy Steve Pierson and other statistical associations new statisticians (see Science Policy News on Page 33). The group • Dedicating a web site to new statisti- also is working to identify key issues—climate cians that includes information about change, STEM education, election audits—and to employment opportunities, awards, and issue position statements on them. Informational mentoring activities outreach to the public and stakeholders is another important topic being discussed by the group. • Providing more career assistance Jessica Utts is leading the Education Working Group, which is organizing a panel at JSM 2010 I am thrilled with the energy of this working titled “Statistics Degree Programs in a Data-Centric group and their follow-up plans. On a related topic, World: What Needs to Change?” In addition, there a couple of member-initiated proposals supported will be three P.M. roundtables on preparing statisti- by the board are titled “Connecting the ASA to cians for the needs of industry. Young Statisticians Through Outreach to High- A subgroup of this working group is developing School Statistics and Mathematics Teachers: A First a process to update the undergraduate statistics cur- Step” and “JSM Conference Mentoring Program.” riculum guidelines approved by the board in 2000 The Public Awareness and Impact Working (see www.amstat.org/education/curriculumguidelines. Group is chaired by ASA Executive Director Ron cfm). Other subgroups are looking at professional Wasserstein. In April, board members discussed master’s degree programs and a plan to gather infor- ideas for an ASA tagline and two- or three-sentence mation from potential employers regarding educa- “elevator pitch” that describes what the ASA does tional expectations for PhD, MS, and BS graduates. or stands for. As you may know, the American On a related topic, a member-initiated proposal, Mathematical Society’s tagline is “Maintaining titled “Methodology for Measuring the Quality Excellence in Mathematical Sciences Research” and of Graduate Programs: A Workshop Focusing on the National Institute of Statistical Science’s tagline Programs in the Statistical Sciences,” received sup- is “The Statistics Community Serving the Nation.” port by the board recently. ASA Public Relations Specialist Rosanne I am absolutely thrilled with the energy of our Desmone also has been working to increase pub- member volunteers. The ASA thrives on your lic awareness of the ASA by regularly sending out dedication to the profession and our association. alerts to various news outlets and helping gather Constructive suggestions are always welcome. Thank Statisticians in the News articles for the ASA’s you for all you do for the ASA. I look forward to the web page. remaining half of this year. Another way the ASA has raised public awareness of its activities is by putting Amstat News online and making it accessible to the general public. Meanwhile, members of the working group continue to develop other innovative ideas. One of the initiatives of the ASA’s strategic plan is to “promote the need for sound statistical practice

4 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Highlights of the April 2010 ASA Board of Directors Meeting

SA President Sastry Pantula led the board through a full agenda of policy matters Board of Directors during its April 16–17 meeting at the ASA Sastry Pantula, president officeA in Alexandria, Virginia. Following are the highlights: Nancy Geller, president-elect

• The board endorsed an ASA statement Sally Morton, past president on risk-limiting post-election audits and Strengthening Forensic Science in the United Nat Schenker, third-year vice president States: A Path Forward, a report by the Christy Chuang-Stein, second-year vice president National Academies (see Page 7). Rod Little, first-year vice president • Iain Johnstone presented the report of the Accreditation Committee. The board David Banks, third-year Council of Sections representative approved the detailed plan for moving forward with the accreditation program (see Jeri Mulrow, second-year Council of Sections representative Page 10 and www.amstat.org/accreditation). Jessica Utts, first-year Council of Sections representative • The board heard reports from the four strategic plan working groups currently at work. Susan Hilsenbeck, third-year Council of Chapters representative In addition, President-elect Nancy Geller David Marker, second-year Council of Chapters representative presented her ideas for strategic initiatives for next year. Tom Short, first-year Council of Chapters representative • The board held a creative session with the Geert Verbeke, international representative Public Awareness Workgroup to discuss development of a tagline for the ASA and a Karen Kafadar, publications representative brief description (an “elevator pitch”) for the association. The session was an important Keith Ord, treasurer part of the working group’s efforts to develop Ron Wasserstein, executive director a comprehensive public awareness plan for the association. • The board heard proposals for developing a statistics portal, a “one-stop shop” for a variety of statistical content. Discussions about • The board approved a revised development the concept continue. policy for the ASA. The policy governs aspects of the ASA’s fundraising activities. • As always, the board heard a report from ASA Treasurer Keith Ord. He noted that invest- • Michelle Dunn, a National Cancer Institute ments are up, but still below their 2007 val- program director, discussed the importance ues; that membership and subscription reve- of the statistics community’s involvement nues held steady because of rate increases, but in the Biostatistical Methods and Research numbers were down; and that the 2009 audit Design (BMRD) study section of the was concluded successfully. He emphasized National Institutes for Health and ideas for the importance of paying close attention to increasing the number of grant applications revenue sources. to the section.

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 5 • Vice President Christy Chuang-Stein, chair • The LSC recommended a change to the of the Membership Council, and Holly bylaws (see Bylaw Change), requiring, with Shulman, council vice chair, presented the certain exceptions, that all members of ASA first report of the newly formed council. committees who are appointed by the ASA Chuang-Stein provided an impressive list of be full members of the association during the the major accomplishments of each commit- term of their appointments. tee in 2009, as well as an assessment of the progress of the committees to date. She also • The Advisory Committee on Teacher Enhancement (ACTE) was dissolved at its noted some issues for the board to consider own request. This request was reviewed by the for some of these committees. LSC before being considered by the board. • Geller, also chair of the Leadership Support The ACTE felt its functions were being ful- Council (LSC), presented the council’s first filled by the new Education Council. report. The LSC, the cornerstone of the • Karen Kafadar, publications representative, committee restructure approved by the ASA presented the annual report of the Committee Board of Directors last year, is fully under on Publications (COP). The COP has been way. The early results of this reorganization active and engaged under the leadership of are positive. The primary reasons for creat- its chair, David Scott, handling a variety of ing the new structure were to improve the matters and providing valuable advice and function of committees and the communica- guidance to the board. tion between committees and the board. The whole organization is more effective when its • One specific recommendation of the COP committees are operating in concert with the was that editors of the ASA’s wholly owned board to implement the strategic plan. The journals be required to be members of the time and effort of volunteers, the lifeblood of ASA during their terms of service. The the association, is better spent when we oper- COP believes these editors serve an impor- ate effectively and efficiently. tant role and occupy a visible place within the association. The board agreed that this requirement should apply to all future editorial appointments, those beginning in 2011 and beyond. Bylaw Change • The board reviewed proposals for the Member Initiative program and selected some of them The Leadership Support Council and for funding. ASA Board of Directors recommend the following change to the ASA bylaws, Article • David Judkins, JSM 2011 program chair, pre- IX (Committees), Part 2 (Membership): sented the results of the 2009 JSM Presenter Satisfaction Survey. The survey, sent to JSM From: “All members of Standing presenters, addressed the subject of satisfac- Committees, as well as the chairs of tion with the presentation experience, but Continuing and Ad hoc Committees, shall had tailored questions for the various session be full members of the Association.” types and presenter roles. This survey was in addition to the standard satisfaction survey To: “All members of ASA committees who sent out to registered JSM attendees. are appointed by the ASA shall be full members of the association during the term • The board, as it does at each meeting, heard of their appointment. Exceptions for certain about issues and concerns related to chapters and sections from the respective council committees or committee positions can be governing boards. granted by the Leadership Support Council when appropriate for the function of The board next meets on June 18 in Alexandria the committee.” for its annual budget meeting, then again in late July at JSM in Vancouver. n

6 Amstat News JUNE 2010 ASA Releases Statement on Risk-Limiting Audits

he ASA Board of batches (a batch is a group of bal- Directors recently released lots for which the machine total Previous Election a statement recommend- has been separately tallied). The Auditing Statements Ting that routine risk-limiting total number of ballots examined March 2008, www.amstat.org/about/ audits be conducted and reported to confirm a correct outcome gen- pressreleases/asacallsforaudits.pdf in all federal elections, as well as erally increases with 1) a smaller in statewide and other govern- margin of victory, 2) larger-sized August 2008, www.amstat.org/about/ mental election contests. batches of ballots, and 3) more pressreleases/asaendorsespostelectionaudits.pdf The statement also urges election errors in the machine count. officials to seek statistical advice Thus, states should seek to buy about how to efficiently attain electoral machinery that makes the desired accuracy. small-batch reporting easy and “Risk-limiting audits are minimizes errors in recording board may be viewed at designed to limit the risk of cer- voter intent. The audits, them- www.amstat.org/outreach/pdfs/ tifying incorrect winners,” said selves, can help identify the kinds Risk-Limiting_Endorsement.pdf. Sastry Pantula, ASA president. of machines and ballot designs Additional information about “A well-designed audit often that lead to the fewest errors. election audits can be found can confirm a correct electoral The complete two-page at www.amstat.org/outreach/ outcome after examining only statement approved by the electionauditingresources.cfm. n a small fraction of the ballots cast. If, however, an outcome is unclear or incorrect, a risk-limiting audit protects against prema- turely accepting it. We need laws that call for such audits—laws with teeth.” “Most current laws mandating FREE Writing Workshop at JSM post-election audits call for looking at a fixed percentage of ballots,” continued Pantula. “They free writing workshop for junior may select many more ballots researchers will take place dur- than are needed to do the job or, ing JSM on August 1 and 4. The workshopA will provide instruction in sometimes, not enough to provide a satisfactory check on the how to write journal articles and outcome. Good statistical design grant proposals. can efficiently and economically As part of their application, participants guarantee a large chance of find- will be required to submit a recent sample of their writing, which will be reviewed by ing and correcting erroneous session on August 1 and lunch on August electoral outcomes. Statisticians a senior mentor. Applications are due by June 1, and 4. Funding is anticipated for partial can help design risk-limiting travel support. audits that make better use of successful applicants will be notified by June 30. Applications received after June Attendance will be limited and depend election officials’ time and tax- on the number of mentors available. payers’ money.” 1 will be considered if space is available. There is no fee for participation; however, Visit www.amstat.org/meetings/wwjr/ In a risk-limiting audit, bal- index.cfm?fuseaction=main for details. n lots are sampled for review in participants must agree to attend both the

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 7 ASA Endorses Recommendations to Improve Forensic Methods Rosanne Desmone, ASA Public Relations Specialist

he ASA Board of Directors recently voted to uncertainty, designing experiments for testing new endorse recommendations made in protocols or methodologies, and analyzing data Strengthening Forensic Science in the United from such experiments.” TStates: A Path Forward, a 2009 National Academies’ One of the recommendations of the report is to report. In its statement, the board recognized the establish an institute of forensic science, and the ASA pivotal role of forensic science in the U.S. judicial board noted that sound statistical practices are essen- system and cited the value of statistical methods tial for the proposed institute to achieve its mission. and research to improve forensic methods. Examples of such practices include the following: The National Academies’ report identified several deficiencies in the nation’s forensic science sys- • The assessment of current and newly devel- tem and called for major reforms and new research. oped forensic practices using properly designed It came after years of critiques of specific forensic experiments and data analytic methods science practices and calls for reform, but broke new ground by offering a comprehensive review of the • The use of statistical methods based on forensic science system. established principles and procedures for “Statisticians have played an important role in the analysis of data, including estimated the constructive criticism of current forensic sci- error rates ence practices,” said Sastry Pantula, ASA presi- • The review, in mainstream scientific journals, dent. “We can continue to play an important role of novel methods (beyond variants of estab- in the reforms urged by the National Academies. lished methods) developed for the analysis Statisticians can make vital contributions toward of data; reviewers should include statistically establishing measurement protocols, quantifying qualified experts • The employment of modern statistical quality control and quality assurance procedures to ensure that measurements, procedures, and testimony are of high quality SPAIG to Provide • The application of proficiency tests that employ accepted statistical designs and, whenever possible, are double blind to avoid List of Advisers potential biases Statistics Partnerships among Academe, Industry, • The availability of all expert reports to inter- and Government (SPAIG) is updating its list of advi- ested parties and the provision of sufficient sory boards and review teams for academic statistics supporting data and information to permit programs, to be posted at www.svsu.edu/orgs/spaig. independent review The purpose of this initiative is to provide a list of statisticians working in government or industry who The complete statement approved by the ASA have an interest in serving as advisers to academic board, including background, may be viewed at statistics programs. To be included in this list, send www.amstat.org/outreach/pdfs/Forensic_Science_ your name and contact information to Morteza Endorsement.pdf. n Marzjarani at [email protected]. n

8 Amstat News JUNE 2010 ASA President Appointed to NSF Directorship

SA President Sastry and SAA-PAMS Department to research in time series analy- Pantula was recently Head Award in 2005 and 2008. sis; exemplary service in graduate appointed Division Pantula earned his doctoral education as a teacher, researcher, DirectorA for Mathematical degree in 1982 from Iowa State mentor, and recruiter of graduate Sciences in the Mathematical University, while both his bach- students and industrial partners; and Physical Sciences Directorate elor’s and master’s degrees are and contributions to the profes- at the National Science in statistics from the Indian sion. He also received the Young Foundation (NSF). Statistical Institute in Kolkata, Statistician Award from the Pantula will join NSF in India. His areas of research International Indian Statistical September from North Carolina include time series analysis and Association that year. “I look forward to working State University (NCSU), where linear and nonlinear models. Pantula he has been a professor and direc- In addition to a number of pub- with Dr. Pantula in this impor- tor of graduate programs in the lications in various journals, tant leadership role for mathe- department of statistics since he coauthored the textbook matical sciences,” said H. Edward 1994 and department head since Applied Regression Analysis: A Seidel, acting assistant director 2002. While at NCSU, Pantula Research Tool. for mathematical sciences in has worked with a number of Pantula was elected an ASA the Mathematical and Physical companies—including Becton Fellow in 2002 for contributions Sciences Directorate at NSF. n Dickinson, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly and Company, SAS Institute, and Merck—to increase the number of graduate industrial traineeships and develop graduate fellowships. During a scholarly leave in 1990–1991, he worked Nominations Sought for at SEMATECH, where he developed and taught various courses JSM Mentoring Program in quality control and experimental design and collaborated Nominations are being accepted for the Cavell Brownie with engineers from semicon- Scholars JSM Mentoring Program, which will be offered dur- ductor industries in the United ing JSM 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia. This pro- States and supplier companies gram brings faculty, minority graduate students, and postdoc- in Mexico. toral scholars together in a structured mentoring program. It Under Pantula’s leadership, the provides graduate students who are preparing for academic department of statistics at NCSU careers with information, mentoring, and a peer network; sta- received the Departmental tistics faculty members learn best practices for mentoring Teaching and Learning Excellence graduate students. Award in 2004–2005. Pantula For more information, a nomination form, and selection also became a member of the criteria, visit www.amstat-online.org/2010mentoringprogram/ NCSU Academy of Outstanding CavellBrownieScholarsProgram.php. Nominations are due by June 10. Teachers and received an out- Those received after June 10 will be considered if space is available. standing teacher award, the D.D. Contact Marcia Gumpertz at [email protected] with questions. Mason Faculty Award in 2001,

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 9 Board Approves Accreditation Guidelines Committee moves carefully to test procedures

Iain Johnstone, ASA Accreditation Committee Chair, and Ron Wasserstein, ASA Executive Director

10 Amstat News JUNE 2010 he ASA Board of Directors recently approved a set of guidelines for accreditation devel- What Others Are Saying oped by the ASA Accreditation Committee. Colleagues in other countries have warmly TThe committee was formed last year, after the board welcomed ASA accreditation, expressing the endorsed a recommendation to begin a program of view that ASA participation adds value to voluntary individual accreditation of statisticians. accreditation and enhances the perception What Is Accreditation? of the statistics profession worldwide. First and foremost, accreditation is a service offered only to members of the ASA. Not all members will want to seek accreditation; however, the experi- Those who meet these guidelines will be awarded the ences of colleagues in Australia, Canada, and the designation “accredited professional statistician.” United Kingdom regarding accreditation have been encouraging. Additionally, the results of a mem- What’s Next? ber survey (see http://magazine.amstat.org/2009/09/ Because the concept of accreditation has caused accreditationsep09) indicate many members expect concern for some, the ASA will move carefully to find value in a credential that provides peer rec- and deliberately to positively develop the program. ognition for all of the following: Members of the ASA Board and ASA Accreditation Committee invite all members to read the guidelines • Having advanced statistical training for accreditation at www.amstat.org/accreditation and and knowledge provide comments, questions, and suggestions. • Having experience in applying statistical Those who are considering applying for accredi- expertise competently tation should fill out the intent-to-apply form at www.amstat.org/accreditation. This does not create • Maintaining appropriate professional any obligation, but will help the committee better development estimate the level of interest and manage the initial wave of applications. Also, committee members will • Agreeing to abide by ethical standards communicate regularly with those on the intent-to- of practice apply list to keep them abreast of developments in • Being able to communicate effectively the program. Between now and JSM, accreditation committee Accreditation is a portfolio-based—not examina- members and ASA staff will be alpha testing basic tion-based—credential that is renewable every five procedures and reviewing member comments. After years. Accreditation is also voluntary; applicants JSM, small groups from the intent-to-apply list will seek accreditation because they believe the creden- be invited to participate in beta testing systems and tial is worthwhile to them, but it is not a require- processes. Over time, as committee members learn ment for practice. and improve, they will move from testing into full- Accreditation applicants will submit materials to fledged operation. be reviewed by members of the ASA Accreditation For more information, visit www.amstat.org/ Committee, peers who will evaluate submissions accreditation. n based on the ASA’s Guidelines for Accreditation.

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 11 ASA Offers Free Article Downloads

“Who Is Teaching Introductory Statistics?” Frank P. Soler “The Business of Desire and Fear,” Rick Cleary and Sam Woolford “Response to ‘Desired and Feared—What Do We Do Now and Over the Next 50 Years’ by Xiao-Li Meng,” Elart von Collani “Rejoinder: Better Training, Deeper Thinking, and More Policing,” Xiao-Li Meng Available at http://pubs.amstat.org/toc/tas/64/1

Journal of Business & Economic Statistics or a limited time, several ASA journals will “Another Look at the Identification of Dynamic have featured articles available to download Discrete Decision Processes,” Victor Aguirregabiria for free. The following articles were chosen by theF journal editors as featured articles: Available at http://pubs.amstat.org/toc/jbes/28/2

Journal of the American Technometrics Statistical Association “Statistical Methods for Fighting Financial “Statistics: From Evidence to Policy,” ASA Past Crimes,” Agus Sudjianto et al. President Sally Morton’s address to the 2009 Joint “Fraud Detection in Telecommunications: History Statistical Meetings and Lessons Learned,” Richard A. Becker, Chris “A Moving Average Approach for Spatial Statistical Volinsky, and Allan R. Wilks Models of Stream Networks” (with discussion), Jay “Fraud Detection in Telecommunications and M. Ver Hoef and Erin E. Peterson Banking: Discussion of Becker, Volinsky, and “A Statistical Framework for Differential Privacy,” Wilks (2010) and Sudjianto et al. (2010),” David Larry Wasserman and Shuheng Zhou J. Hand Available at http://pubs.amstat.org/toc/jasa/105/489 “Statistical Challenges Facing Early Outbreak Detection in Biosurveillance,” Galit Shmueli and The American Statistician Howard Burkom “Passion-Driven Statistics,” Robert Easterling Available at http://pubs.amstat.org/toc/tech/52/1 “Desired and Feared—Quo vadis or Quid agis?” David R. Fox Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics “Moving the Statistics Profession Forward to the “Rainbow Plots, Bagplots, and Boxplots for Next Level,” Roger W. Hoerl and Ronald D. Snee Functional Data,” Rob J. Hyndman and “Thoughts on the Importance of the Han Lin Shang Undergraduate Statistics Experience to the Available at http://pubs.amstat.org/toc/jcgs/19/1 n Discipline’s (and Society’s) Future,” Brian C. Kotz

12 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Statistics Without Borders to Meet at JSM 2010 James J. Cochran

tatistics Without Borders (SWB), an organi- SWB projects at various stages of completion. All zation committed to providing not-for-profit interested individuals are welcome to attend. organizations with pro bono statistical con- Also of interest to SWB volunteers is an invited Ssulting to assist in the resolution of international panel session, titled “Global Statistical Capacity health issues (broadly defined), will meet August 1 and the Role of Statistical Societies,” scheduled on from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. during the 2010 Joint August 1 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. (See Page 48). Statistical Meetings in Vancouver, British Columbia. Additionally, a meeting of the ASA Volunteerism SWB officers and volunteers will learn more about Special Interest Group will follow the SWB meeting. related activities, discuss the progress SWB has For more information about SWB, or to volun- made in establishing working relationships with teer, contact James J. Cochran at [email protected]. other not-for-profit organizations, and talk about edu or Gary Shapiro at [email protected]. n

Editor Sought for CHANCE Magazine

ominations and applications are being sought for the next editor of NCHANCE magazine. Working with the editorial board and the ASA’s magazine staff, the editor will provide direction and vision for the magazine, which has been published by the ASA for more than 20 years. The editor’s term will be from 2011 to 2013. To submit a nomination, include the name and contact information of the nominee and a brief description of the nominee’s qualifications. niches for CHANCE as a To apply, submit a curricu- complement to Significance, lum vitae and the names of two a magazine published jointly references. Applicants also by the ASA and Royal should provide a vision state- Statistical Society. to Megan Murphy, ASA comment for CHANCE that Nominations and applications munications manager, at megan@ addresses opportunities and should be submitted by June 21 amstat.org. n

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 13 14 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Congress Views Results of NSF-Funded Research Projects Steve Pierson, ASA Director of Science Policy

ontserrat Fuentes, a professor in the statistics department at North Carolina

State University, represented the ASA at PhotographyScavone of Scavone David by Photo theM 16th Annual Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) Capitol Hill Exhibition on April 14. The CNSF exhibit highlights to Congress research funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Fuentes also made Hill visits on behalf of

the ASA Climate Change Policy Advisory ( www.scavonephoto.com ) Committee (CCPAC). Fuentes’s poster summarized her NSF-funded research projecting the effects of climate change on tropospheric ozone in the eastern United States in the early 2040s. It also highlighted the contributions statisticians bring to climate change and health impacts research, including the quantification of From left: Montserrat Fuentes, ASA President Sastry Pantula, Rep. Howard uncertainty, expression of projections in terms of Coble, Rep. Walter Jones, and Matt Peterson stand in front of the poster sum- probabilities, and the evaluation the climate models. marizing Fuentes’s NSF-funded research project on the effects of climate Because of the policymakers in attendance, Fuentes change on tropospheric ozone. emphasized the tools statisticians provide to facilitate policymaking and more efficient management of air quality and other environmental agents under limited information and changing climatic conditions. A number of representatives and their staffs vis- PhotographyScavone of Scavone David by Photo ited with Fuentes at her poster. Overall, 250 people were estimated to have attended the event, including nine members of Congress. Prior to the evening exhibition, Fuentes partici- pated in seven meetings on Capitol Hill to advocate full funding for President Barack Obama’s fiscal year ( www.scavonephoto.com ) (FY) 2011 budget request for NSF and discussed the work of CCPAC. Accompanied by The Ohio State University professor Mark Berliner and ASA Director of Science Policy Steve Pierson, she met with Rep. David Price (NC-4), staff for North

Carolina senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagan, and several congressional committees. Steve Pierson, ASA director of science policy (right), discusses Montserrat One of the CCPAC documents Fuentes dis- Fuentes’s climate change poster with Rep. Brad Miller. cussed in her Hill meetings was a review of the research on the health impacts of climate research that she co-wrote with five other statisti- disease and pollution impacts. While finding no cians. (See www.amstat.org/committees/ccpac/pdfs/ “consensus among scientists regarding an increase ClimateChangeHealthImpacts.pdf.) Her group con- of infectious diseases under climate change,” they cluded that the research indicates a significant health did find that climate change is expected to result in impact of climate change is increased mortality from larger concentrations of tropospheric ozone, which global warming. The group also discussed infectious would lead to more ozone-related deaths. n

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 15 Have You Checked Out CHANCE Lately?

