GAME ON! Help Celebrate Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month

April 2020 • Issue #514 AMSTATNEWS The Membership Magazine of the American Statistical Association • http://magazine.amstat.org

GAME ON! Help celebrate Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month

MSAM POSTER INSIDE!

ALSO: COPSS to Host First Scott Lecture, Fisher Lecture at JSM 2020 FY20 Budget Brings Increases for NIH, Select Statistical Agencies BEYOND AP STATISTICS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 • 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. • PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

A WORKSHOP FOR EXPERIENCED TEACHERS Sponsor: ASA-NCTM Joint Committee on Curriculum in Statistics and Probability

The Beyond AP Statistics (BAPS) workshop is for AP Statistics teachers and consists of enrichment material just beyond the basic AP syllabus. Organized by Roxy Peck (Cal Poly), the workshop is divided into four sessions led by noted statisticians. Topics in recent years have included experimental design, topics in survey methodology, multiple regression, logistic regression, what to do when assumptions are not met, and randomization tests.