Though CHANCE has been around since 1988, the magazine recently unveiled a new online version.

Now, free for student members, CHANCE features articles for anyone with an interest in the examination of data. CHANCE intends to inform and entertain with articles focused on current events and statistical practice.

Check out CHANCE today online at www.amstat.org/publications/chance or log in to ASA Members Only for full access.

Not currently a subscriber? Start your subscription today. ASA members pay only $30 a year.

16 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Have You Checked Out CoC Sponsors Sessions Featuring CHANCE Lately? Scientific Applications of Statistics

2010 he Council of Chapters is sponsoring two invited sessions at JSM 2010 that will feature diverse scientific applications of statis- Ttics. One session will highlight statistical opportunities in large-scale international science endeavors. JSM The other will showcase the work of several CANADA Vancouver statisticians exploring the impact of cli- Vancouver, British Columbia mate change on British Columbia’s forests. Big Science: Opportunities for Statisticians in the World’s Most century unfolds, massive new threats are emerging. Massive Projects Mountain pine beetles have devastated vast tracts Organizer and chair: Kary Myers, Los Alamos of lodgepole pine, and wildfires have swept down National Laboratory dry hillsides to threaten valley-bottom communi- From atom smashes to gene sequences, huge ties. Warming temperatures are possible contribut- collaborative endeavors generate some of the most ing factors. Two of the three speakers in this session exciting scientific data and developments in the will assess scientific evidence for this hypothesized world today. Often called “big science,” these mas- influence. The third will report on investigations sive projects combine big machinery, big labora- on extracting greater benefit from the threatened tories, big computing power, and big budgets. In forest resources. many cases, big science also produces big data sets, Visit www.amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2010 to view offering many opportunities for statistical insights. the JSM 2010 online program for session times n In this session, scientists will introduce the techni- and locations. cal context and statistical challenges of three big science efforts: the hunt for the Higgs boson with the Large Hadron Collider (Isabel Trigger, TRIUMF), the mission of the Mars Science Laboratory Rover to assess whether Mars can support microbial life (Sam Clegg, LANL), and the discovery and characterization of Earth-approaching objects Members Elected to National such as asteroids and comets by way of the Pan- STARRS digital sky survey (Alex Szalay, The Johns Academy of Sciences Hopkins University). The National Academy of Sciences recently announced the election The BC Forest Resource in a of new members and foreign associates, of which three are ASA mem- Changing Climate bers. ASA members elected are Jerome H. Friedman of Stanford Organizer and chair: Rick Routledge, Simon University, Michael I. Jordan of the University of California, Berkeley, Fraser University and Donald B. Rubin of Harvard University. British Columbia forests are facing unprec- Election to the academy is considered one of the highest hon- edented change. As the last century wound down, ors that can be accorded a U.S. scientist or engineer. The entire the forests were the focus of high-profile protests list of new members and foreign associates is available at www8. over forest management practices. Yet as the current nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=04272010. n

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 17 Journal of Nonparametric Statistics Highlights May Issue Features Discussion Paper Suojin Wang, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Nonparametric Statistics

Special Rate for Members variables or independence between the two samples. In addition, the authors propose sieve quasi maximum Journal of Nonparametric Statistics is now a publication of the likelihood estimation for the parameter of interest American Statistical Association. ASA members are entitled to and investigate its properties when the two samples a personal online subscription for $15 per volume. To order, are independent and the nonlinear regression model visit www.tandf.co.uk/journals/offer/gnst-so1.asp. is parameterized. Five experts—Aurore Delaigle, Peter Hall, Han Hong, Marie-Luce Taupin, and Young he May 2010 issue features a discussion Truong—contribute interesting discussions from paper, “Identification and Estimation of both theoretical and practical viewpoints. They offer Nonlinear Models Using Two Samples with additional insight and ideas for further research and TNonclassical Measurement Errors,” by Raymond development. These discussions are followed by Carroll, Xiaohong Chen, and Yingyao Hu. As the a rejoinder. title indicates, this paper considers identification The discussion paper, comments, and rejoinder and estimation of a general nonlinear errors-in- will be freely available online until December 31. variables model using two samples. In addition to the discussion and rejoinder This statistical problem is especially appeal- papers, seven other papers appear in this issue. ing in current research in econometrics, biology, These papers cover a range of research interests in and medicine. The authors show that the general nonparametric statistics, from functional estima- latent nonlinear model is nonparametrically identi- tion to variable selection to goodness-of-fit test- fied using the two samples when both could have ing. To view the full table of contents, visit www. nonclassical errors, without either instrumental informaworld.com/gnst. n

Join Us for JSM 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia

Connect with your colleagues and take advantage of hundreds of sessions about the state of the art of statistics this summer in Vancouver, JSM Registration Is Open! British Columbia.

Visit the JSM website at www.amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2010/registration

18 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Statistical Analysis and Data Mining Highlights Three Interrelated Papers Spotlighted Joe Verducci, Editor, Statistical Analysis and Data Mining

olume 3, issue 3 features However, SVMs have some three interrelated papers. potential shortcomings. They can The first proposes a new be overly sensitive to outliers and automaticV criterion for selecting the number of support vectors the bandwidth to be used in needed to determine the classifi- Gaussian kernel support vector cation boundary grows linearly machines (SVMs). The second with sample size. This last prop- proposes a sequential version of erty is particularly troublesome SVMs, called twin prototype when large amounts of training SVMs (TVMs), which efficiently data are streaming and there is updates a fixed number of support only a fixed, budgeted amount of vectors when training data arrives storage. Sensitivity to outliers can sequentially and there is limited be fixed by replacing the SVMs’s storage capacity. The third paper hinge loss function with a ramp also covers processing data streams, loss that ignores all large deviations using only a minimal number of but summarization is in terms of from boundary, but this comes at distinct stocks. Novel techniques hidden factors that link multivari- a high computational expense. include regularizing the cross- ate inputs and responses. In “Online Training on a Budget covariance matrix M of X and Y In “A Stable Hyperparameter of Support Vector Machines Using to simplify partial least squares Selection for the Gaussian RBF Twin Prototypes,” Zhuang Wang (PLS) estimation to ordinary least Kernel for Discrimination,” and Slobodan Vucetic propose squares (OLS), which allows for Jeongyoun Ahn provides a geo- using a fixed number of proto- sparse estimation by penalizing metrical interpretation of the types in place of support vectors. the L1 norm of the coefficients. smoothing parameter in terms To accommodate a new example The incremental Sparse PLS of the feature mapping implied arriving near the current bound- (iS-PLS) algorithm is the first to by the radial basis function of a ary, either the prototype farthest combine tracking of latent fac- Gaussian kernel with bandwidth from the boundary is removed or tors with variable selection in an h. For small values of h, points two near prototypes are merged adaptive fashion for data streams. get mapped to near uniformity and the boundary is updated. In The iS-PLS procedure allows the on a hypersphere, whereas large addition to being computationally number of important latent fac- values preserve the original dis- efficient, this TVM attains com- tors and their weights to evolve tances between data points. Since parable accuracy to the uncon- over time; the important variables the SVM is essentially a linear strained SVM, as reported for 12 retained within each latent factor discriminator in the feature space, large benchmark data sets. also evolve over time, but their a natural (geometry-based) crite- An interesting extension of number does not. This method rion is GB (h) = difference of the learning from streaming data is validated on both simulated between-versus the within-sums occurs when the response is not and real data, including enhanced of squares in the feature space, and just a classification, but a real-val- index tracking in which individ- h is chosen to maximize GB (h). ued vector Y, and the objective is ual stocks are selected to outper- This choice applies to any linear to learn a linear regression linking form the indexes being tracked by discriminator in the feature space, to the input vector X. Giovanni a fixed percentage. is computationally very efficient, Montana and Brian McWilliams As a whole, these papers pro- has low variability under many tackle this problem in “Sparse vide a snapshot of current research underlying models, and tends to Partial Least Squares Regression in classification and regression, achieve better tuning than other for Online Variable Selection with making the procedures more self- methods in terms of minimizing Multivariate Data Streams.” adaptive and extending them to the misclassification rate. This A motivating problem is track- streaming data, either from a stable latter property is illustrated using ing multiple financial indexes, such distribution or one subject to local nine benchmark data sets. as the S&P 100 and the Nikkei, trends, such as a market factor. n

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 19 Significance Highlights First Joint Issue Offers Fair Bit to Enjoy Julian Champkin, Significance Editor

s the result of a partner- possible to predict the results of Also in this issue are an article ship between the ASA and such fundamental reform? Jasjeet about a better, statistically based Royal Statistical Society, Sekhon and Jonathan Gruber way of understanding the threats everyA member of the ASA debate the issue. to orangutans and contributing will receive Significance in addi- Meanwhile, Peter Brooker to their conservation; a statistical tion to Amstat News starting looks at the risk analysis behind analysis of carvings on thousand- in September. the decision to ground the year-old standing stones that The first joint issue will con- planes—and finds that the statis- shows they are not random, but tain a mix of the important, the tical tests that would have made form a written language; and an topical, the scientific, and, occa- the analysis meaningful have not interview with George Box, the sionally, the whimsical. been done. “Renaissance Grand Old Man” Two events that have domi- Nobel prizes will be announced of statistics. nated the news recently are the in October. Ahead of them, Add columns, letters, and health care reforms that passed Significance looks at just how even a statistical crossword into U.S. law in March and the objective they can really be. The and you get a magazine with Icelandic volcano that halted air statistics of women laureates over something to interest, some- traffic over Europe in April. The the years show a pattern that not thing to inform, and a fair bit health care changes are the most even an all-male conspiracy theo- to enjoy. n far-reaching in U.S. history. Is it ry could convincingly explain.

20 Amstat News JUNE 2010 The American Statistician Highlights Statistics Curricula, March Madness Featured in May Issue John Stufken, Editor, The American Statistician

he featured article in the May issue is “Computing Book Reviews in the Statistics TCurricula,” by Deborah Nolan Applied Spatial Data Analysis with R Roger S. Bivand, Edzer J. Pebesma, and Virgilio Gómez-Rubio and Duncan Temple Lang. The authors argue that this is an The Art of Conjecturing, together with Letter to a Friend on Sets in opportune time to make signifi- Court Tennis cant changes in statistics curri- Jacob Bernoulli, translated by Edith Dudley Sylla cula and focus their attention on the integration of computational Bioconductor Case Studies topics with the teaching of mod- Florian Hahne, Wolfgang Huber, Robert Gentleman, and Seth ern statistical methods. Nolan Falcon and Lang advocate that comput- Business Statistics ing must be central to the statis- Norean R. Sharpe, Richard D. De Veaux, and Paul F. Velleman tics curricula at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and Dynamical Processes on Complex Networks that computational topics must Alain Barrat, Marc Barthélemy, and Alessandro Vespignani be integrated into traditional sta- Graph Theory: A Problem Oriented Approach tistics courses. The article pres- Daniel A. Marcus ents a broad set of computational topics with ideas on how to Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Science, Engineering, and teach them. Finance In the General section, Paul Walter A. Rosenkrantz Fearnhead and Benjamin M. The Monty Hall Problem: The Remarkable Story of Math’s Most Taylor extend the madness of Contentious Brain Teaser the NCAA basketball season Jason Rosenhouse in “Calculating Strength of Schedule and Choosing Teams New Drug Development: Design, Methodology, and Analysis for March Madness.” The authors J. Rick Turner propose a method to select teams for the NCAA tournament based SAS for Data Analysis: Intermediate Statistical Methods Mervyn G. Marasinghe and William J. Kennedy on their win-loss records after accounting for the different The Unfinished Game: Pascal, Fermat, and the Seventeenth-Century opponents they have played. Letter That Made the World Modern David H. Annis, Peter C. Keith Devlin Kiessler, Robert Lund, and Tara L. Steuber propose a sym- Wavelet Methods in Statistics with R metrized moment estimator for G. P. Nason estimation of the one-step-ahead Applied Survival Analysis: Regression Modeling of Time-to-Event Data transition probabilities in a revers- (2nd ed.) ible Markov chain on a count- David W. Hosmer, Stanley Lemeshow, and Susanne May able state space in “Estimation in Reversible Markov Chains.” The Little SAS Book: A Primer (4th ed.) Devan V. Mehrotra, Xiaomin Lora D. Delwiche and Susan J. Slaughter Lu, and Xiaoming Li propose Statistics: Informed Decisions Using Data (3rd ed.) and study two alternatives to Michael Sullivan III the van Elteren test, which uses

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 21 within-stratum ranks, for comparing two treatments in a strati- fied experiment. UMBC Statistics Program In “Three Examples of Accurate Likelihood Inference,” Celebrates 25th Anniversary C. Lozada-Can and A. C. Elliot Hirshman, Neerchal Nagaraj, and Bimal Sinha Davison demonstrate through illuminating examples that, computationally, it can be relatively straightforward to use higher- order corrections for improving standard likelihood inference. In the final contribution to this section, Gunnar Taraldsen and Bo Henry Lindqvist present an elementary introduction to a theoretical framework for statistics that includes improper priors, considering both Bayesian and non-Bayesian models. The Statistical Practice section opens with “A Note on Bayesian Inference After Multiple Imputation,” by Xiang Zhou and Jerome P. Reiter, who consider From left: Elliott Hirshman, UMBC provost; Nagaraj Neerchal, department Bayesian inference on multiply chair; and Bimal Sinha, founding faculty member imputed data sets in settings in which posterior distributions of the parameters of interest are he University of and poster presentation. Later, not approximately Gaussian. Maryland Baltimore Dean Rous of UMBC’s College Nicholas T. Longford follows County (UMBC) of Natural and Mathematical with “Bayesian Decision Making TDepartment of Mathematics and Sciences recognized every statis- About Small Binomial Rates with Statistics celebrated the 25th tics doctoral student to graduate Uncertainty About the Prior.” anniversary of its statistics gradu- in the past 25 years. In “Is the t Confidence ate program April 25 in conjunc- Rous also recognized the Interval: ± t (n − 1)s/ Optimal?”, tion with their Fourth Annual contributions of Bimal Sinha, Yijun Zuo ‹proposes a new pro- Probability and Statistics Day. the program’s senior most and cedure for constructing a confi- More than 100 participants founding faculty member, and dence interval for an unknown attended the silver jubilee, where commended the leadership of mean parameter that can outper- Ray Carroll, Bruce Lindsey, Ron Nagaraj Neerchal as department form not only the classical inter- Butler, and Nancy Geller were the chair and Anindya Roy as gradu- val in the title but also bootstrap keynote speakers. Many alumni ate program director. confidence intervals. also presented talks. The conference ended with In the History Corner section, The program was inaugu- a banquet and speech by ASA Michael Friendly, Pedro Valero- rated by UMBC’s provost, Elliot President Sastry Pantula, titled Mora, and Joaquín Ibáñez Hirshman. In addition to plenary “All I Want to Do When I Grow Ulargui take the reader on an and parallel sessions covering a Up … Be an ASA President.” interesting journey featuring variety of topics, the jubilee fea- For more about the celebra- Michael Florent van Langren and tured oral and poster presentations tion, visit www.retrieverweekly. the first (?) instance of data visu- by graduate students and the pre- com/?module=displaystory&story_ alization in “The First (Known) sentation of awards for best oral id=5602&format=html. n Statistical Graph: Michael Florent van Langren and the ‘Secret’ of Longitude.” n

22 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Titles from the ASA-SIAM SERIES on statistics and applied probability

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JUNE 2010 Amstat News 23 24 Amstat News JUNE 2010 STATISTICIAN’S VIEW

Feedback: Odds Are, It’s Wrong

Below is a response to the article “Odds Are, It’s Wrong,” published in the March 27 issue of Science News. ASA members wrote the letter to the editor and cited the writer’s failure to clearly distinguish between the misuses of statistics and its methodological limitations. The letter, as edited by the magazine, was printed in the May 8 issue of Science News (Page 32) and is now online. To view the original article, visit www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/57091/ title/Odds_Are,_Its_Wrong. To view the edited response and other responses to the article, visit www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58594/title/Feedback.

Dear Editor,

dds are it’s wrong, but the chances that sta- fundamental, factors involved, such as the pressure tistics is to blame are slim and fat. Tom to publish and obtain funding (positive results sell); Siegfried accurately portrays the impor- the public’s, and hence the media’s, appetite for pal- tanceO of statistics in the conduct of science. However, atable findings (chocolate is good for your health); his failure to clearly distinguish between the misuses and data hoarding (no one can see how thoroughly of statistics and its methodological limitations leads I searched my data to find a p = .049). to misleading conclusions about the role of statistics A chisel in a skillful artist’s hand can produce a in the proliferation of erroneous scientific results. beautiful sculpture, and a scalpel in an experienced Furthermore, his characterization of statistics as a surgeon’s hand can save a person’s life. Similarly, sta- mutant form of mathematics rooted in the same tistical techniques used properly by an honest and principles that guarantee profits for Las Vegas casi- knowledgeable scientist can be equally impressive nos is unscientific at best. It only hinders the real- at illuminating complex phenomena, thus promot- ization that statistics is the discipline that is best ing scientific understanding and shortening the positioned to contribute to the solution of the prob- time between scientific discovery and its impact on lems that he so entertainingly describes. societal problems. If misused, they can produce the Statisticians have long recognized the challenges counterproductive results that Siegfried describes. presented by multiple testing, the interpretation of Such erroneous results, however, should not be observational data, and, more recently, the analy- viewed as a failing of statistics. sis of high-dimensional data. Siegfried rightfully acknowledges the many statisticians and biostatis- Sastry G. Pantula ticians who have persistently and repeatedly writ- President, American Statistical Association ten eloquently on these issues. He also notes that appropriate methods, such as those for false discov- Jef Teugels ery control, are available to ameliorate the problems. President, International Statistical Institute Yet, he curiously persists with the theme that statis- Len Stefanski tics is defective when it is the misuse of statistical Editor, Journal of the American Statistical methods that is the main culprit in the situations Association (Theory and Methods) he describes. Siegfried has fired a shot across the bow of science that, although not perfectly on target, serves as a call for further discussion among statistical scientists and researchers in the relevant disciplines, such Correction as the medical, social, and behavioral sciences. There is a need to educate statistical practitioners at all lev- In the May issue of Amstat News, the “Treasures from the els, as gross misuse of statistical methods borders on ASA Archives” mistakenly referred to Frances Perkins as a he. scientific misconduct. However, it is also important Perkins, the first woman appointed to a presidential cabinet to realize that while statistics usually plays the role post, served as U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945. of the fall guy in these matters, there are other, more

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 25 Statisticians Comment on Status of Climate Change Science

The following are letters from ASA members in response to the March Amstat News article “Statisticians Comment on Status of Climate Change Science,” by Richard L. Smith, L. Mark Berliner, and Peter Guttorp. The authors answered additional questions online on March 31. The transcript of the discussion can be viewed at http://magazine.amstat.org/2010/03/ climatemar10.

Dear Editor,

read the recent article by Smith, Berliner, and My understanding is that temperature recon- Guttorp explaining why the ASA Climate structions are based on combining inverse regres- Change Policy Advisory Committee recom- sions of various surrogates (such as tree rings). The mendedI that Sally Morton sign the letter of consen- opportunities for unknown biases and uncertainties sus of climate change science. entering such a calculation seem endless. It defies I appreciate the hard work the committee statistical intuition that we could accurately recon- obviously put into this and I recognize their sin- struct the average temperature of the Earth hun- cerity and deep concern about the environment. dreds or thousands of years ago from inverse regres- However, I don’t think the article addressed the sions based on nonrandomly sampled surrogates. correct questions. Imagine the numerous omitted variables, not to No one doubts that the climate is changing; it mention lack of random sampling. And remember, is always changing. No one doubts that there has we need to estimate the derivative, which is difficult been a rise in average temperature. No one doubts even from the best data. that carbon dioxide plays a role in average tempera- Question 2: Carbon dioxide is a small part of the ture. And no one doubts that humans release carbon greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, water vapor being dioxide into the atmosphere. Below, I list what I see the largest component. Humans account for only as the real questions. I would be interested in know- part of the carbon dioxide that is in the atmosphere. ing the committee’s view on these questions. What fraction of warming is due to human-released Question 1: The main concern is not that the carbon dioxide compared to the other greenhouse temperature is increasing. The temperature of the gases? How accurately can this number be deter- Earth is never constant. The concern is that the rate mined? How large are the biases and variance? of increase is possibly much larger than during past Question 3: The climate is always changing. increases. In other words, the concern is about the There is nothing optimal about our current climate. derivative of the current warming period compared A warmer climate will have both positive and nega- to the derivative of past warmings. How certain can tive consequences. (For example, far more people we be that the derivative of the current warming die from cold than from heat.) How strong is the is exceptional? statistical evidence that the negative consequences To answer this question, we need to compare the outweigh the positive consequences? current climate to past climate. And to do this, we Let me emphasize that I appreciate the commit- need to use climate reconstructions. You acknowl- tee’s efforts. And I am not suggesting we should be edge that some reconstructions have been the object unconcerned about the environment. But, if anyone of great skepticism. As you noted, Ed Wegman should hold climate scientists to the highest statisti- affirmed, in his testimony before Congress, that cal standards, it should be statisticians. I’d like some the criticisms due to McIntyre and McKitrick are assurance that the ASA is doing so. legitimate. Yet, you dismiss the criticisms by merely saying “… the research community has responded Larry Wasserman successfully to these challenges.” I don’t feel that you Professor, Department of Statistics have really addressed this issue. Carnegie Mellon University

26 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Dear Editor,

am embarrassed by the “defense” of the anthro- about those projections.” So, accepting solar influ- pogenic global warming (AGW) theory pub- ence makes no sense because the projections are lished in the March 2010 issue of Amstat News. so uncertain already that a little more uncertainty IAs an agnostic on the issue, I was excited about the wouldn’t be noticed? article. I expected an objective, dispassionate analy- That’s statistics? sis—and possibly conclusion—by professional stat- I have a simple question: Does anyone have a isticians trained in judging theories based on evi- model, based on GHG readings of a specific location dence supported by data. Instead, the authors either or locations, that successfully predicts any future, tried to cast doubt on any contradictory evidence, observable, measurable temperatures—whether it or, worse, determined the state of knowledge of is a monthly average of satellite readings, a set of alternative theories was not sufficient to overcome specific ground temperature stations for a specific the presumption of validity of AGW. month, or even the thermometer on my deck—for Listen to the tortured denial of solar activity as five or 10 years in the future? Given the years of data a cause of global warming: “There is no credible and analysis thereof we supposedly have, that seems physical theory that would deny the GHG [green like a pretty low bar. Is anyone so certain of AGW house gas] influence.” I believe that there is also that they would publish such projections? no credible physical theory that would deny the I don’t believe the ASA should have signed onto solar influence. the letter to lawmakers based on the article I read. Or consider this gem: Solar activity theory could make future temperature projections more uncer- Terry G. Meyer tain, but “there is already plenty of uncertainty President, TECH Consulting

Dear Editor,

he article “Statisticians Comment on Status include important factors leads to precarious con- of Climate Change Science” in the March clusions, at best. It seems to me that because there is 2010 issue of Amstat News left me wonder- evidence that CO2 levels were twice as high as they ingT whether the dues I pay to the American are now millions of years ago, long before human- Statistical Association are paying for any part of the kind walked the Earth, there are surely factors work by the ASA’s Climate Change Policy Advisory missing from current models, factors that would Committee. Please know that I do not want my have caused prior warming periods and periods of dues funding this committee, and I do not want the elevated CO2. ASA making position statements on the status of Furthermore, plotting temperature data collected “climate change science” on its behalf. Additionally, from small patches of the Earth’s surface over the if the ASA makes statements on behalf of its mem- past 140 years would have no discernible (hockey bers, which includes me, about the notion of stick) trend (i.e., be part of the noise) if plotted over anthropogenic global warming, I will terminate my 400,000 years or 4,000,000 years or 4,000,0000,000 membership in the association. years. Don’t we teach our statistics students to plot I remain a skeptic of the “overwhelming” sci- data scaled in context to avoid making false claims? ence of anthropogenic global warming because, as an industrial statistician, model bias from failing to Linda Trocine

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 27 Dear Editor,

n the March 2010 issue of Amstat News, Richard • What are the projected effects of global Smith, Mark Berliner, and Peter Guttorp dis- warming, and what is the strength of the evi- cuss various aspects of global warming and con- dence that they are happening and caused by cludeI that (1) the climate is warming, (2) humans global warming? are likely responsible, and (3) mitigation measures are needed. They discuss (1) and (2) at length, but • How much harm (or benefit) will those con- mention (3) only in the last sentence, as if it is self- sequences bring? evident. The whole climate debate in general, in • What are the feasibility and cost of fact, largely ignores this part of the problem. A “sec- potential remedies? ond front” is needed in the discussion, one that takes as a given that warming is happening and Peter Bruce tackles questions like the following: President, statistics.com

Authors’ Response

s a preface to our response to letters regard- were the warmest decade of the last millennium, ing our article, the following points are ger- though this statement is often made. Rather, we mane to most of the letters. Please recall that believe the main functions of paleoclimatology in weA wrote, “We comment on some of the most com- the context of projecting future climate change are mon arguments that climate change is not happen- to learn about feedback mechanisms and gain some ing, or humans are not responsible.” Our article was indication of the scale of natural variability that has not intended to be a summary of the basis of any occurred in the past and may be expected to occur recommendation regarding ASA endorsement of in the future. any letter. Any such recommendation would involve Recent work on paleoclimatic reconstruction much more than brief comments on selected points from a statistical point of view includes the forth- of controversy. In particular, we did not review coming paper by Li, Nychka, and Ammann in JASA the case for anthropogenic climate change. Such and a forthcoming paper by Tingley and Huybers a review would involve combinations of in Journal of Climate. Finally, an in-depth discus- statistical and scientific arguments leading to a sion of aspects of paleoclimatology can be found in weight of evidence. the U.S. Congress–commissioned 2006 National Responding specifically, now, to Academy of Sciences report Surface Temperature each of the four writers, start- Reconstructions for the Last 2,000 Years (available ing with Wasserman’s three free as a download from National Academy Press). questions: This report includes various studies confirming the Question 1: We do “hockey stick” shape. not agree that the main Question 2: This point relates to the general area of purpose of paleocli- attribution. Climate models are run with both natural matology is to prove and anthropogenic forcing. These results are a major the derivative dur- contributor to the confidence of the Intergovernmental ing the last 25 years Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their Fourth is greater than in the Assessment Report (AR4) that anthropogenic influ- past 1,000 years (or ences explain the observed temperatures. the past 100,000) We each have concerns regarding the quality and in particular, since uncertainties associated with the inputs and forcings the climate response used. Further, interactions and climate feedbacks to CO2 increase is far regarding forcings are subject to uncertainty and from instantaneous, nor substantial continuing research. Indeed, character- do we agree that it really izing the response of the hydrological cycle (water matters whether the 1990s vapor, cloud properties, etc.) has been a holy grail in

28 Amstat News JUNE 2010 climate science. We note that Solomon et al. (2010) a prediction of the indicates that the post-1998 period of stable tem- date of death due peratures can be explained in terms of changing pat- to lung cancer of a terns of water vapor. The paper also indicates that specified cigarette different greenhouse gases can have different effects, smoker. so that changes in CO2 do not necessarily indicate Responding to the same changes in other greenhouse gases. Trocine, the evi- Question 3: There are uncertainties associated dence for anthro- with climate-scale projections, with the resulting sea pogenic contri- level rise and regional and local weather impacts and bution to global with the resulting effects on human outcomes (e.g., warming is not lim- health) and human endeavors (e.g., agriculture). ited to CO2. Current We do not believe all these uncertainties have been climate models include quantified, nor taken into account. Fortunately, a variety of greenhouse researchers from many disciplines, including ours, gases, as well as other forcings are engaged in research in these directions. We also of the climate. There is interaction note that statisticians support decisionmaking in the and feedback in the relationship between tempera- presence of uncertainty. ture and CO2. While it is correct that the last 140 Finally, we have not seen any clear evidence that years are a blip compared to previous changes, what “far more people die from cold than from heat.” The one really needs to look at is a kind of residual plot, death rates in Europe and North America are higher namely the difference between what you get with- during the winter months, but that does not imply out anthropogenic forcing and what you get with that temperatures in winter are the cause of death. all observed forcings. That is the right scale of com- Generally speaking, the evidence points to long parison for the kind of scientific judgment we are stretches of extreme temperatures as being most talking about here. dangerous. For example, stretches of unusually cold Finally, we fully agree that the issues Bruce raised weather in Spain (where unusually cold may mean are critical and merit substantial development and just freezing) is much more harmful than stretch- participation by statisticians. As mentioned above, es of unusually cold weather in Finland (where it we had a limited scope in this article. n means temperatures below -40o F). In any case, this query is symptomatic of the dif- ficulty and potential misunderstanding of “climate change” versus “global warming.” Regarding the latter, scientists are not concerned that the future climate would be identical to the current one, save STATISTICIAN’S VIEW a uniform, simple shift of 1o F or 2o F over this century. Rather, climate change represented in sea Statistician’s View is a place for members to express viewpoints level rise and changes in the distribution of weather about ASA issues and important topics in statistics. If you have trends and extremes (perhaps both hot and cold) are an opinion you would like to present or you want to respond to the keys. something you have read in this or other issues of Amstat News, Regarding Meyer’s letter, there is credible theory please send your letter to: as to the solar influence on climate (which is substantial from a historical perspective and explains Managing Editor—Amstat News much of the observed past climate change). However, there is no theory that both explains past American Statistical Association climate change and current observations based on 732 North Washington Street solar forcing alone. Alexandria, VA 22314-1943 The second-to-last paragraph betrays the writer’s or misunderstanding of climate and, perhaps, statistics. [email protected] “Climate” is the distribution of weather, and hence predicting the temperature at a particular location at Please indicate that you would like your letter to appear in a particular time would have similar uncertainty to Statistician’s View. Amstat News reserves the right to use, refuse, and predicting a single draw from a probability distribu- edit any submission. We will not accept anonymous material. tion. The writer’s challenge is a bit like asking for

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 29 30 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Funding Opportunities Who Wants to Be a Biostatistician (or Environmental Statistician, or Social Science Statistician, or …)? Keith Crank, ASA Research and Graduate Education Manager

n April, I visited the National for Mental Health. These were generally provided through the Institutes of Health (NIH) primarily people who fund neu- Ruth Kirschstein programs, which with Sastry Pantula, ASA roscience research and recognize include institutional training Ipresident; Sally Morton, a past the need to get more biostatisti- grants for students and individ- president of the ASA; and Steve cians involved. They also realize ual grants for postdocs. These are Pierson, ASA director of science biostatisticians are in demand and available through all the institutes policy. We met with Jeremy Berg, getting them to change their bio- at NIH. They are restricted to director of the National Institute medical area of research is a losing U.S. citizens, noncitizen nation- of General Medical Sciences battle. So, they are very interested als, and permanent residents. As (NIGMS), to talk about funding in training new researchers. mentioned previously, NIGMS for training biostatisticians. Opportunities for stu- would like to receive more We are pushing NIGMS to dents and postdocs are proposals for training PhD find ways to fund some of our master’s students. There is interest, but the current guidelines make it difficult. (Funding is definitely possible to retrain people with an MD, but it isn’t clear whether this can be extended to people with a PhD in another discipline.) We also are pushing for more PhD training grants in biostatistics. NIGMS would like to see more submissions of proposals for biostatistics training grants. They recognize the demand in this area (by the ease of finding jobs without going through multiple postdocs), but they cannot fund proposals they do not receive. Although our focus was on training, we also raised concerns about the visibility of statistics as a collaborative discipline (not just a consulting or data analysis discipline) and about inappropriate reviews of statistics proposals by reviewers without an appropriate statistical background. Before our meeting at NIGMS, we met with program directors at the National Institute

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 31 who want to learn an area of Funding Resources application. The Interdisciplinary Interagency Modeling and Analysis Group Grants in the Mathematical www.nibib.nih.gov/research/multiscalemodeling/imag Sciences program provides up to Includes program directors from many federal agencies (including NIH $100,000 for training in another and NSF) scientific discipline. These awards are for just one year, but they are Biomedical Information Science and Technology Initiative not restricted to biomedical areas www.bisti.nih.gov/funding/index.asp and do not have the citizenship Provides links to funding announcements dealing with bioinformatics restrictions that the NIH awards and computation have (see www.nsf.gov/funding/ pgm_summ.jsp?pims_=5299&org StatFund =DMS&from=home). http://statfund.cancer.gov There are lots of opportuni- Identifies NIH funding opportunities for statistical methodology and provides a ties available for research fund- list of grants that have been made in statistical methodology ing from NIH and NSF. To learn more about the opportunities at NIH, I invite you to attend a session I organized for JSM 2010 students in biostatistics (See www. researchers to spend 3–5 years in Vancouver, British Columbia. nigms.nih.gov/Training/InstPredoc/ studying and doing research in The session will meet at 8:30 PredocTrainingDescription.htm). a biomedical area and provide a.m. on August 4. The panel- For those whose research funding for both research activi- ists are Michelle Dunn, Shawn careers are established, but who ties and salary. They are restrict- Drew, and Denise Wiesch from may be looking to do something ed to U.S. citizens, noncitizen NIH and Jeremy Taylor from different, NIH provides oppor- nationals, and permanent resi- the University of Michigan tunities for quantitative scientists dents and require a mentor who Biostatistics Department. I hope (including statisticians) to redirect is willing to assist in the devel- to see you there. their research toward biomedical opment and execution of the To contact me, send an email issues. This is done through their research plan. to [email protected]. Questions Mentored Quantitative Research The National Science or comments about this article, Development Award (K25) (See Foundation’s (NSF) Division as well as suggestions for future http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/ of Mathematical Sciences has a articles, are always welcome. n pa-files/PA-10-062.html). These similar, but less generous, pro- awards offer the opportunity for gram for mathematical scientists Volunteers Wanted Have you ever thought about serving on an ASA committee of interest to you? The success of the ASA depends on ASA committees and the volunteers who serve on them.

Each year, vacancies are filled in nearly all of the ASA’s 50+ committees, usually for a three-year term. A list and description of all the committees can be found at www.amstat.org/committees.

You can volunteer or recommend another by going to www.amstat.org/committees and clicking on “Volunteer or make committee member recommendations.”

32 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Science Policy News Members Affect ASA Science Policy Steve Pierson, ASA Director of Science Policy, [email protected]

ast spring, I wrote a col- email to develop a recommenda- parties of the ASA’s action, work- umn titled “State of ASA’s tion for the ASA Board. ing with the ASA’s public relations Science Policy” (www. When developing a recom- specialist when appropriate. Lamstat.org/outreach/pdfs/SP_ mendation, the panel considers AnApr09.pdf). I think it is impor- the optimal timing for ASA action ASA Board Statements tant to keep the ASA member- and the mode of input (e.g., state- The two statements endorsed ship apprised of such activities, ment, letter, meeting of ASA lead- by the ASA Board at its April but I think it is more important ership with decisionmaker, etc.). meeting (see Page 5) arose from to further engage members in The ASA’s executive director and ASA member activity. Knowing these efforts and the direction director of science policy provide that many states would be they take. As my examples below input and inform the ASA Board considering—or reconsider- indicate, member input is essen- or Executive Committee of the ing—election auditing legis- tial to ASA science policy success. panel’s activities, requesting input lation, certain ASA members So, rather than reporting a com- as necessary and soliciting outside recognized that the ASA could prehensive science policy update, input to make the ASA’s action as positively influence this legis- I report on activities sparked by constructive as possible. lation by endorsing the risk- members and strongly encourage Once a letter or statement limiting election audits (because members to contact me with sug- is finalized, I inform interested of their efficiency advantage over gestions or concerns. While I cannot guarantee that the ASA can act on all suggestions, it’s important for us to hear from you. Process Because I think ASA members should know the process for any ASA science policy action, let me explain it, emphasizing that I do not act alone when deciding how to proceed. After a topic has been suggested, the first step is to assess its importance and pertinence to the ASA and the value of an ASA action. The level of autho- rization needed for ASA action is also assessed, taking into account such considerations as accordance with previous ASA Board action, ASA bylaws, and the level of support within the ASA. The next step is for me, the director of science policy, to identify a panel of ASA member experts by soliciting input from the ASA’s leadership, committees, sections, and chapters. This panel then communicates by phone and

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 33 and Confidentiality, suggested save the section, assuming the ASA Science Policy Actions the ASA send a letter to HHS numbers are sustained (see http:// ASA responds to an NIGMS request for input Secretary Kathleen Sebelius magazine.amstat.org/2010/04/ on training grants. explaining the tools statisticians fundingopps_apr10). It also led to bring to the table. The letter was broadening the scope of applica- ASA signs a letter supporting written and, as a result, Reiter was tions considered by BMRD. reauthorization of the America COMPETES invited to participate in a HIPAA The other driver was the Act this year. Privacy Rule deidentification response to a posting by ASA ASA signs a letter in support of the fiscal workshop this year. Research and Education Manager year 2011 budget for the Bureau of Seeing the plans of the Keith Crank to the electronic Michigan State Board of mailing list for the ASA Caucus Economic Analysis. Education to weaken the statistics of Academic Representatives ASA signs a letter to the President’s Council component in parts of its curricu- requesting questions to ask at the of Advisors on Science and Technology, lum, Detroit Chapter members— town hall meeting held by NIH urging its members to take the lead in led by David Fluharty—contacted Director Francis Collins last fall. affirming the behavioral and social sciences the ASA. After checking with the Questions covered meeting the as an important part of science, technology, ASA president, ASA staff mem- great demand for biostatisticians bers helped draft a letter, which and mentoring biostatisticians to engineering, and mathematics education. was revised and sent on December the review of biostatistics training 15, 2009. grant issues and involvement of After learning a bill before statisticians as collaborators. That so-called fixed-percentage audits the California legislature would input led to a letter from 2009 and ability to correct an outcome) contain a provision to pilot the ASA President Sally Morton to and urging that principles, rather use of risk-limiting audits, Philip Collins, an April visit to Jeremy than details, be legislated. ASA Stark—creator of the methods for M. Berg, director of the National experts devoted many hours to conducting such audits and an Institute of General Medical producing a statement to recom- advocate for their use—contacted Sciences by Morton and Pantula, mend to the ASA Board. They also the ASA. ASA President Sastry and the upcoming JSM session sought input from participants in Pantula then wrote a letter of sup- on NIH opportunities discussed an election auditing workshop held port for the provision. The bill in Crank’s column on Page 31. at the ASA last fall that included received the unanimous biparti- CCPAC is a result of a con- computer scientists, political scien- san support of the California State versation Amy Braverman had tists, and voting advocates. Assembly Committee on Elections with Executive Director Ron The forensic science statement and Redistricting and now awaits Wasserstein at a recent JSM, in was led by ASA members active further consideration. which she lamented the lack of in bringing statistical methods to engagement by the ASA in issues bear on forensic science, includ- NIH and Climate of the day. A follow-up conversa- ing a representative of the ASA Change Activities tion led to a group of statisticians Committee on Law and Justice Other ASA action instigated by discussing how ASA members Statistics and people who have members involves the National could inform Congress on climate served on National Academies Institutes of Health (NIH) and change issues. As the group became panels and/or written extensively the ASA’s Climate Change Policy more involved, it was made into an on this topic. Advisory Committee (CCPAC). ad hoc ASA committee. In NIH’s case, there were two pri- In short, ASA members deter- Letters from the mary drivers. One was an email mine ASA science policy activi- ASA President from member Marie Davidian ties. If you have a suggestion for The following three instances from to the electronic mailing list for ASA action on a policy matter, the last year illustrate ASA presi- the ASA Caucus of Academic please contact me at pierson@ dents sending letters as a result of Representatives about the possi- amstat.org. And if there is a sci- ASA member suggestions. ble elimination of the Biostatistics ence policy activity you are inter- Hearing that the Department Methods and Research Design ested in working on, let me know. of Health and Human Services (BMRD) study section or its Without member input, little (HHS) might soon reconsider its merger with another study sec- ASA science policy work would Health Insurance Portability and tion. The overwhelming response get done. Such input includes Accountability Act (HIPAA) pri- to Davidian’s call for grant sub- contacting members of Congress vacy rules, Jerry Reiter, chair of missions to BMRD led to enough and meeting with them or mem- the ASA Committee on Privacy of an increase in submissions to bers or their staffs. n

34 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Master’s Notebook Find Your Fit Jack Nyberg, Senior Manager, Covance

s summer approaches, my thoughts turn toward the coming warm weather. If you’reA a recent graduate, your thoughts may be turning toward summer fun, but also toward the practical matter of finding your first job as a statistician. I’m sure most of you have already thought about important factors that will influence your job search. Salary, location, and advancement opportunities are some of what we consider when ranking potential employers, but an easily overlooked consideration is “finding your fit.” Finding your fit means that when you evaluate a job opportunity, you must evaluate whether the work culture fits your personality in addition to the tangible factors of salary, location, title, etc. That is, beyond the technical aspects of statistical work, What Kind of Personality or acquaintances who already every job is immersed in the cul- Do I Have? work there. An Internet search of ture of the organization, depart- Most of you probably have a good the organization may also help. ment, and project team. To find idea about your likes and dislikes, Finally, ask questions during the the right job for you, you must but have you ever really tried to interview process. Ask about the consider finding the right work identify your personality type? If organizational, departmental, and culture for you. not, there are a number of won- team cultures. Say you are lucky enough derful resources (e.g., Myers- Request to talk with potential to field two job offers. Both are Briggs Type Indicator Test, John coworkers and managers. At first, similar in almost every respect; Holland’s Theory of Vocational you may be reticent to ask many however, one is with a fast-grow- Choice, etc.) that can profile questions, but keep in mind that ing small organization and the your personality. Also, talk with the process is two-way. They’re other is with an established large your friends, family, or a trusted determining if you’d be a good organization. The smaller organi- adviser to determine how other fit there, and you’re determining zation embraces a fast-paced and people perceive you. These assess- if they’d be a good fit for you. If make-it-up-as-you-go-along cul- ments, combined with an honest both of you succeed, then both of ture and the other has a deliber- self-evaluation, will help you dis- you win. ate and process-oriented culture. cover your personality type. Which job would you take? Am I Willing to Work To help answer this question, What Is the Work Where My Personality you must evaluate your per- Culture? Doesn’t Fit? sonality, the potential employ- Once you know your personality After you’ve determined your per- er’s culture, and how the two type, identify the culture of the sonality profile and the culture of fit together. job under consideration. Good the jobs under consideration, you sources of information are friends might be in the enviable position

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 35 of evaluating taking the job. But, working in an organization. Finding your fit multiple job environment that goes against makes work easier because you’re offers. your personality is like swim- more likely to enjoy coming into Unlike our ming against the incoming work each day, collaborate effi- scenario above, tide. You may not notice it at ciently with your coworkers, and it is unlikely you’ll first, but it just makes it more respect your employer. be comparing jobs difficult to reach success at Although not easily quanti- that are essentially that organization. fiable, these factors intuitively the same. One job may combine to make work enjoy- pay substantially more than Will the Work Culture Fit able. When work is enjoyable, the others. Or, one job may be with My Personality? you are more productive, per- in your ideal location. Whatever This question is similar to the sonable, creative, and energetic. the mitigating circumstance, you previous one, but it powerfully These make you more valuable must determine if you’re willing shifts the focus. Instead of pres- to your employer, which leads to to take a job that may not be the suring you to adapt to an ill- career advancement opportuni- best fit for your personality. fitting culture, it requires the job ties. Although nothing is guar- It is important to note that to fit your needs. anteed, by taking a job that fits anyone can adapt to succeed any- Finding a job that allows you your personality, you are laying where. So if a work culture is not to honestly answer “yes” to this the groundwork for long-term a good personality fit, you should question makes it more likely you success even before you’ve worked not be totally dissuaded from will find long-term success at that one day. n

36 Amstat News JUNE 2010 MEETINGS REGISTRATIONFORM 2010 FDA/Industry Statistics Workshop Sponsored by the ASA Biopharmaceutical Section with cooperation from the FDA Statistical Association 3EPTEMBERn s'RAND(YATT7ASHINGTON7ASHINGTON $# INSTRUCTIONS 1. Print or type all information and retain a copy for your records. 2. Use a separate form for each registrant. 3. Mail form with payment to FDA/Industry Statistics Workshop Registration, 732 N. Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314. Fax form (credit card only) to (703) 684-2037. www.amstat.org/ 4. Registration form must be received by August 26, 2010, to be processed at the reduced rate. meetings/fdaworkshop Forms Received Without Payment Will Not Be Processed.

ATTENDEE INFORMATION MEAL PREFERENCE Lunch on Tuesday, September 21, is included with your workshop registration. To assist in planning, please select the area of discussion that most interests you. Name See Page 2 of this form for the list of topics. 3ELECTONEOFTHEFOLLOWINGMENUOPTIONS Tuesday, September 21 Preferred Name for Badge Topic:______

❑ Regular ❑ Vegetarian ❑ Not attending lunch ASA ID # (if known)

Organization REGISTRATION FEES Workshop Fee (required) By August 27 – Address August 26 September 13 ❑ Registrant $270 $295 $______❑ Academic (nonstudent) $230 $255 $______❑ Biopharm Section Member $230 $255 $______❑ Government $130 $155 $______❑ Student $130 $155 $______City State/Province ZIP/Postal Code Short Courses—-ONDAY, September 20 Add-ons to Workshop Fee: $100 each before Aug. 26; $105 each Aug. 27–Sept. 13 Country (non-U.S.) 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ❑ SC1: Emerging Challenges in Clinical Trial Phone Methodologies—James Hung & Sue Jane Wang $______❑ SC2: Beyond Survival Analysis: Recurrent Event Responses in Clinical Trials—Richard Cook & Jerry Lawless $______Email ❑ SC3: Interpreting Change and Responder Analysis for Patient-Reported Outcomes—Joseph Cappelleri, Lisa Kammerman, & Kathleen Wyrwich $______In case of emergency, list the name and phone number of the person we should contact (remains conﬁdential). 1:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m. ❑ SC4: Hot Topics: Recent Development in Clinical Trial Emergency Contact’s Name ______Methodologies—Scott Evans & Jim Ware $______❑ SC5: Good Statistical Practice and Common Subtle Telephone Number ______Statistical Mistakes—Frank Harrell $______❑ SC6: Quantitative Pharmacovigilance: Statistical ❑ Check here if you would like your ASA customer contact Approaches to Medical Product Safety Surveillance— information updated with your meeting contact information. Jie Chen & Yi Tsong $______

This meeting is ADA accessible. TOTAL FEES: $______❑ Please check here if you need special services due to a disability and attach a statement regarding your needs. PAYMENT ❑ Check/money order payable to the American Statistical Association (in U.S. dollars on U.S. bank) CANCELLATION POLICY #ANCELLATIONS RECEIVED BY !UGUST WILL BE REFUNDED LESS A PRO- Credit Card ❑ VISA ❑ MasterCard ❑ American Express CESSING FEE AND LESS A PROCESSING FEE FOR EACH SHORT COURSE #ANCELLATIONS RECEIVED BY 3EPTEMBER WILL BE REFUNDED LESS A PROCESSING FEE ANDLESSAPROCESSINGFEEFOREACHSHORTCOURSE2EQUESTSFORREFUNDSRECEIVED Card Number AFTER3EPTEMBERWILLNOTBEHONORED!LLCANCELLATIONSMUSTBEMADEINWRITING TO [email protected] VIA FAX TO OR MAILED TO &$!)NDUSTRY Exp. Date CVS# (3- digit number on back of card) 3TATISTICS7ORKSHOP2EGISTRATION .7ASHINGTON3TREET!LEXANDRIA 6! *0URCHASE ORDERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED .O EXCEPTIONS !3!&EDERAL )$ Name of Cardholder

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JUNE 2010 Amstat News 37 REGISTRATIONFORM 2010 FDA/Industry Statistics Workshop Sponsored by the ASA Biopharmaceutical Section with cooperation from the FDA Statistical Association 3EPTEMBERn s'RAND(YATT7ASHINGTON7ASHINGTON $# INSTRUCTIONS 1. Print or type all information and retain a copyRoundtable for your records. Luncheon Topics 2. Use a separate form for each registrant.Tuesday, September 21, 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. 3. Mail form with payment to FDA/Industry Statistics Workshop Registration, 732 N. Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314. Fax form (credit card only) to (703) 684-2037. www.amstat.org/ 4. RegistrationTo aidform productivemust be received discussion, by August 26,roundtables 2010, to be will processed take placeat the reduced in a number rate. of rooms,meetings/fdaworkshop organized by general theme/topic.Forms Received Without Payment Will Not Be Processed.

ATTENDEEPlated INFORMATION lunches will be available for all attendees. ParticipantsMEAL PREFERENCE will select a discussion table of interest and will then be served their lunch. Tables,Lunch which on Tuesday, will Septemberaccommodate 21, is included 10 with people your workshop each, registration. will To assist in planning, please select the area of discussion that most interests you. Name be available on a first-come, first-served basis. See Page 2 of this form for the list of topics. 3ELECTONEOFTHEFOLLOWINGMENUOPTIONS Tuesday, September 21 Preferred NameFollowing for Badge are the available broad topics, with possible specific areas of discussion listed below: Topic:______

❑ Regular ❑ Vegetarian ❑ Not attending lunch ASA ID # (if known) 1) Design and Implementation of Clinical Studies 3) Center-Specific Topics Organization Adaptive Design Biologics-Vaccines REGISTRATION FEES Workshop Fee (required) Food Decision By August 27 – Address Devices August 26 September 13 PROs (Patient Reported Outcomes) ❑ Registrant $270 $295 $______Interim/Futility ❑ Academic (nonstudent)Diagnostics $230 $255 $______❑ Biopharm Section Member $230 $255 $______Quality Assessment ❑ Government Veterinary Products$130 $155 $______❑ Student $130 $155 $______City Randomization State/Province ZIP/Postal Code Short Courses— 4) CMC/Early-ONDAY, September Phase/Preclinical 20 Study Design Add-ons to Workshop Fee: $100 each before Aug. 26; $105 each Aug. 27–Sept. 13 Country (non-U.S.) QTC Multi-Regional Clinical Trials 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ❑ SC1: Emerging ChallengesBiomarkers in Clinical Trial Phone Statistical Issues in Global Harmonization Methodologies—James Hung & Sue Jane Wang $______❑ SC2: Beyond SurvivalGenomics Analysis: Recurrent Event Responses Regulatory Issues in Global Harmonization in Clinical Trials—Richard Cook & Jerry Lawless $______Email ❑ SC3: Interpreting PK-PD Change and Responder Analysis for Multiplicity Adjustments Patient-Reported Outcomes—Joseph Cappelleri, Lisa Kammerman, & Kathleen Wyrwich $______In case of emergency, Noninferiority list the name and phone number of the 5) Other Technical/Statistical person we should contact (remains conﬁdential). 1:30 p.m.–5:00 Openp.m. Source Code 2) Analysis of Clinical Trials (Safety and Efficacy)❑ SC4: Hot Topics: Recent Development in Clinical Trial Emergency Contact’s Name ______Methodologies— SoftwareScott Evans & Jim Ware $______ISS/ISE (Integrated Summary of Safety/ ❑ SC5: Good Statistical Practice and Common Subtle Telephone Number Integrated ______Summary of Efficacy) Statistical Mistakes—Health FrankCare Harrell Utilization $______❑ SC6: Quantitative Data Pharmacovigilance: Quality Statistical ❑ Check here if youLongitudinal/Repeated would like your ASA customer Measures contact Approaches to Medical Product Safety Surveillance— information updated with your meeting contact information. Jie Chen & Yi Tsong $______Subgroup Analysis 6) Professional/Personal Development This meeting is ADA accessible. DMC (Data Monitoring Committees) TOTAL FEES: $______❑ Please check here if you need special services due to Professional Development a disability Risk/Benefit and attach a statement regarding your needs. PAYMENT Work/Life Balance Safety Assessment ❑ Check/money order payable to the American Statistical Association (in U.S. dollars on U.S. Knittingbank) CANCELLATION POLICY #ANCELLATIONS RECEIVED Survival BY !UGUST Analysis WILL BE REFUNDED LESS A PRO- Credit Card ❑ AdventureVISA ❑ MasterCard ❑ American Express CESSING FEE AND LESS AMeta-Analysis PROCESSING FEE FOR EACH SHORT COURSE #ANCELLATIONS RECEIVED BY 3EPTEMBER WILL BE REFUNDED LESS A PROCESSING FEE Card Number ANDLESSAPROCESSINGFEEFOREACHSHORTCOURSE2EQUESTSFORREFUNDSRECEIVED Therapeutic Specific (Oncology/CNS/ 7) Communication AFTER3EPTEMBERWILLNOTBEHONORED!LLCANCELLATIONSMUSTBEMADEINWRITING TO [email protected] Diabetes/Etc.) VIA FAX TO OR MAILED TO &$!)NDUSTRY Exp. Date CVS# (3- digit number on back of card) 3TATISTICS7ORKSHOP2EGISTRATION .7ASHINGTON3TREET!LEXANDRIA 6! *0URCHASE ORDERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED .O EXCEPTIONS !3!&EDERAL )$ For additional information aboutName roundtable of Cardholder luncheons, please visit www.amstat.org/meetings/fdaworkshop/roundtables Authorizing Signature

38 Amstat News JUNE 2010 PEOPLE NEWS Editors Appointed for JEBS

JEBS Increases to Six Issues per Year With the 2010 volume year, the Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics (JEBS) went from a quarterly to a bimonthly journal. The frequency change was implemented along with an increase in published pages. The American Educational Research Association (AERA) undertook these changes because of substantial increases in its manuscript submission rate in 2008 and 2009. JEBS has been published since 1976 in collaboration Sinharay Johnson with the ASA. In 1994, it changed its name from Journal of Educational Statistics to incorporate a broader scope that includes behavioral statistics. The andip Sinharay and Matthew Johnson were recently journal began online publication in 2007, including appointed to three-year terms as coeditors of the Journal the ability to publish accepted manuscripts digitally of Educational and Behavioral Statistics (JEBS). JEBS is before they appear in print. In 2008, manuscript ownedS by the American Educational Research Association submissions increased by nearly 20% from the (AERA) and sponsored by the ASA. Sinharay and Johnson will serve for the 2011 to 2013 volume years. previous year; in 2009, the rate increased by 60%. Editors are selected on the basis of recognized scholarship With an acceptance rate of only 10%, JEBS’s upcoming with background and interests appropriate for JEBS. The new changes ensure its ability to publish research of merit editors have extensive experience in researching and publish- for the benefit of its readership. ing in statistics and educational testing, and both are current Subscription costs will not increase for AERA or members of the JEBS editorial board. ASA members, but will increase modestly for Sinharay is senior research scientist at Educational Testing Service (ETS) in the Center for Statistical Theory and institutional subscribers. Practice, where he has held several positions since 2001. He is a recipient of several awards from ETS and the National Council on Measurement in Education. He has served on other journal editorial boards, including those of the Journal of Educational Measurement (JEM) and Educational and Psychological Measurement (EPM). He coedited Handbook of Sinharay and Johnson will begin to receive manuscripts on Statistics, Volume 26: Psychometrics and is editing the statistics July 1 and become editors of record in January of 2011, suc- section of the upcoming third edition of the International ceeding editor David Rindskopf of CUNY. Manuscript sub- Encyclopedia of Education. He has published in numerous missions should continue to go to http://mc.manuscriptcentral. statistics and measurement journals—including JEBS, JEM, com/jebstats. EPM, and Psychometrika—and has contributed chapters to JEBS publishes papers that develop original statistical meth- numerous books. Sinharay holds an MStat from the Indian ods applicable to educational or behavioral research. Typical Statistical Institute and an MS and PhD in statistics from Iowa papers present new methods of analysis. In addition, critical State University. reviews of current practice, tutorial presentations of less well- Johnson is associate professor of statistics and education known methods, and novel applications of already-known at Teachers College, Columbia University. Previously, he held methods may appear. positions at ETS and in the department of statistics and com- Now published bimonthly (see “JEBS Increases to Six Issues puter information systems at Baruch College, City University per Year”), JEBS is a premier journal in the field, with its arti- of New York (CUNY). He has received awards from ETS and cles widely read and cited. In 2008, Journal Citation Reports CUNY and served as an associate editor for Psychometrika ranked JEBS’s scholarly impact as seventh out of 112 educa- for more than five years. Johnson has published numerous tion and education research journals. JEBS also was ranked journal articles—including in JEBS and Psychometrika—and eighth out of 37 social science mathematical methods journals several book chapters. He holds a PhD and MS in statistics and fourth out of 11 mathematical psychology journals. n from Carnegie Mellon University.

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 39 Michael Elliott methods (smoothing survey The Gertrude M. Cox at The University of North weights) and biostatistics Award was established in Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Michael Elliott, a professor (causal inference and repeated 2003 through a joint statistical division at RTI. She in the department of biosta- measures). He will receive the agreement between WSS and served as president of the tistics at the University of award at the Washington RTI International to recog- ASA in 1957. Michigan School of Public Statistical Society’s (WSS) nize statisticians in early to Health, was recently chosen annual dinner meeting, where mid-career who have made as this year’s recipient of the he will also give the keynote significant contributions to C. R. Rao Gertrude M. Cox Award. address, “Probability statistical practice. The award Since earning his PhD Sampling in the 21st is in memory of Gertrude M. from the University of Century: Obsolescent or Cox (1900–1978), who Michigan in 1999, Elliott has Cutting-Edge?” The award played a key role in establish- made noteworthy contribu- consists of a plaque and ing mathematical statistics tions to the fields of survey $1,000 honorarium. and biostatistics departments

Rao C. R. Rao was recently ASA Members Participate in Mu named the recipient of the India Science Award, one of the highest honors given by Sigma Rho Induction Ceremony the Indian government to a distinguished scientist. It includes a prize of $56,300, a gold medal, and a plaque. Rao, who is 90, also received the award in 2006. The award is given to those who have demonstrated excellence in science and opened a window of opportunity in the field. To read more about Rao’s life and the award, visit www.newkerala.com/news/ fullnews-23481.html.

From left: John Sall, cofounder of SAS Institute, with Stu Hunter, a past president of the ASA, and Sastry Pantula, current ASA president A. K. Md. Ehsanes Saleh ight undergraduate and 37 gradu- He also demonstrated how to solve an The International Journal of ate students were inducted into the optimization problem using JMP and was Statistical Sciences (IJSS) Alpha Chapter of Mu Sigma Rho, made an honorary member of the NCSU recently published a special theE honor society for statistics, during a chapter of Mu Sigma Rho. volume in honor of A. K. banquet at North Carolina State ASA President Sastry Pantula provided Md. Ehsanes Saleh, profes- University (NCSU) on April 8. closing remarks, congratulating the induct- sor emeritus at Carleton Following ice-breakers, prizes, and din- ees and wishing them successes similar to University in Ottawa, ner, John Sall—cofounder and executive SAS’s. He also reminded everyone to vote Canada, for his contributions vice president of SAS Institute—provided in the ASA elections and to complete their to statistical science. a picturesque history of the company, census forms. Saleh is a Fellow of the ASA, from initially having six employees to Stu Hunter, a past ASA president and Institute of Mathematical currently having more than 11,000 and distinguished NCSU alumnus, also par- Statistics, Royal Statistical being voted the Number 1 place to work ticipated in the ceremony. Society, and Academy of in the United States by Fortune magazine. Sciences of Bangladesh. He is an honorary member of the

40 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Statistical Society of Canada Obituary and animals on their farm earned his PhD in statistics and a member of the outside of West Branch, Iowa. from Aberdeen University, International Statistical Robert Lerner He was a man of great intel- United Kingdom. He was awarded the DSc degree by Institute. Robert Lerner, an ASA mem- lect, passion, laughter, and Aberdeen University in 1984 Saleh has published more ber and one of the first mem- strength who will be deeply in recognition of “original than 200 articles and is edi- bers of the National missed by all who knew him. contributions in the areas of tor-in-chief of the Journal of Association of Scholars, distribution theory, robust Statistical Research. He also passed away on April 30. has served on the editorial Obituary ınference, goodness-of-fit, A survey research and data and outlier detection.” boards of a number of inter- analysis statistician, Lerner Moti Lal Tiku national journals and as Tiku served as director of was a partner with Lerner and Moti Lal Tiku, professor the statistics division and pro- Eugene Lukacs Distinguished Nagai Quantitative Professor at Bowling Green emeritus at McMaster fessor of statistics at the Consulting, a social science University in Canada and vis- National Institute of Hygiene State University. research firm. In 2003, Among the many awards iting professor of statistics at and Public Health in Kolkata, President George W. Bush Middle East Technical India. He was also senior pro- and honors Saleh has received nominated him to be the next are the Ogawa Award; the Q. University in Turkey, passed fessor at the Institute of Commissioner of Education away on March 25 at the age Agricultural Research Statistics M. Hosain Gold Medal; two Statistics; however, the Senate ISSOS gold medals; the of 74. in New Delhi, India, and an did not confirm his perma- Tiku was recognized for adjunct professor at Wilfrid Institute of Statistical nent appointment. Research and Training, his work on what he called Laurier University in Canada. Lerner has published sever- “modified maximum likeli- Tiku was an accomplished University of Dhaka, Gold al books, including American Medal; Pride of Bangladesh hood estimation.” He pub- statistician and an inspiration Elites Molding the Good lished more than 120 papers to his young colleagues and Award; and a citation by the Citizen: A Study of High- Natural Sciences and in prominent journals and students. He became a role School Textbooks and Giving authored several books. His model for the way he Engineering Research for Social Change: Council of Canada. work also was cited in a num- approached scientific prob- Foundations, Public Policy, and ber of journals and books. lems and life in general. His the American Political Agenda. Tiku earned his master’s life as a humanist and high- Obituary He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from quality academician will degree from Oberlin College Punjab University, India, in remain an inspiration Nathan Keyfitz and his master’s and doctorate 1957 and his MSc degree in to many. n degrees in sociology from The Nathan Keyfitz, an innovative statistics in 1960. In 1964, he University of Chicago. statistician and professor emeritus who broke ground applying math to human Obituary populations, passed away on April 6 at a health care facility Timothy Joel in Lexington, Massachusetts. Robertson He was 96 years old. Timothy Joel Robertson, 72, Keyfitz was the Andelot passed away at University of Professor of Sociology in the Iowa Hospital on April 5. faculty of arts and sciences Robertson was born The ASA is looking for champions to expand the and of demography at the October 4, 1937, in Denver, Census at School program across the United States. Harvard School of Public Colorado, and married Joan Health. He was a Fellow Teachers and users and producers of statistics at Robertson on August 18, of the ASA and Royal all levels are encouraged to get involved, both to 1959, in Chillicothe, Statistical Society and the promote the good practice of statistics in schools Missouri. He was a professor recipient of multiple honor- and to encourage more students to eventually join emeritus of the University of ary degrees. In 1977, he the statistics profession. Iowa Statistics and Actuary was elected to the National Department and a Fellow of Academy of Sciences. This is a wonderful opportunity for ASA chapters the ASA. For more information to perform outreach in their communities. For Robertson enjoyed spend- about Keyfitz’s life, visit http:// more information about how you can get involved, ing time in the outdoors, media-newswire.com/ email ASA Director of Education Martha Aliaga at camping and canoeing. His release_1116572.html. greatest joy was spending [email protected]. time with his wife, family,

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 41 The ASA Community provides an online setting for like-minded statisticians to connect with peers through tools that make it easy to communicate, collaborate, and share.

Networking Set up your personal member profile and connect with ASA colleagues. CREATE ASAGroups The new online home for our ASA committees, your profile sections, and chapters. Members exchange information in real time. FIND Resource Library The Resource Library is where members may share, contacts comment on, rate, and tag documents. Glossary Collaborate to create and build industry definitions. JOIN Rate definitions and add comments to build terms so discussions they can be used by other members. Calendar Access calendars for specific groups and the master calendar for all ASA Community events. Visit http://community.amstat.org today!

42 Amstat News JUNE 2010 AWARD DEADLINES AND INFORMATION

Deming Lecturer Communications Award, receive his/her award at the Hunter was the first chair given annually since 1988. annual meeting. of the Statistics Division of The $1,000 prize is awarded The research may be on the American Society for to communicators who, on a any topic broadly related to Quality Control (now sustained basis, bring mathe- dose-response assessment, American Society for matical ideas and informa- including laboratory investi- Quality). His leadership as a tion to nonmathematical gation, methods develop- communicator, consultant, audiences. Both mathemati- ment, comparative analyses, educator, and innovator and cians and nonmathemati- novel applications, studies on his ability to integrate statisticians are eligible. strengthening the role of cal thinking into many disci- In addition to the profes- dose-response assessment in plines serve as exemplary sional address and phone risk assessment, uncertainty models for statisticians and Nominations for the 2011 number of the nominator, analysis, harmonization, researchers everywhere. Deming Lecturer Award are nominations should include dosimetry, genetics, and The award was established due July 15. The awardee will the nominee’s name, institu- molecular biology. in 1987 to encourage and give the Deming Lecture (an tion, position, CV, profes- All abstracts must be sub- promote outstanding accom- invited paper) at the Joint sional address, email address, mitted for presentation at the plishments during a career in Statistical Meetings and professional phone and fax 2010 SRA Annual Meeting, applied statistics and to recog- receive a $1,000 honorarium, numbers, home address, and to take place December 5–8 nize an implementer who has award plaque, and home phone number. Also, at in Salt Lake City, Utah. achieved results. Any out- travel expenses. least one sample illustrating Guidelines for abstract sub- standing leader in the field of To be considered for the the nominee’s contribution to mission can be found at applied statistics, regardless of award, an individual must mathematics (e.g., books, vid- www.sra.org/events_2010_ ASQ Statistics Division have made significant contri- eotapes, brochures, magazine meeting.php. membership status, is quali- butions in fields related to articles) should be included. Further information and a fied. Candidates must have those in which Deming Award nominations should link to examples of winners’ demonstrated a high level of devoted his career (e.g., sur- be sent to Sastry Pantula, abstracts from previous years professionalism, provided sig- vey sampling, statistics in the ASA president and selection is available for download at nificant contributions to the transportation industry, quali- committee chair, at pantula@ www.sra.org/drsg/DRSG_ field, and built a history of ty management, and quality stat.ncsu.edu. The award will Student_Award_2010.pdf. inspirational leadership and improvement), or more be presented at the Joint Questions should be application. A person may be broadly, have made signifi- Mathematics Meetings in addressed to Paul Schlosser at nominated many times, but cant contributions through New Orleans, Louisiana, in (919) 541-4130 or schlosser. may win the award only once. effective promotion of statis- January of 2011. [email protected]. The nominator must have tics and statistical thinking in For more information the permission of the person business or industry. about JPBM or the award, being nominated and letters For more information, selection criteria, and nomi- William G. Hunter from at least two other people visit www.amstat.org/careers/ nation procedure, visit www. supporting the nomination. deminglectureraward.cfm or ams.org/prizes/jpbm-comm- Claims of accomplishments email A. Blanton Godfrey, award.html. must be supported with selection committee chair, at objective evidence (e.g., [email protected]. publication lists and letters Nominations can be sent Student Merit from peers). by email to ASA Executive The Society for Risk Analysis Award criteria and nomina- Secretary Pam Craven at (SRA) Dose-Response tion forms can be download- [email protected] or by mail Specialty Group will offer a ed from www.asqstatdiv.org/ to the ASA office, ATTN: merit award to a student con- Hunter awards.htm or obtained from Award Nominations, 732 ducting graduate research in Robert H. Mitchell, Bldg. North Washington St., dose-response assessment. 225-04-S-18, 3M Center, Alexandria, VA 22314–1943. The award includes a registra- Nominations for the 3M Company, Maplewood, tion fee waiver to the 2010 American Society for Quality’s MN 55144-1000; (651) JPBM SRA Annual Meeting, an William G. Hunter Award are 736-8684; rhmitchell@ engraved plaque, and a $500 due July 15. The award will mmm.com. n Communications honorarium. The winner will be presented at the 2010 Fall Nominations are due July 15 present his/her results and Technical Conference. for the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics (JPBM)

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 43 Join the Conversation It is now easier than ever to become engaged in the ASA and its members through social media.

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44 Amstat News JUNE 2010 SECTION NEWS

Biometrics Section Offers Exciting SHOP JSM 2010 Program Edited by Page Moore, Biometrics Section Publications Officer

he theme of this year’s Joint Purchase T-shirts, Statistical Meetings, to take place ENAR 2011 books, JSM Proceedings, July 31–August 5 in Vancouver, It’s time to think about invited and gift items! TBritish Columbia, is “Statistics: A Key to sessions for ENAR 2011, which Innovation in a Data-Centric World.” will be held March 20–23 in Visit the ASA’s online market- The Biometrics Section will sponsor Miami Beach, Florida. Anyone invited sessions spanning a range of topics place at www.amstat.org/asastore in biostatistics, including the following: interested in organizing an invited session or who has ideas • Statistical Evaluation of Markers for one should contact Jason Used to Select Treatment, orga- Fine, 2011 program chair, at nized by Margaret Pepe of the [email protected]. University of Washington A typical session consists of • Study Design and Statistical three 30-minute talks and a Analysis Challenges in Women’s 15-minute discussion or four Health Studies, organized by 25-minute talks and a five-minute Marcia Ciol of the University floor discussion. June 11 is the of Washington deadline for proposals, which • Evaluation of Risk Prediction, should be detailed to compete in organized by Shulamith Gross this highly competitive process. of Baruch College

• Getting More from Genome- JSM 2011 Wide Association Studies, organized by Mitchell Gail of the Next year’s Joint Statistical Meetings National Cancer Institute will be held July 30–August 4 in Miami Beach, Florida. Anyone interested in The section also will cosponsor a organizing an invited session or who short course, “Regression Modeling has ideas for one should contact Tianxi Strategies,” presented by Frank Harrell Cai, 2011 program chair, at tcai@hsph. Jr., on August 1. harvard.edu. Check the online program at www. A typical invited session consists of amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2010 for loca- three 30-minute talks, a 10-minute dis- tions and times. cussion, and 10 minutes of floor discussion; however, other formats are possi- Mixer and Business Meeting ble. The 2010 program is a good source The section mixer and business meeting, for examples. which will be held at JSM on August The most mature ideas will have the 2, is an excellent networking opportu- advantage when competing for the lim- SAVE nity. The 2010 David P. Byar Young ited number of slots, so it’s best to have Investigator Award and travel awards will ideas in final form by the middle of June. be presented, and Jim Cochran will take The Biometrics Section will have at least a few minutes to talk about Statisticians four invited sessions, but will be able to Without Borders, a group that does pro compete for additional slots. 10% bono statistical work related to interna- Additionally, ideas for short courses on your first purchase by entering tional health issues, particularly in the should be sent to Annie Qu, 2011–2012 ASASTORE at checkout. developing world. The mixer is open to continuing education chair, at anniequ@ all JSM attendees. illinois.edu. n

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 45 Statistics and the Environment Section Readies for JSM, Workshop Jun Zhu, ENVR Publications Chair

he Statistics and the Environment Invited and Topic- Section’s annual open business Contributed Sessions Student Paper Competition Winners meeting/mixer is tentatively Environmental Statistics in the Real Tscheduled for the evening of August 2, World: Research from Scientists at First Place: David Dail of Oregon during the Joint Statistical Meetings in Government Agencies, organized by State University for “Models for Vancouver, British Columbia. There Veronica J. Berrocal of SAMSI Estimating Population Size will be appetizers, drinks, and mingling from Repeated Counts of an during this networking opportunity. In Spatial Statistical Methods for Open Population” addition, several awards will be present- Environmental Extremes, organized ed and members will have the opportu- by Catherine Calder of The Ohio Runner-Up: Ying Sun of Texas nity to voice their opinions about the State University A&M University for “Functional section’s activities. ENVR also will spon- Boxplots for Complex Space- sor the following: Statistics and Public Policy: Some Time Data Visualization” Roundtable Case Studies, organized by James R. Thompson of Rice University Comparing Climate Models to Weather Data, organized by Peter Advances in the Theory and Environmental Statistics, organized Guttorp of the University of Methodology of Spatial Point by Yasmin H. Said of George Washington/Norwegian Processes, organized by Jun Zhu of Mason University Computing Center Colorado State University

46 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Statistical Methods for Multivariate in development and penetration of Spatial and Spatial-Temporal Processes, renewable energy. The spatio-temporal JSM 2011 organized by Mikyoung Jun of Texas data collected in health and energy JSM 2011 will be held July A&M University applications present interesting and 30–August 4 in Miami Beach, challenging statistical problems, such as Florida. Ideas for invited sessions modeling of space-time correlation, syn- Statistical Complexities Arising from should be sent to Devin Johnson, Ecological Simplifications: Possible thesis of data from multiple sources, and ENVR program chair, at Devin. Solutions or Further Complications?, assessment of uncertainties. Technical organized by Megan Higgs of Montana sessions will cover recent develop- [email protected]. State University and chaired by Mark ments in space-time statistical methods, Delorey of the Centers for Disease Bayesian methodology, and extreme For more information, visit www.stat. Control and Prevention value analysis. Additionally, there will purdue.edu/envr2010 or contact Amanda be a poster session, and a one-day short S. Hering at [email protected] or Bo Li Climate Extremes and Paleoclimate, course will be offered on October 14. at [email protected]. n organized by Richard Smith of The University of North Carolina

Geostatistical Modeling for Environmental Data, organized by Biopharmaceutical Brian Reich of The North Carolina State University and chaired by Michele Guindani of the University JSM 2010 Offers of New Mexico

Sampling, Estimation, and Inference Learning Opportunities for Natural Resource Problems, orga- The Biopharmaceutical Section will sponsor or cosponsor the following invited ses- nized by Ronald E. McRoberts of the sions in Vancouver, British Columbia: U.S. Forest Service and chaired by Lance Waller of Emory University August 1 Statistical Issues in Approval of Follow-On Biologics Distance Sampling: Advances and Applications, organized by Joel Howard August 2 Reynolds of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Clinical Trials and Informative Decisionmaking Service and chaired by Daniel Cooley Doing Better Than Average: Tailored Therapeutics in Drug Development of Colorado State University August 3 Challenges in Interdisciplinary Spatial Future Directions in Biopharmaceutical Statistics and Spatiotemporal Analysis, organized CDISC: Standards vs. Operational Challenges by Alexander Kolovos of SAS Institute August 4 Handling of Missing Data in Clinical Trials: Findings of a National Research For details, visit www.amstat.org/ Council Study meetings/jsm/2010. Bayesian Methods in Pharmaceutical Development and Clinical Research Upcoming Workshop August 5 Space-Time Statistics to Evaluate the Adaptive Design: Balancing Between Hype and Hope Impacts of Climate on Health and Renewable Energy will take place Key Multiplicity Issues in Clinical Trials October 14–16 at the National Center The section also will sponsor the following short courses: for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. This workshop will cover August 1 state-of-the-art applications and sta- Analysis of Clinical Trials: Theory and Applications, presented by tistical methods needed to assess the Devan Mehrotra, Alexei Dmitrienko, and Keaven Anderson impacts of climate change on health August 3 and renewable energy. Sessions on Design and Analysis of Count and Zero-Inflated Data, presented by applications include recent advances Mani Lakshminarayanan and Madhuja Mallick in climate change research, impacts on human health, and challenges For details, visit www.amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2010. n

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 47 Government Statistics and Social Statistics Roundtables: Dialogue in Casual Setting Iris Shimizu, National Center for Health Statistics, and Nancy Clusen, Mathematica Policy Research

ave you considered attending an sponsor nine that explore substantive and August 2 A.M. or P.M. roundtable at this methodological topics central to those Weights in Survey Data, 7:00 a.m. – year’s JSM in Vancouver? who produce or use official statistics. 8:15 a.m., led by Katie Genadek of the HRoundtables are 75–80 minutes long and Because participation is limited, it is a University of Minnesota offer an opportunity to explore a topic of good idea to sign up for roundtables when This roundtable will consider issues interest with a discussion leader in an you register and plan your schedule. related to weighting and use of survey informal setting. GSS and SSS will weights included in the public use files.

Measurement Issues and the Gay/ Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Population, 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., led by Diane Herz of Mathematica Panel to Discuss Role of Statistical Policy Research Societies in Global Capacity Building This roundtable will focus on how to Nilupa S. Gunaratna and Juanita Tamayo Lott measure relationship status, family status, and health issues of GLBT indi- During this year’s Joint Statistical Meetings in Vancouver, British Columbia, viduals. These measurement issues are GSS and SSS will cosponsor an invited panel featuring leaders from vari- of concern because the legal landscape ous statistical societies discussing the need and efforts to build statistical around same-sex marriage has been capacity globally. changing rapidly. Furthermore, reliable Statistical capacity has many dimensions. Capacity building is the devel- data on marriage, divorce, and family opment and strengthening of knowledge, skills, resources, infrastructure, composition are essential for measur- institutional structures and processes, and policy and legal frameworks. It ing poverty and the employment and occurs at many levels: individual, institutional, subnational, national, and earnings situations of families; devel- international—all with the goal of empowering individuals and institutions oping and evaluating health care, tax, to achieve their potential and meet the needs of the communities they serve and other policies; and addressing other in a sustainable way. issues of national and local concern. The panel will expand on an invited panel session, “Building Statistical Capacity Globally,” that was held during JSM 2009 in Washington, DC. The Role of Statistics and the A key point of that discussion was that capacity building is not a one-way Statistician in Public Health transfer. It is a participatory process in which individuals or institutions Surveillance, 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., identify needs based on their priorities and action is taken to improve the led by Steve Thacker and Myron individual’s or institution’s capacity to meet those needs. Katzoff of the Centers for Disease This year’s panel will focus on the specific role statistical societies can Control and Prevention play in building statistical capacity, both within their geographical region This roundtable will consider the roll of and globally. Panelists include Sally Morton, past-president of the ASA; statistical computing and the analytic Bovas Abraham, president of the Statistical Society of Canada; Denise tools and professionals needed to pro- Lievesley, past-president of the International Statistical Institute; and Jim vide timely and accurate interpretation Cochran, co-chair of Statistics Without Borders. Nilupa Gunaratna is the of surveillance results. organizer; Juanita Tamayo Lott is the chair. Each panelist will discuss current and planned capacity-building efforts August 3 within his or her society. As a group, the panelists will discuss how capacity- The 2010 Census Coverage building efforts can be better coordinated and more effective in meeting Measurement Survey, 7:00 a.m. – 8:15 global needs. The session, titled “Global Statistical Capacity and the Role of a.m., led by Vincent Thomas Mule Jr. Statistical Societies,” is open to all and will take place August 1 in the Vancouver of the U.S. Census Bureau Convention Centre. Check the JSM program online at www.amstat.org/ This roundtable will focus on proce- meetings/jsm/2010 for up-to-date time and location information. dures the U.S. Census Bureau plans to use for measuring coverage in the 2010 Census.

48 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Social Network Analysis: Statistical Statistical Programmers and Analysts Issues, Models, and Applications, 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., led by Mark Stephen Handcock of the University Programming Advice of California, Los Angeles This roundtable will explore networks widely used to represent relational infor- Booth to Be Piloted at JSM mation among interacting units and the implications of these relations. It will give an overview of social network analysis from the perspective and experiences of a social statistician and include discussion of applications, statistical issues encountered, software, and the possible futures of social network analysis.

Are Official Statistics at Risk of Losing Their Preeminent Status with Governments and Society?, 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., led by Brian Pink of the Australian Bureau of Statistics This roundtable will consider the standards for the quality, objectivity, and accessibility that are basic in the he Section for Statistical collection and dissemination of What? Programming advice official statistics. Programmers and Analysts (SSPA) will pilot test a new idea booth, where JSM attendees can Tat JSM 2010—a programming advice get advice on data collection, August 4 Nonresponse Adjustment Using a booth (PAB). Well, it’s not exactly a coding, statistical programming, Response Propensity Model, 7:00 booth; it will be more like a table. and debugging Members of SSPA will staff the table a.m. – 8:15 a.m., led by Donsig Jang Where? Adjacent to registration throughout JSM, offering participants of Mathematica Policy Research area The roundtable will focus on issues that advice about statistical programming, may be encountered when using propen- data coding, data collection, and other When? August 1– 4 sity models to adjust for nonresponse. tasks related to statistical programming. The PAB is a strong resource for stu- Who? Staffed by SSPA members Microdata Access and Dissemination dents, statistical programmers and ana- in a Digital World, 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 lysts, applied statisticians, and research- p.m., led by Timothy Michael Mulcahy ers and investigators who are managing the PAB staff may not have access to of NORC at the University of Chicago their first study. Let the PAB staff: the specific software you are using. Also, This roundtable will focus on lessons outline your questions to the extent pos- learned about microdata dissemination • Address your general or specific sible prior to visiting the PAB. through a data enclave and emerging programming or data manage- The PAB will be adjacent to the JSM technologies to expand user access to ment questions registration area. Check the table for sensitive data. specific hours. • Advise you on beginner to The idea for the PAB was initiated at advanced programming or Planning for Nonresponse Bias JSM 2009 in Washington, DC—SSPA’s data management challenges Analyses, 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., led first official JSM—by Steve Yao, SSPA’s by Jill Montaquila of Westat • Assist in debugging your first chair, and Monica Johnston, section This roundtable will focus on non- coding snarls representative to the Council of Sections. response bias analysis methods Although an actual booth was not feasi- and considerations in planning for • Give you insight on data ble this year, the name stuck. If the PAB these analyses. collection options is successful, we plan to explore mak- For a complete description of these • Address your data platform ing it a regular fixture at future JSMs. roundtables and up-to-date session challenges Perhaps we’ll even have a real booth! information, visit www.amstat.org/ For more information, con- meetings/jsm/2010. n Bring a printed copy of your pro- tact Johnston at MJStatConsultant@ gram, code, or compilation log, since aol.com. n

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 49 Health Policy Statistics Range of Topics to Be Covered at JSM

he Section on Health Policy August 4 Contributed Sessions Statistics (HPSS) has included a Room at the Health Care Policy Table: August 1 range of topics associated with A Case for the Inclusion of Statisticians Thealth policy research and its applica- Applications in Health Policy: in These Data-Centric Decisions, 8:30 tions in its JSM 2010 program. Included Substance Abuse, Nutrition, and a.m., organized by Brenda Crowe and Employment, 2:00 p.m. are two invited sessions, eight topic- Matt Rotelli of Eli Lilly and Company contributed sessions, six contributed August 3 sessions, a poster session, three round- Topic-Contributed Sessions Risk Adjustment and Causal Inference tables, and a speaker luncheon. These August 1 can be identified on the online JSM for Randomized and Nonrandomized program by selecting “Section on Health Social Network Analysis: Methods Studies in Health Policy, 10:30 a.m. Policy Statistics” as the sponsor. and Examples, 4:00 p.m., organized by Sowmya Rao of MGH Survey Methodology and Latent Invited Sessions Biostatistics Center Variable Modeling, with Application to Health Policy, 10:30 a.m. August 2 August 2 Statistical Methods for Assessing New Ideas for Matched Analysis in August 4 Generalizability, 2:00 p.m., organized Observational Studies, 10:30 a.m., Random Effects Modeling in Health by Elizabeth Stuart of The Johns organized by Bo Lu of The Ohio Policy Research: Methods and Hopkins University State University Applications, 8:30 a.m.

Innovative Methods for Cost and Modeling Health Care Costs and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, 2:00 p.m., Survival Outcomes: Methods and Program Highlights organized by Douglas Schaubel of the Applications, 2:00 p.m. The section’s business meeting University of Michigan and mixer will take place August August 5 August 3 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Quality of Life Measurement and Steamworks Brewing Company (a Methodological Issues in Measuring Categorical Modeling of Health Policy and Estimating Health Care Use, 8:30 Outcomes, 10:30 a.m. short stroll from the convention a.m., organized by Steven Machlin of center). The student awards will the Agency for Healthcare Research Speaker Luncheon and be presented at the mixer. HPSS and Quality Roundtables members, organizers, speakers, A large part of our program takes place discussants, and friends Innovations in Substance Use Data over food. Our speaker luncheon is the are invited. Analysis: Marginal Structural Models, social high point for HPSS. A.M. and Multilevel Models, and Latent Class P.M. roundtables are a great way to learn The poster session is scheduled Analysis, 8:30 a.m., organized by Susan about new topics while meeting other for August 2 at 2:00 p.m. Paddock of RAND Corporation section members with similar interests. The HPSS student awards session Be sure to register before JSM or soon HPSS Student Paper Awards, 2:00 p.m. will be held August 3 at 2:00 p.m. after arrival. Luncheon and roundtable tickets must be purchased at least 24 August 4 The speaker luncheon will take hours in advance, and they do sell out. place August 4 from 12:30 p.m. Issues in Measuring Health Disparities, The speaker luncheon, which 10:30 a.m., organized by Makram Talih to 1:50 p.m. It will feature Ruth costs $40, will take place August 4 of CUNY School of Public Health at from 12:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. The Etzioni, biostatistics and health Hunter College title of the talk is “A Statistician at the services professor at the Fred Policy Table: Integrating Modeling Hutchinson Cancer Research August 5 in the Development of Public Health Center and University Biomarker Evaluation and ROC Guidelines.” It will be given by Ruth of Washington. Analysis, 8:30 a.m., organized by Nan Etzioni, biostatistics and health Hu of the University of Utah services professor at the Fred Hutchinson

50 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Cancer Research Center and University p.m., will be led by Steve Cohen of and Short-Form Instruments” will be led of Washington. the Agency for Healthcare Research by Laura Lee Johnson of the National “Issues of Data Capacity and and Quality. Institutes for Health, and “Reliability Statistical Quality to Support Health There will be two A.M. roundtables and Misclassification in Physician Care Modeling and Microsimulation on August 3 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:15 Profiling” will be led by John L. Adams Efforts,” a P.M. roundtable scheduled a.m. “Development and Psychometric of RAND Corporation. n for August 2 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:50 Evaluation of the PROMIS Item Banks

Business and Economic Statistics Using X-13ARIMA-SEATS A short course on seasonal time series

Instructors: William Bell, David Findley, Tucker McElroy, and Brian Monsell of the U.S. Census Bureau Dates: September 7–10 Location: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20212 Registration: Online at www.amstat.org/sections/bus_econ/index.html Payment: Online by credit card or mail by check, $275 or less

With the release of X-13ARIMA-SEATS scheduled for the end of 2010, it is important for practitioners of seasonal adjustment to have a basic understanding of the process for both model-based and X-11–based seasonal adjustment, as well as regARIMA modeling. X-13ARIMA-SEATS is a collaboration between the U.S. Census Bureau and Bank of Spain. It combines the X-12- ARIMA package, developed at the bureau, with an implementation of the SEATS package for model-based seasonal adjustment, developed under the guidance of Agustin Maravall at the Bank of Spain. The course will provide users with a sound methodological background for using the X-13ARIMA-SEATS program. It will alternate between theory and practice and include time for participants to use and explore the software with guidance from the instructors. Some of the topics to be covered include the following:

• ARIMA modeling and forecasting • regARIMA modeling: adding regression terms to detect outliers and model calendar effects (such as trading-day and Easter) and intervention effects • Underlying X-11 and SEATS processes • Use and interpretation of seasonal adjustment and modeling diagnostics • Using the U.S. Census Bureau’s Win X-12 interface to X-13-ARIMA-SEATS

Coursework in mathematical statistics is recommended, but anyone who currently uses X-12-ARIMA will benefit from taking this class, which is aimed at those who perform seasonal adjustment in their organizations. Participants will receive a copy of all the slides, a set of notes on regARIMA modeling, and handouts on how to obtain the software and utilities used in the class. For more information, contact Brian Monsell at [email protected]. For administrative questions, contact Stuart Scott at [email protected].

The currently distributed versions of X-12-ARIMA, Win X-12, and X-12-Graph, as well as resources for new users, are available at www.census.gov/srd/www/x12a.

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 51 Quality and Productivity ‘Quality’ Programs on Tap for JSM 2010 Dana C. Krueger, Section Program Chair

he Section on Quality and the Parameter Estimation to Reliability Check the JSM program online at Productivity (Q&P) has an excit- Specification in Some Nonstandard www.amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2010 to ing lineup of contributed and Situations Related to Time-to-Event view abstracts and up-to-date times Ttopic-contributed sessions scheduled for Modeling,” will be held August 2. and locations. the 2010 Joint Statistical Meetings in Contributed paper sessions include Vancouver, British Columbia. the following: William G. Hunter Award Will Guthrie of the National Nominations Sought Institute of Standards and Technology • Productivity, Capability, and July 15 is the deadline for nominating organized a topic-contributed session, Tolerance Intervals, August 1 a section member for the American titled “metRology: A New R Package for Society for Quality William G. Hunter Applications in Measurement Science,” • Statistical Process Control I, August 2 Award. This is a great opportunity to that will be held August 1. Another recognize the contributions and leader- topic-contributed session, organized by • Statistical Process Control II, ship of your colleagues in applied statis- Samiran Ghosh of Indiana University August 4 tics. The award will be presented at the Purdue University and titled “From 2010 Fall Technical Conference, which • Experimental Design: is cosponsored by Q&P. Applications and Advances, Hunter was the first chair of the August 5 Statistics Division of the American • Reliability Analysis and Yield Society for Quality Control (now Modeling, August 5 American Society for Quality). His leadership as a communicator, consultant, Q&P also is cosponsoring a number educator, and innovator and his ability of sessions, including the following: to integrate statistical thinking into many disciplines serve as exemplary models for • Statistics in the Community: statisticians and researchers everywhere. Present and Future, August 1 The award was established in 1987 to encourage and promote outstand- • Reliability Modeling and Design, ing accomplishments during a career August 1 in applied statistics and to recognize an • Recent Development in Mixture implementer who has achieved results. Models and Applications, Any outstanding leader in the field of August 4 applied statistics, regardless of ASQ Statistics Division membership status, • Computer Experiments: Design is qualified. Candidates must have dem- and Analysis, August 4 onstrated a high level of professionalism, • High-Dimensional Data Analysis provided significant contributions to the and Visualization, August 4 field, and built a history of inspirational leadership and application. A person • High-Dimensional Regression, may be nominated many times, but may August 4 win the award only once. Award criteria and nomination • Measurement Issues in Counting forms can be downloaded from www. Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, asqstatdiv.org/awards.htm or obtained August 5 from Robert H. Mitchell, Bldg. 225- • New Developments in Classical 04-S-18, 3M Center, 3M Company, and Optimal Design of Maplewood, MN 55144-1000; (651) Experiments, August 5 736-8684; [email protected]. n

52 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Physical and Engineering Sciences JSM Invited Program Outlined George Ostrouchov of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Section JSM Program Chair

August 3 clustering/classification. Each talk will Invited Posters Recent Developments in Functional be motivated by a unique set of applica- Parallel Statistical Computing: Data Analysis, organized by Surajit tions, data observed from a well-studied Are We Embracing the Scalable Ray of Boston University dynamical system, data in high dimen- Concurrency Revolution? This session will include talks on func- sions, data displaying strong autoregres- tional embedding techniques to reduce sive framework, sparseness of observa- Generic Framework for Parallel problem dimensionality and joint esti- tion, and non-normality. n Statistical Computing mation of functions and model-based Parallel Implementation of Response Surface Regression in R

his year, the Section on Physical Bayesian Statistical Science and Engineering Sciences will sponsor three invited sessions, Tthree invited posters, and seven contrib- Invited Session, Short uted sessions. The invited sessions are described briefly below. Course Proposals Wanted

August 1 he Section on Bayesian Statistical Science plans to sponsor a number Modern-Day Design and Analysis of of invited sessions and short courses during JSM 2011 and is Experiments, organized by Peter Z. G. seeking proposals. Qian of the University of Wisconsin- TFor proposed invited sessions, provide the following: Madison Modern-day experiments pose new • Session title challenges, such as including a large • Brief description number of factors and involving all sorts of uncertainty. The purpose of this ses- • Speaker list sion is to present recent methodological advances in experimental design and • Tentative talk titles list showcase their applications in cutting- For proposed short courses, provide the following: edge problems. • Course title August 2 • Course abstract (200-word maximum) Design and Analysis of Computer Experiments, organized by Boxin • Course learning objectives Tang of Simon Fraser University The design and analysis of computer • Course outline experiments deals with efficient meth- • Proposed course length ods for collecting and analyzing data from computer models of scientific and • Name and contact information for each instructor technological problems. This is an area • Paragraph on presenter(s) background of statistics that has already had a strong effect on the general scientific commu- • Possible course cosponsorship with other ASA sections nity and will continue to grow as computational experiments become a major Email ideas before August 20 to Vanja M. Dukic, 2011 SBSS program chair, at component of scientific discovery. [email protected]. JSM 2011 will be held in Miami Beach, Florida, July 30–August 4, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. n

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 53 Are You Seeking a Statistician? Reserve an Executive Suite at the 2010 Joint Statistical Meetings and let us help you!

Each Executive Suite employer receives: Contact Amy Farris at [email protected] for A PRIVATE, FURNISHED BOOTH for your exclusive use throughout the more information. meeting. Use it as an office, interview booth, or meeting space. It will give you the freedom to schedule interviews with potential employees whenever you like, without the need to reserve space on an hourly basis.

Registration will REGISTRATION FOR THE JSM PLACEMENT SERVICE, which in- remain open cludes up to 10 position listings. Also, up to five representatives and three guests from through July 13. your organization will have access for conducting onsite interviews.

ONLINE ACCESS TO APPLICANT DATA AND RÉSUMÉS IN ADVANCE. Beginning June 1 and continuing through September 30, search Onsite registration our online service for qualified candidates based on specific criteria. Print résumés opens July 31. and pursue contacts before JSM starts, and continue to access this resource after the meeting for those last-minute openings.

AN ONSITE COMPUTER AND PRINTER IN YOUR SUITE. Elimi- nate waiting in line at the message center. Research and communicate with new appli- 2010 cants as they register.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION ONLINE AND ONSITE. Executive Suites are JSM designated in the online listing of employers and noticed by candidates. Leave your CANADA prospective employees with a lasting impression of your company’s commitment to hiring Vancouver, British Columbia talented statisticians. You also will receive JSM Sponsorship Program credit for your purchase!

PERSONALIZED SERVICE from JSM Career Placement staff members, who will answer your questions and help with your interview traffic.

To reserve your Executive Suite, register online as soon as possible. Executive Suites are limited and have sold out in each of the last four years! www.amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2010/placement CALENDAR Campbell (FDA). For more information, or more information about these events, visit www.amstat.org/dateline. visit www.icsa.org/2010 or contact Wei Announcements are accepted from educational and not-for-profit Shen at [email protected] or Yongming Qu

organizations only. Commercial enterprises should contact the ASA at [email protected] or Lilly Corporation OF EVENT FAdvertising Department at [email protected]. Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285; (317) 571-0764; www.icsa.org/2010.

* Indicates events sponsored by the American Statistical Association or one of S its sections, chapters, or committees 20–23—ISF2010 –30th International Symposium on Forecasting, ›› Indicates events posted since the previous issue San Diego, California This conference—attracting the world’s leading forecasting researchers, practitioners, and students—will include keynote June Sciences, via C. Battisti 241, Padova, speaker presentations, academic sessions, International I-35121, Italy; workshops, and social programs. For ››15–18—MMDS 2010: Workshop on [email protected]. details, visit www.forecasters.org or contact Algorithms for Modern Massive Data Pam Stroud, 53 Tesla Ave., Medford, MA Sets, Stanford, California 17–19––Classification Society Annual 02155; (509) 357-5530; [email protected]. This workshop will bring together com- Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri puter scientists, statisticians, mathemati- ››20–23—30th International cians, and data analysis practitioners to This conference aims to bring together Symposium on Forecasting, explore novel techniques for modeling researchers working in classification and San Diego, California and analyzing massive, high-dimensional, cluster analysis on methods development and nonlinearly structured scientific and and applications for an informal meeting This premier forecasting conference Internet data sets. Talks will address funda- on the best use of cluster/classification attracts the world’s leading forecasting mental questions underlying recent work tools. For more information, visit www. researchers, practitioners, and students. on algorithmic, statistical, and computa- classification-society.org/csna/csna.html or Through a combination of keynote tional aspects of large-scale data set analysis contact Bill Shannon, 660 S. Euclid Ave., speaker presentations, academic sessions, and provide a range of modern applica- Box 8005, St. Louis, MO 63110; (314) workshops, and social programs, the tions. For more information, visit mmds. 454-8356; [email protected]. ISF provides excellent opportunities for stanford.edu or contact Alex Shkolnik, networking, learning, and fun. For more ›› 441 Addison Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301; 20–23—Western North American information, visit www.forecasters.org/isf/ [email protected]. Region of the International Biometric index.html or contact Pamela Stroud, 53 Society (WNAR) Annual Meeting, Tesla Ave., Medford, MA 02155; (781) 234-4077; [email protected]. ››16–18—Summer Institute of Applied Seattle, Washington Statistics, Provo, Utah Invited presentations will focus on current statistical challenges—dynamic modeling, ››21–22—8th International Workshop This course, led by C. Shane Reese, pres- analysis of forestry and spatially correlated on Rare Event Simulation (RESIM), ents methods and techniques for analyzing ecological data, comparative effectiveness Cambridge, United Kingdom reliability data from a Bayesian perspective. research, and analysis of high-throughput Special attention will be paid to Bayesian RESIM 2010 will cover all aspects of rare sequencing—and developments in mea- goodness-of-fit testing, model validation, event simulation, ranging from purely the- surement error, missing data, survival reliability test design, and assurance test oretical developments to practical applica- analysis, smoothing splines, methods for planning. Markov chain Monte Carlo tions. The objective is to provide a forum estimating the accuracy of biomarkers, and algorithms will be used for implementing for researchers and practitioners working methods for early phase clinical trials. For Bayesian analyses. For more information, in different locations and on different more information, visit www.biostat. visit http://statistics.byu.edu/summer_ applications to present recent results, washington.edu/wnar2010 or contact institute or contact Kathi Carter, 223 exchange ideas, and discuss open Brenda Kurland, 1100 Fairview Ave., N, TMCB, Provo, UT 84602; (801) problems and new directions. For D5-360, Seattle, WA 98109; bkurland@ 422-4506; [email protected]. more information, visit www.newton. fhcrc.org. ac.uk/programmes/SCS/resim.html or contact Mohammad Mousavi, Terman 16–18—45th Scientific Meeting of the 20–23— ICSA 2010 Applied Statistics Engineering Center, 3rd Floor, 380 Italian Statistical Society, Padua, Italy Symposium, Indianapolis, Indiana Panama Way, Stanford, CA 94305-4026; The 2010 conference will include plenary, Short courses will be offered on June 20, [email protected]. specialized, contributed, and poster ses- and approximately 50 scientific sions. These can be in any area of sessions will take place from June 21–23. ››21–23—Simulation of Networks interest relevant to theoretical and Keynote speakers include Donald Rubin Workshop, Cambridge, applied statistics. For details, visit www.sis-statistica.it/meetings/index. (Harvard University), Ji Zhang (sanofi- United Kingdom php/sis2010/sis2010 or contact Patrizia aventis), Xihong Lin (Harvard University), This workshop is part of the Stochastic Piacentini, Department of Statistical ShaAvhrée Buckman (FDA), and Gregory Processes in Communications Sciences

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 55 S program taking place from January 11 to the impact of health services research and skewed distributions; conditionally speci- July 2. The first two days are being offered health data on improving access and qual- fied distributions; and life distributions in in conjunction with the 8th RESIM con- ity of care; examine emerging research engineering and survival analysis. For more

OF EVENT ference, while the third day will focus on a issues critical to the organization, financ- information, visit http://nzsa_cdl_2010. broader set of simulation-based algorithms ing, and management of health services; massey.ac.nz or contact Narayanaswamy that touch on the state of the art in simula- and enhance research methods. For more Balakrishnan, Department of Mathematics tion. Participants are encouraged to also information, visit www.academyhealth. and Statistics, Hamilton, International CALENDAR attend “Statistics of Networks,” taking org/arm or contact Anna LaFayette, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada; (905) 525- place June 24–25. For more informa- 1150 17th St. NW, Suite 600, 9140, Ext. 23420; [email protected]. tion, visit www.newton.ac.uk/programmes/ Washington, DC 20036; (202) SCS/scsw05.html or contact Peter Glynn, 292-6700; [email protected]. 29–7/9—International Statistical Terman Engineering Center, Room 313, Ecology Conference 2010, Canterbury, 3rd Floor, 380 Panama Way, Stanford, 28–7/1—Statistical Modeling and United Kingdom CA 94305-4026; (650) 725-0554; Inference for Networks (Statworks), In addition to invited and contributed [email protected]. Bristol, United Kingdom speaker sessions, this conference will This workshop will gather statisticians, include a series of workshops. Visit www. ››24–25—Statistics of Networks mathematical modelers, and application- ncse.org.uk/isec2010 or contact Alexa Workshop, Cambridge, oriented researchers. Invited speakers Laurence, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom include David Barber, Sanjeev Goyal, Eric International CT2 7NZ, UK; +01227 This workshop is part of the Stochastic Kolaczyk, Sean Meyn, Brendan Murphy, 827253; [email protected]. Processes in Communications Sciences Stephane Robin, Michael Stumpf, Stanley program taking place from January 11 Wasserman, Geoffrey West, and Eddie 30–7/2—2010 International Conference to July 2. It is intended to bring together Wilson. The number of participants is of Computational Statistics and Data researchers to communicate the state of the limited. Abstracts must be submitted for Engineering, London, United Kingdom art and identify important new problems talks and posters. Noncontributing attend- For details, visit www.iaeng.org/WCE2010/ and possible methods of statistical analysis. ees also are welcome. Apply to attend ICCSDE2010.html or contact IAENG Participants are encouraged to also attend or contribute a talk or poster at www. Secretariat, Unit 1, 1/F, 37-39 Hung To “Simulation of Networks,” taking place sustain.bris.ac.uk/ws-statworks/participation. Road, Hong Kong, International, China; June 21–23. For more information, visit html. For details, contact Azita Ghassemi, (852) 3169-3427; [email protected]. www.newton.ac.uk/programmes/SCS/scsw08. Department of Mathematics, University html or contact Peter Glynn, Terman Walk, Bristol, International BS8 1TW, Engineering Center, Room 313, 3rd Floor, UK; +441173317188, stat-works@ July 380 Panama Way, Stanford, CA 94305- bristol.ac.uk. 4026; [email protected]. 4–9—IWSM 2010, Glasgow, 28–7/2—ICORS 2010, Prague, United Kingdom ›› 25–26—Probability Approximations Czech Republic The 25th International Workshop on and Beyond: A Conference in Honor The International Conference on Robust Statistical Modeling will be hosted by of Louis Chen on His 70th Statistics aims to be a forum for the the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Birthday, Singapore development and application of robust For more information, contact Claire This conference will cover a range of top- statistical methods. It is an opportunity Ferguson, Department of Statistics, ics related to Louis Chen’s work in Stein’s to meet, exchange knowledge, and build 15 University Gardens, Glasgow, method, probability theory, computational scientific contacts with others interested International G12 8QW, Scotland; +0141 biology, and beyond. The scientific pro- in the subject. For more information, visit 330 5023; [email protected]. gram consists of invited talks presented by icors2010.karlin.mff.cuni.cz or contact distinguished statisticians and probabilists. Jana Jureckova, Department of Statistics, 5–8—International Workshop in Participation is open to all, but Sokolovska 83, Prague 8, International Applied Probability 2010 – participants must register. For more CZ-186 75, Czech Republic; icors2010@ IWAP 2010, Madrid, Spain information, visit www.stat.nus.edu.sg/ karlin.mff.cuni.cz. This workshop will bring together scien- Web/events/louischenconference.html or tists to discuss the applications of contact Irene Tan, National University 29–7/1—International Conference on probability in any field. Participants are of Singapore, Singapore, International Probability Distributions and Related encouraged to submit their contribu- 117546, Singapore; 6565168050; Topics in Conjunction with NZSA tions to the Journal of Methodology [email protected]. Conference, Palmerston North, and Computing in Applied Probability. New Zealand Plenary speakers include Paul Embrechts, ››27–29—AcademyHealth This conference is devoted to all Ricardo Fraiman, Montse Fuentes, Robin Annual Research Meeting, aspects of distribution theory and its Pemantle, Víctor de la Peña, Michael Boston, Massachusetts applications, including discrete, uni- Steele, and Mihail Zervos. Young scien- This meeting is designed for health ser- variate, and multivariate continuous tists, women, and minorities are encour- vices researchers, statisticians, research distributions; copulas; extreme values; aged to participate. For more information, analysts, and students who want to explore

56 Amstat News JUNE 2010 CALENDAR visit www.fundacion.uc3m.es/IWAP2010/ OH 43210; (614) 292-6072; 12–23—SAMSI: 2010 Summer Program Index.html or contact Joseph Glaz, [email protected]. on Semiparametric Bayesian Inference: Department of Statistics, U-4120, 215 Applications in Pharmacokinetics and

Glenbrook Road, Storrs, CT 06269-4120; 12–16—11th International Meeting Pharmacodynamics, Research Triangle OF EVENT (860)874-1677; [email protected]. on Statistical Climatology, Edinburgh, Park, North Carolina Scotland The aims of the program and workshop

5–9—ISBIS-2010 (International This meeting is designed to promote good are to identify the critical new develop- S Symposium on Business and statistical practice in the atmospheric and ments of inference methods for pharma- Industrial Statistics), Slovenia climate sciences and enhance the lines of cokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics The key themes of this conference are communication between the atmospheric (PD) data, determine open challenges, industrial applications of statistical image and statistical science communities. and establish inference for PK and PD analysis, future directions for handling Themes include analysis techniques for as an important motivating applica- large and complex data sets, financial multimodel ensembles of climate simulation area of nonparametric Bayes. For services, health services, quality and tions, understanding recent climate change more information, visit www.samsi.info/ productivity improvement, and decision- and predicting the near-term future, programs/2010bayes-summer-program. making in business and industry. For more extreme events, predictions of climate shtml or contact Jamie Nunnelly, P.O. information, visit www.action-m.com/ change relevant for impacts, reconstruct- Box 14006, Research Triangle Park, NC isbis2010 or contact Milena Zeithamlova, ing and understanding climate change 27709; (919) 685-9350; [email protected]. Vrsovicka 68 101 00, Prague, International over the Holocene, and statistical methods 10, Czech Republic; +420 267 312 333; for the analysis of climate data. For more ››17–18—Joint Biostatistics [email protected]. information, visit http://cccma.seos.uvic.ca/ Symposium, Beijing, China imsc/11imsc.shtml or contact Gabi Hegerl, This symposium will focus on statistical 6–8—LASR 2010: High-Throughput Room 353, Grant Institute, The King’s methods and their applications in basic Sequencing, Proteins, and Statistics, Buildings, Edinburgh, International EH8 medicine, clinical medicine, public health Leeds, United Kingdom 9TA, Scotland; [email protected]. and preventive medicine, traditional This workshop will focus on developments at the interface of statistical methodology and bioinformatics. For more information, visit www.maths.leeds.ac.uk/lasr2010 Fourth International Conference on or contact Jochen Voss, Department of Statistics, University of Leeds, Leeds, Establishment Surveys (ICES IV) International LS2 9JT, UK; workshop@ maths.leeds.ac.uk. ICES IV will take place June 11–14, 2012, at the Sheraton Centre Montréal in Québec, Canada. 11–13—Ninth International Conference Online solicitation of invited papers will occur December 1, 2010–March 1, on Ordered Statistical Data and Their 2011. Dates for online solicitation of contributed papers are forthcoming. Applications, Zagazig, Egypt OSDA 2010 will provide an international Examples of potential topics include the following: forum for presenting and discussing new results on ordered statistical data and • Efficient use of administrative data in business surveys reviews of existing literature. It will be • Advances in disclosure protection dedicated to all aspects of ordered • Usage of linearization variance estimators for survey estimates statistical data, including approximations; bounds; characterizations; inequalities and • The new direction of business surveys their applications; stochastic ordering; sta- • Collecting data electronically from businesses tistical inference and prediction problems; • Updating business registers censored data and survival analysis; appli- • Sample design challenges cations of ordered data; reliability theory; entropies, information theory, and opti- • Factors that affect establishment survey participation mization techniques; nonparametric and • Generalized survey processing systems – an update ranked set sampling techniques; numerical • Measuring nonresponse bias computations and simulations; Bayesian analysis techniques; and asymptotic theory. • Issues of multimode data collection The conference language will be English. For more information, visit www.stat. The conference will include short courses, a keynote speaker, poster sessions, osu.edu/~hnn/osda2010.html or contact software demonstrations, and invited and contributed paper sessions. The official Haikady Nagaraja, 402 Cockins Hall, language of the conference is English; translators will not be provided. 1958 Neil Ave., Statistics Department, For further information, visit www.amstat.org/meetings/ices/2012 or send an The Ohio State University, Columbus, email to [email protected].

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 57 S Chinese medicine, health economics, and will be provided in current statistical networking opportunities. For more infor- statistical methods in bioinformatics. The methods, information on the data sets, mation, visit www.amstat.org/meetings or participation of scholars and experts in and complex issues of modeling and contact ASA Meetings Department, 732

OF EVENT related fields is encouraged. To register, design. Topics such as weights, missing North Washington St., Alexandria, VA visit www.regonline.com/first_joint_ data, the pitfalls of using large-scale data 22314; (888) 231-3473; [email protected]. biostatistics_symposium by June 30. For sets, selection bias, and causality will be more information, contact Chang Liu, included. Those selected for participation CALENDAR 59 Zhongguancun St., Haidian District, will receive support covering the institute’s August People’s University of China, School of fees, housing, transportation to Stanford, Statistics, Beijing, International 100872, and per diem. For details, visit www.aera. 5–7—16th ISSAT International China; (010) 82500131; liuchang@ net/grantsprogram/res_training/stat_institute/ Conference on Reliability and Quality ruc.edu.cn. SIFacFly.html or contact Jeanie Murdock, in Design, Washington, DC 5662 Calle Real, #254, Goleta, CA 93117; For more information, visit www. 20–23––The R User Conference, use R! (805) 964-5264; [email protected]. issatconferences.org or contact Conference 2010, Gaithersburg, Maryland Secretary, P.O. Box 1504, Piscataway, NJ This conference will focus on R as the 27–31—LinStat 2010, Tomar, Portugal 08855; [email protected]. lingua franca of data analysis and statisti- The aim of this conference is to bring cal computing, provide a platform for R together researchers sharing an interest in a ››16–18—Measurement, Design, and users to discuss and exchange ideas, and variety of aspects of statistics and its appli- Analysis Methods for Health Outcomes give an overview of the new features of the cations to discuss current developments. Research, Boston, Massachusetts rapidly evolving R project. The program There will be plenary talks and sessions Participants will learn to design, imple- will consist of two parts: invited lectures with contributed talks, as well as a special ment, and analyze health outcomes studies and user-contributed sessions. Prior to session with talks by graduate students. For and critically review and use outcomes the conference, there will be tutorials on more information, visit www.linstat2010. research data for clinical decisionmaking, R, descriptions of which are available at ipt.pt or contact Francisco Carvalho, healthcare planning, and technology devel- www.R-project.org/useR-2010/tutorials. For Estrada da Serra - Quinta do Contador, opment. This program is geared toward more information, visit www.r-project.org/ Tomar, International 2300-313, Portugal; introductory to intermediate outcomes useR-2010 or contact Katharine Mullen, +351249328100; [email protected]. research professionals. For more informa- 503 Palmtree Drive, Unit 2, Gaithersburg, tion, contact Rachel Werkman, CCPE MD 20878; (301) 975-6890; katharine. *31–8/5—2010 Joint Statistical Dept. A, 677 Huntington Ave., [email protected]. Meetings, Vancouver, British Boston, MA 02115; (617) 384.8692; Columbia, Canada [email protected] and 22–24—AERA Statistics Institute for JSM is the largest gathering of statisticians mention reference code MDA10-CAL02. Faculty, Stanford, California held in North America. Attended by more This institute is for faculty members at than 5,500 people, activities include oral 22–27—COMPSTAT 2010, Paris, U.S. postsecondary institutions who teach presentations, panel sessions, poster pre- France quantitative research methods courses at sentations, continuing education courses, This conference will cover the develop- the graduate level and seek to integrate the an exhibit hall, a career placement service, ment and implementation of new statisti- analysis of large-scale federal education society and section business meetings, cal ideas, user experiences, and software data sets into the curriculum. Instruction committee meetings, social activities, and evaluation. The program should appeal to software developers and anyone working in statistics who uses computers at a International Conference on university, company, government agency, or research institute. For more informa- Theory and Applications of Statistics tion, visit www.compstat2010.fr or contact Gilbert Saporta, 292 rue Saint Martin, This conference, to take place at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh December Paris, International 75003, France; 26–28, is the first attempt to bring statisticians together from all over the world +33140272268; [email protected]. to explore new developments of statistical theory and applications in teaching and research. They also will discuss the use of statistics in government and nongovern- 29–9/1—SAMSI: 2010–11 Program on ment policymaking, focusing on developing countries such as Bangladesh. Complex Networks, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina Reputed statisticians from home and abroad are invited to enjoy keynote speeches, This program is built around network plenary sessions, invited paper sessions, and contributed paper sessions. Abstracts modeling and interference, flows on are due by July 15. networks, network models for disease transmission, and dynamics of networks. For more information, visit www.dusdaa.org/conference2010 or contact M. Ataharul For more information, visit www.samsi. Islam at [email protected], Jafar A. Khan at [email protected], or Mir info/workshops/index.shtml or contact Terri Masoom Ali at [email protected]. Nida, 19 TW Alexander Drive, Research

58 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Triangle Park, NC 27709; (919) 685- discuss the latest research and develop- ››10–12—MidWest SAS Users Group CALENDAR 9350; [email protected]. ments in statistics. The conference will Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin feature leading international speakers on This conference will offer presentations,

30–9/3—Prague Stochastics 2010, highly topical subjects. For more infor- workshops, and tutorials to enhance OF EVENT Prague, Czech Republic mation, visit www.rss.org.uk/rss2010 or attendees’ SAS skills, as well as opportuni- Prague Stochastics 2010 is next in a series contact Paul Gentry, 12 Errol St., London ties to network with other SAS users. Staff

of international conferences on stochas- EC1Y 8LX, London, International EC1Y from SAS Institute will be available to S tics organized in Prague since 1956. 8LX, UK; +020 7614 3918, conference@ provide expertise and insight. Conference The scientific program will be aimed rss.org.uk. attendees are encouraged to present papers at covering a wide range of stochastics, on a variety of topics, including statis- with special emphasis on the topics of 19–22 —Applied Statistics 2010 tics, modeling, data mining, forecasting, this lively field that have been pursued in (AS2010), Ribno (Bled), Ljubljana, pharmaceutical applications, health care, Prague. For more information, visit www. Slovenia health insurance, and life sciences applica- utia.cas.cz/pragstoch2010 or contact Lucie This conference will provide an opportuni- tions. For more information, visit www. Fajfrova, Pod Vodarenskou vezi 4, Prague ty for researchers, data analysts, and other mwsug.org/mil2010/index.htm or contact 8, International 18208, Czech Republic; professionals to exchange their knowledge. Doug Thompson, 501 West Michigan, [email protected]. Cross-discipline and applied paper sub- Milwaukee, WI 53201; (414) 299-7998; missions are welcome. For more informa- [email protected]. tion, visit http://conferences.nib.si/AS2010 September or contact Andrej Blejec, Vecna pot 111, ››*14–16—Space-Time Statistics to Evaluate the Impacts of Climate on 12–15—SAMSI: 2010–11 Program Ljubljana, International SI-1000, Slovenia; Health and Renewable Energy, on Analysis of Object Oriented Data +386 59 232 789; [email protected]. Boulder, Colorado Opening Workshop, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 24–26—Info-Metrics: Theory and This workshop will include sessions on recent advances in climate change research, Modern science is generating a need Application, Washington, DC to understand and statistically analyze Discuss and study the latest develop- impacts on human health, and chal- populations of increasingly complex types. ments of info-metrics across the sciences. lenges in development and penetration of Analysis of object oriented data is aimed at Conference topics include theory and renewable energy. Technical sessions will encompassing an array of such methods. methods and applications across the sci- cover recent developments in space-time For more information, visit www.samsi. ences. Examples include economics/econo- statistical methods, Bayesian methodol- info/programs/2010aoodprogram.shtml or metrics (theory and applications), finance ogy, and extreme value analysis. A one-day contact Terri Nida, 19 TW Alexander and risk management, philosophy of sci- short course will be offered on October Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; ence, predictive games, natural sciences, 14, and there will be a poster session. For (919) 685-9350; [email protected]. and social sciences. For more information, more information, visit www.stat.purdue. visit www.american.edu/cas/economics/ edu/envr2010 or contact Amanda Hering, 13–15—ENBIS 2010 – 10th Annual info-metrics/conference/index.cfm or contact Mathematical and Computer Sciences Conference of the European Network Amos Golan, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., Department, Golden, CO 80401; for Business and Industrial Statistics, NW, Washington, DC 20016; (202) [email protected]. Antwerp, Belgium 885-3783; [email protected]. ›› This conference will include keynote lec- 19–22—IX CLATSE (Latin American tures, invited and contributed sessions, Congress of Statistical Societies), workshops and pre- and post-conference October Viña del Mar, Chile This meeting is for specialists and users courses. The social program will include a ››8—Second HEC Finance and reception at Antwerp City Hall and of statistics to exchange results of scien- Statistics Conference, Paris, France tific research, teaching experiences, and dinners in the medieval cellars in downtown This conference will gather experts in Antwerp and Marble Hall of the Antwerp applications. For more information, visit financial economics, econometrics, and Zoo. For more information, visit www. www.clatse.org or contact Departamento statistics to discuss volatility modeling, enbis.org or contact Peter Goos, Prinsstraat Estadística, Universidad Valparaíso, simulation-based estimation, and asset 13, Antwerp, International 2000, Belgium; Avenida Gran Bretaña 1901, Valparaíso, pricing under incomplete information. +3232654059; [email protected]. International 2350026, Chile; 56-32- Invited speakers include Yacine Aït-Sahalia, 2508320; [email protected]. Jianqing Fan, Peter C. B. Phillips, Nick 13–17—RSS 2010 International Polson, and Pietro Veronesi. Contributed 20–22—International Conference on Conference, Brighton & Hove, posters may be submitted until July 31. United Kingdom Modeling, Simulation, and Control For more information, visit www.hec. 2010, San Francisco, California The annual conference of the Royal fr/financeandstatistics2010 or contact This conference is held under the World Statistical Society seeks to bring together Veronika Czellar, 1, rue de la Liberation, Congress on Engineering and Computer statisticians, researchers, analysts, and Jouy en Josas, International 78351, France; Science, organized by the International other users of statistics to hear, digest, and +33139677364; [email protected]. Association of Engineers. For more

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 59 S information, visit www.iaeng.org/ ››*5–10—66th Annual Deming *5–7—2011 Living to 100 Symposium, WCECS2010/ICMSC2010.html or con- Conference on Applied Statistics, Orlando, Florida tact IAENG Secretariat, Unit 1, 1/F, 37-39 Atlantic City, New Jersey This conference, held by the Society of

OF EVENT Hung To Road, Hong Kong, International This conference will focus on recent devel- Actuaries, will include thought lead- HK, Hong Kong; +852 3169 3427; opments in statistical methodologies in 12 ers from around the world who will [email protected]. three-hour tutorials. Attendees will receive share ideas and knowledge about aging, bound proceedings of the presentations. changes in survival rates and their impact CALENDAR The conference will be followed by two on society, and observed and projected November parallel short courses: Bayesian Adaptive increases in aging populations. For more Clinical Trials and SAS for Mixed Models. information, visit http://livingto100.soa.org 8–12—17th Annual Biopharmaceutical For more information, contact Walter or contact Jan Schuh, 475 N. Martingale Applied Statistics Symposium, Hilton Young, 16 Harrow Circle, Wayne, PA Road, Suite 600, Schaumburg, FL 60173; Head Island, South Carolina 19087-3852; (610) 989-1622; [email protected]. This symposium will provide a forum for [email protected]. pharmaceutical, medical, and regulatory 5–7—Fourth International IMS/ISBA science professionals to share timely and 6–10—Australian Statistical Conference Joint Meeting, Park City, Utah pertinent information concerning the 2010, Fremantle, West Australia A central theme of this conference is application of biostatistics in biopharma- Delegates from all areas of work in statis- Markov chain Monte Carlo and related ceutical environments. For more informa- tics will be encouraged to communicate methods and applications. The confer- tion, contact Ruth Whitworth, P.O. Box their knowledge and expertise and join ence also will feature plenary speakers 8015, Statesboro, GA 30460; (912) 478- world-class Australian and international Jeff Rosenthal, Nicky Best, and Michael [email protected] 7904; . statisticians to discuss new work. The Newton and six invited sessions. Nightly theme for the 2010 conference, “Statistics poster sessions will offer substantial 10–13—2010 American Evaluation in the West: Understanding Our World,” opportunity for informal learning and Association (AEA) Annual Conference, provides opportunities for presentations on interaction. Limited financial support for San Antonio, Texas a range of topics. For more information, junior investigators is anticipated. The This meeting is expected to bring together visit www.statsoc.org.au or contact Promaco meeting will be accompanied by a satellite about 2,500 evaluation practitioners, aca- Conventions, Unit 10, 22 Parry Ave., workshop on adaptive MCMC methods, demics, and students in a collaborative, Bateman, International 6150, Australia; +61 intended to provide a snapshot of the thought-provoking, and fun atmosphere. 8 9332 2900; [email protected]. methodological, practical, and theoretical The conference will be broken down into aspects of an emerging group of methods 44 topical strands that examine the field that attempt to automatically optimize from a particular methodology, context, 2011 their performance for a given task. For or issue of interest to the field and the details, visit madison.byu.edu/mcmski/ presidential strand, highlighting this year’s index.html or contact Brad Carlin, MMC presidential theme of evaluation quality. January 303, Division of Biostatistics, School For more information, contact Heidi Nye, ››3–5—International Conference on of Public Health, 420 Delaware St. SE, 16 Sconticut Neck Road, #290, Fairhaven, Mathematical Sciences in Honor of A. Minneapolis, MN 55455; (612) MA 02719; (888) 232-2275; info@eval. M. Mathai, Pala, Kerala, India 624-6646; [email protected]. org; www.eval.org/eval2010/default.asp. This conference will celebrate the 75th birthday of A. M. Mathai and mark the May December golden jubilee of the department of statistics at St. Thomas College. Topics to be 10–13—International Conference 5–10—International Biometric covered include integral transforms and on Design of Experiments Conference, Florianopolis, Brazil special functions, differential equations (ICODOE-2011), Memphis, Tennessee This conference will bring together and applications, functional equations and The goal of this conference is to bring approximately 800 statisticians and others fractional calculus, real and complex analy- together leading researchers in design and interested in the development and applica- sis, applied problems of analysis, theoreti- analysis of experiments, including com- tion of statistical and mathematical theory cal and applied problems of mechanics, binatorial design, and practitioners in the and methods to the biosciences. The astrophysics, distribution theory, stochastic pharmaceutical, chemometrics, physical, meeting program includes oral and poster processes, statistical inference, multivari- biological, medical, social, psychological, presentations of methodological advances, ate analysis, mathematical and stochastic economic, engineering, and manufactur- applications to specific subject-matter modeling, computation, and simulation. ing sciences. The conference will focus on challenges, and educational offerings. For more information, visit www.stcp. emerging areas of research in experimental Special celebratory events are planned. For ac.in/seminar/ICMS/ICMS.htm or con- design and novel innovations in traditional more information, visit www.rbras.org. tact Thomas Mathew, Department of areas. For more information, visit www. br/~ibcfloripa2010 or contact Dee Ann Mathematics and Statistics, Baltimore, msci.memphis.edu or contact Manohar Walker, 1444 I St. NW, Washington, DC MD 21044; (410) 455-2418; mathew@ Aggarwal, 373 Dunn Hall, University of 20005; (202) 712-9049; [email protected]. umbc.edu. Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152; (901) 678-3756; [email protected].

60 Amstat News JUNE 2010 CALENDAR June *30–8/4—2011 Joint Statistical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Meetings, Miami Beach, Florida Polo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, Coimbra, 20–24—Seventh International JSM is the largest gathering of statisticians International 3030-790, Portugal; +351

Conference on Mathematical Methods held in North America. Attended by more 239 798 700/727; [email protected]. OF EVENT in Reliability, Beijing, China than 5,500 people, activities include oral This international conference will focus presentations, panel sessions, poster pre- on theory, methods, and applications of sentations, continuing education courses, December S an exhibit hall, a career placement service, reliability models and associated infer- 28–31—International Conference on society and section business meetings, ential issues. For more information, visit Advances in Probability and Statistics – committee meetings, social activities, and www.mmr2011.cn or contact Lirong Cui, Theory and Applications: A Celebration networking opportunities. For more infor- Beijing Institute of Technology, School of N. Balakrishnan’s 30 Years of mation, visit www.amstat.org/meetings or of Management and Economics, Beijing, Contributions to Statistics, contact ASA Meetings Department, 732 International PRC, China; +1 905 525 Hong Kong, China 9140; [email protected]. North Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314; (888) 231-3473; [email protected]. This conference will be held as a tribute to N. Balakrishnan for his 30 years of contri- 26–29—ICSA 2011 Applied Statistics butions to statistics. It will feature topics in Symposium, New York, New York September distribution theory, reliability and lifetime For more information, contact Wei data analysis, censoring methodology, and Zhang, 900 Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield, 4–8—11th European Network for ordered data analysis. The conference aims CT 06877; (203) 791-6684; wei.zhang@ Business and Industrial Statistics to bring together researchers interested in boehringer-ingelheim.com. (ENBIS) Conference, Coimbra, Portugal theory and applications of probability and Theoretical and practical papers covering statistics to discuss recent developments 30–7/3—Statistics 2011 Canada/IMST- all areas of business and industrial statis- and suggest future research directions. For 2011-FIM XX, Montréal, Québec tics are invited. For more information, more information, visit http://faculty.smu. This conference is dedicated to all areas of visit www.enbis.org or contact Marco P. edu/ngh/icaps2011.html or contact Hon mathematical and statistical sciences. In Seabra dos Reis, Department of Chemical Keung Tony Ng at [email protected]. n addition to traditional theoretical/applied areas, interdisciplinary research is encouraged. Historically, this conference has con- centrated on applied and theoretical statistics, Bayesian statistics, bioinformatics, biostatistics, combinatorics, computer and information sciences, design and analysis of experiments, ergodic theory, functional analysis, graph theory, multivariate analysis, number theory, partial differential equations, and topology. For more information, contact Yogendra Chaubey, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montréal, Québec H3G 1M8, Canada; +1 514 848 2424, ext. 3258; [email protected].

July 3–6—2nd IMS Asia Pacific Rim Meetings, Tokyo, Japan This meeting series provides a forum for scientific communication and collaboration among researchers in Asia and the Pacific Rim. The program will cover a range of topics in statistics and probability, as well as recent developments and the state of the art in a variety of modern research topics and applications. For more information, contact Runze Li, Department of Statistics, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802- 2111; (814) 865-1555; [email protected].

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 61 S

OF EVENT Meeting Within a Meeting (MWM) Statistics Workshop for CALENDAR Mathematics and Science Teachers (www.amstat.org/education/mwm)

Sponsored by the American Statistical Association (ASA) and the Statistical Society of Canada (SSC) 2010 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM)*    Based on the Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction of Statistics Education (GAISE) Report: A Pre-K–12 Curriculum Framework (www.amstat.org/education/gaise)

Dates: Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 7:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., with JSM activities Thursday, August 5, 2010 Place: Vancouver Convention Centre, located at 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, V6C 0C3, Canada, and neighboring hotels (workshop meeting room location to be announced) Audience: Middle and high school mathematics and science teachers. Multiple mathematics/science teachers from the same school are especially encouraged to attend. Objectives: Enhance understanding and teaching of statistics within the mathematics/science curriculum through conceptual understanding, active learning, real-world data applications, and appropriate technology

Content: Teachers will explore problems that require them to formulate questions; collect, organize, analyze, and draw conclusions from data; and apply basic concepts of probability. The MWM program will include examining what students can be expected to do at the most basic level of understanding and what can be expected of them as their skills develop and their experience broadens. Content is consistent with GAISE recommendations, NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, and Canadian standards.

Presenters: GAISE Report authors and prominent statistics educators Format: Wednesday: MWM workshop sessions and pass to the JSM Exhibit Hall Thursday: Activities at JSM (statistics education sessions) Activity-based sessions, including lesson plan development Provided: Refreshments on Wednesday, August 4 Complimentary pass to attend the Joint Statistical Meetings on Thursday, August 5 Lodging reimbursement (up to a specified amount) for U.S. teachers from outside theV ancouver area Handouts Certificate of participation from the ASA certifying professional development hours Optional graduate credit available Cost: The course fee for the full day is $35. Please note: Course attendees do not have to register for the Joint Statistical Meetings to participate in this workshop. Follow up: Follow-up activities and webinars (www.amstat.org/education/k12webinars) Network with local teachers to organize learning communities Registration: Online registration available at www.amstat.org/education/mwm. Space is limited. If interested in attending, please register as soon as possible. Contact: Rebecca Nichols, [email protected]; (703) 684-1221, ext. 1877

*The Joint Statistical Meetings are the largest annual gathering of statisticians, where thousands from around the world meet to share advances in statistical knowledge. The JSM activities include statistics education sessions, posters sessions, and the exhibit hall.

62 Amstat News JUNE 2010 PROFESSIONAL Arizona rofessional Opportunity listings may not exceed 65 words, plus equal n W. L. Gore & Associates is seeking an opportunity information. Ads must be received by the first of the pre- industrial statistician to support its medi- ceding month to ensure appearance in the next issue (i.e., September cal device business in Arizona. Position 1 for the October issue). Ads received after the deadline will be held until the

P S OPPORTUNITIE involves consulting with small teams and following issue. statistical training of engineers and sci- Listings are shown alphabetically by state, followed by international listings. entists. Candidates must have advanced Vacancy listings may include the institutional name and address or be identi- degree in statistics with at least 4 years fied by number, as desired. industrial experience strongly preferred. Professional Opportunities vacancies also will be published on the ASA’s Background in basic and advanced sta- web site (www.amstat.org). Vacancy listings will appear on the web site for the tistical methods and expertise in DOE. entire calendar month. Ads may not be placed for publication in the magazine Familiarity with JMP. Visit www.gore. only; all ads will be published both electronically and in print. com/careers. EOE. Rates: $320 for nonprofit organizations (with proof of nonprofit status), $475 for all others. Member discounts are not given. A URL link may be included in display ads in the online version of Amstat News for an additional $100. Display advertising rates are at www.amstat.org/ads. Arkansas Listings will be invoiced following publication. All payments should be n Postdoctoral opportunity at University made to the American Statistical Association. All material should be sent of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to Amstat News to , 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314- develop statistical algorithms for indi- 1943; fax (703) 684-2036; [email protected]. vidualized cancer predictions from high- Employers are expected to acknowledge all responses resulting from publica- dimensional data. Primary responsibil- tion of their ads. Personnel advertising is accepted only with the understanding ity: to implement novel classification that the advertiser does not discriminate among applicants on the basis of race, methods in the open-source R software. sex, religion, age, color, national origin, handicap, or sexual orientation. Requires PhD in statistics, biostatistics, Also look for job ads on the ASA web site at www.amstat.org/jobweb. bioinformatics, or closely related discipline. Includes fringe benefits. Three-year

Faculty Position – Biostatistician working in Infectious Disease

The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (VIDI) of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) is seeking a member-track faculty in Biostatistics/Biomathematics at the level of Assistant or Associate DOE.

Applications are invited from outstanding biostatisticians with expertise in various aspects of infectious disease epidemiology including basic infectious disease epidemiology, biology of infectious diseases, vaccine design and evaluation, epidemiologic study design and data analytic methodologies. Direct research experience in one or more globally important infectious diseases including HIV, influenza, TB, malaria, HSV2, dengue, and cholera, or the relationship between infectious agents and cancer, will be particularly welcomed. A doctoral degree in Biostatistics or Statistics is required.

This position will involve development of a collaborative research program in infectious disease epidemiology with colleagues at FHCRC and the University of Washington as well as development of a strong independent program of methodologic research that is complementary to the collaborative research.

VIDI was established in 2007 to address the growing need for treatment and prevention strategies for infectious diseases worldwide. By integrating biometric, laboratory, and clinical science, researchers at VIDI aim to develop novel vaccines for infectious diseases that threaten global health, to shed light on the workings of the human immune system, and to develop novel treatment and prevention strategies to lessen the burden of infectious diseases and cancers caused by infection, particularly in the immuno-compromised host.

The FHCRC is an equal opportunity employer. The Center has a culturally diverse faculty and strongly encourages applications from female and minority candidates.

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Salary DOE + excellent benefits. Interested candidates may email a CV, a concise statement of their research plan, and three (3) letters of reference (in application, please refer to Job ID 23055) to: Dr. Ying Qing Chen c/o Helen Pagal, [email protected]

Application deadline is May 31, 2010; however, applications will be accepted after the deadline if the position is still open.

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 63 OPPORTUNITIES

PROFESSIONAL

64 Amstat News JUNE 2010 PROFESSIONAL funding anticipated July 1, 2010. Email cover letter, CV, names of three references to Ralph Kodell, PhD, at [email protected]. EOE.

S OPPORTUNITIE California n Experienced principal biostatistician with experience in oncology clinical trials. MS or PhD in biostatistics; experience with design and analysis of clinical trials with biopharmaceutical industry experience preferred. If interested, please send resumes to mmwong@genomichealth. com or apply at our website. Genomic Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. n Biostatistics Senior Manager. Amgen invites candidates to apply for biostatistics senior manager at Amgen’s Thousand Oaks or San Francisco, California, locations. The senior manager is responsible for ensuring that all statistical aspects of documentation pertaining to clinical activities meet required standards and are statistically correct, contributing to the development strategy, and defend- ing statistical approaches internally and externally. To apply online, visit www. amgen.com/careers (search job #3697BR). Amgen is an AA/EOE. n Biostatistics Sr. Manager-Biometric Solutions. Amgen invites candidates to apply for biostatistics senior manager at Amgen’s Thousand Oaks, California, headquarters. This individual will serve as an expert statistical consultant to a team of statisticians in medical sciences biostatistics, particularly with respect to exposure-response (PK/PD) and modeling of PK, biomarker, and clinical outcomes. To learn more and apply online, visit www.amgen.com/careers (search job #3485BR). Amgen is an AA/EOE.

Florida n University of Florida, IFAS - statistics, opening for lecturer, starting as early as July 1, 2010. PhD in statistics or related field with teaching and applied collaborative research interests required. Review begins May 24, 2010, and continues

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 65 until filled. Apply online at https://jobs. ufl.edu, requisition: 0804793 and submit application, cover letter, and vita. Send transcript and three recommendation

OPPORTUNITIES

letters to Box 110339, Gainesville, FL 32611-0339. EOE.

n Statistician I. Mayo Clinic’s hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, combines the

PROFESSIONAL best of high technology with the highest level of patient care and attention. We are seeking a statistician with a master’s degree in statistics/biostatistics. Experience in carrying out most phases of statistical analysis, interpretation and report-writing while utilizing statistical computing and data management pack- ages preferred. Apply at: www.mayoclinic. org/jobs-jax, referencing job #8229. Mayo Clinic is an AA/EOE.

Massachusetts n MS biostatistician. Collaborate with medical and scientific researchers in design, analysis, and publication of

continued on page 69

FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER The Microbicide Trials Network (MTN, www.mtnstopshiv.org), in partnership with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC, www. fhcrc.org), is searching for a Faculty Statistician to direct the MTN Statistical and Data Management Center (SDMC) within the Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & Prevention (SCHARP) in Seattle, Washington. The Faculty Statistician would be the Principal Investigator of the MTN SDMC grant at the FHCRC, and maintain an independent research program. The position will be at the rank of Associate Member or Full Member (equivalent to Associate Professor or Professor at a university).

The MTN is a U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded worldwide collaborative clinical trials network focused on preventing the sexual transmission of HIV. Based at the University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Womens Research Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., MTN’s core operations are supported by a network laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, the SDMC housed within SCHARP at FHCRC, and Family Health International, a global organization with expertise conducting clinical protocols. In addition, MTN comprises 13 clinical trial units with 20 clinical research sites located in seven countries. MTN receives its funding from three NIH institutes: NIAID, NIMH, and NICHD. The Faculty Statistician directs the MTN SDMC within SCHARP. SCHARP has nearly 200 employees, including close to 50 PhD and MS statisticians, and is responsible for managing the statistical and data management resources of several HIV research networks, including the MTN. The MTN is governed by the Execu- tive Committee (EC) which is responsible for the overall scientific direction, development, and implementation of policy, procedural decisions, and resource allocation. In addition to the responsibilities related to the SDMC activities, the SDMC PI is an active voting member in the MTN EC.

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is a world-renowned research institution with large and active efforts in basic biological sciences, human biology, clinical research, epidemiology, biostatistics, cancer prevention research, and vaccine and infectious disease research. Its interdisciplinary teams work together to conduct research of the highest standards to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases.

The MTN and FHCRC are seeking a senior biostatistician with extensive experience in the design and conduct of HIV prevention trials. The successful applicant will have a PhD or equivalent degree in statistics or biostatistics with an outstanding research record and extensive management and administrative experience.

The FHCRC is an equal opportunity employer. The institution is building culturally diverse faculty and strongly encourages applications from female and minority candidates. Organizations Represented at Recent JSM Career Placement Services Bank of America • Capital One • FDA • Eli Lilly and Company Review of applications will begin July 1, 2010, and will continue until the position is filled. Amgen • Travelers • SAS

66 Amstat News JUNE 2010 Seeking a CAREER in

Vancouver STATISTICS? July 31–Aug. 4

Are you nearing graduation and wondering about entry-level jobs? Are you an experienced statistics professional interested in career information? Register for the JSM Career Placement Service What can the Career Placement Service do for you? Each year, more than 100 companies, universities, recruiters, and government agencies search for applicants using the JSM Career Placement Service. The JSM Career Placement Service provides the best opportunity for qualified applicants to meet employers, establish valuable contacts, and learn about organizations employing statisticians.

Career Placement Service Benefits Applicant reading area—for applicants to review Computerized message center—allows complete job descriptions and contact information for all applicants and employers to communicate registered employers. throughout the meeting. Visibility to employers—applicants who register Online access to job postings—included with by July 13, 2010, will have their information and résumés ALL Career Placement Service registrations. included in the advance applicant online database, available to employers prior to the meeting. Employers often contact applicants in the database prior to JSM to schedule interviews. www.amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2010/placement

Organizations Represented at Recent JSM Career Placement Services Bank of America • Capital One • FDA • Eli Lilly and Company

2010 Amgen • Travelers • SAS CAJSMNADA V a ncouver, British Columbia JUNE 2010 Amstat News 67 OPPORTUNITIES

PROFESSIONAL

68 Amstat News JUNE 2010 cancer clinical trials and related research. PROFESSIONAL Requirements: strong background in statistical principles, data analysis, computing (especially SAS and R), communication skills, and 1–2 years of experience. Send CV, names of three ref- S OPPORTUNITIE erences to: MS Biostatistician Job Search, Biostatistics & Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115; biostatistics. [email protected]. Dana- Farber Cancer Institute is an AA/EOE.

New York n Biostatistician faculty position UR School of Nursing. Seeking experienced researcher and biostatistician to collaborate with and provide biostatistical support to academic faculty conducting clinical, behavioral, systems, and population health research. Strong ability to integrate and problem-solve a range of research designs, methods and statistical analyses. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills required. Must have expertise in grant and manuscript writing. Competitive salary. More information: www.son.rochester.edu. University of Rochester is an AA/EOE.

Ohio n CWRU School of Medicine invites applications for assistant or associate professor (non-tenure track). Must have PhD in biostatistics, epidemiology, or related field. Associate rank requires sustained contributions and national reputation. For more information, go to http:// cci.case.edu/cci/employment. To apply, email a letter of application, CV, and contact information for three references to [email protected]; specify Search #206 in the subject line. In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 69 Pennsylvania n Postdoctoral fellow in statistical NORC conducts high quality social science genetics within biostatistics division at research in the public interest from its head- University of Pennsylvania. The

OPPORTUNITIES quarters at the University of Chicago and candidate will develop and implement from its offices in Chicago, IL, Washington, statistical and computational methods for DC, Bethesda, MD, and Berkeley, CA. genetic studies. PhD degree in statistics, We conduct research in economics, demo- biostatistics, bioinformatics, computer graphics, education and child development, health, substance abuse, mental health, sciences, or other quantitative fields and PROFESSIONAL justice, and survey quality both in the U.S. programming skills in C/C++/Perl and at and internationally. We offer full-service least one statistical package are required. survey design and operations as well as To apply, send CV, publication reprints, strengths in analysis, information technology, and technical assistance. NORC sup- 3 references to [email protected]. www. ports the research needs of government in med.upenn.edu/apps/my/bpp_postings/ the U.S. and abroad, international donor index.php?pid=12031. University of agencies, foundations, academic research- Pennsylvania is an AA/EOE. ers, and private organizations. NORC is actively seeking statisticians, n Statistician. Western Psychiatric survey methodologists, statistical programmers, data managers, survey directors, Institute & Clinic of UPMC seeks a and social scientists with advanced training statistician to assist a principal investi- or experience in survey research or survey gator in completing statistical analyses operations. New staff will be based in our for funded initiatives. Needs are varied Chicago, IL or Washington, DC offices. To learn more about NORC and to apply for including statistical tests and sophisti- employment, visit our website at: cated techniques for testing longitudinal http://www.norc.org/careers data (M-Plus, SAS Proc Traj). One focus of the research program requires use of NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce. sophisticated genetic programs (SOLAR, FBAT). To learn more about this opportunity, contact Lance Maloney at [email protected]. www.UPMC. com. EOE.

South Carolina Thinkingof Your n The Hollings Cancer Center-Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Medical University of South Carolina invite applications for a research associate biostatistician. This position requires a Future master’s degree in biostatistics or related field. The position will involve highly ? collaborative interactions with Hollings Let the ASA help you realize Cancer Center faculty with an emphasis on grant proposals and the design and your professional goals. analysis of laboratory, clinical, and epidemiologic studies. Apply: www.jobs. musc.edu, position #046407. MUSC is a drug-free workplace. We are an equal JobWeb—The ASA JobWeb is a targeted job database opportunity employer promoting diver- and résumé-posting service www.amstat.org/jobweb sity. m/f/v/d.

JSM Career Placement Service—A full-service recruiting facility held annually at JSM, with hundreds Tennessee of statistical employers seeking qualified applicants n Department of Preventive Medicine, www.amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2010 University Tennessee Health Science Center, is accepting applications for

70 Amstat News JUNE 2010 PROFESSIONAL assistant/associate professor level in biostatistics. Requires doctorate biostatistics/ statistics or medical degree with epidemiology/biostatistics training. Send CV, cover letter describing research interests, experience, three references to Betsy S OPPORTUNITIE Tolley, PhD, UTHSC, Department PrevMed, 66 N. Pauline, Suite 633, Memphis, TN 38163, email btolley@ uthsc.edu. University of Tennessee Health Science Center is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer.

International n The Institute of Statistics at the National Chiao Tung University invites applications for a faculty position beginning February 2011. The rank will be determined by the qualifications of candidates. Please send a statement of research interests, a CV, and three letters of recommendation to Institute of Statistics, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan. Applications completed by July 31, 2010, will receive full consideration. n

JUNE 2010 Amstat News 71 Contacts RE S OURCE S DIRECTORY Main ASA American Statistical Association 732 North Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314-1943 Phone: (703) 684-1221 Toll-free: (888) 231-3473 Fax: (703) 684-2037 Email: [email protected]

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JUNE 2010 Amstat News 73 Chapters & Sections Network with thousands of col- RE S OURCE S DIRECTORY leagues through the ASA’s region-

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Committees Since its founding in 1839, the ASA has depended on the invaluable service of dedicated volunteers, working through committees, to achieve its goals. CDs Journals & Magazines Member Benefits Visit www.amstat.org/comm for information. n 41 Years of Technometrics. The ASA offers a variety of pub- and Honors Now you can have all articles publications in print and online. Visit Awards lished during the first41 years of www.amstat.org/publications for Education Technometrics at your fingertips. more information. Each year, a number of awards With the help of knowledgeable For more information, visit www. are presented in recognition of and well-respected leaders in the amstat.org/publications/book- outstanding contributions or sandcds.cfm. Video Series dedication to the field of statistics. profession, the ASA’s Center for Statistics Education is able to pro- The Distinguished Statistician For more information, visit www. vide quality educational oppor- n JSM Proceedings. Each year, Video Series offers the chance to amstat.org/careers/awards.cfm or tunities to statisticians of all levels the ASA publishes papers pre- bring a lecture or discussion by a email [email protected]. of achievement. Visit www.amstat. sented at JSM. For more informa- renowned statistician to any ASA org/education or email educinfo@ tion, visit www.amstat.org/publi- chapter meeting, university class- ASA JobWeb/Career Center amstat.org. cations/booksandcds.cfm. room, company archive, or home collection. For more information, The ASA JobWeb, a targeted job email [email protected]. database and résumé-posting Ethical Guidelines service, helps you take advantage Encourage ethical statistical work of valuable career opportunities. in morally conducive work envi- Check out the services available ronments. Visit www.amstat.org/ at www.amstat.org/jobweb or about/ethicalguidelines.cfm or con- email [email protected]. tact Member Services to request a copy.

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JUNE 2010 Amstat News 75 JUNE 2010 • Issue #396

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76 Amstat News JUNE 2010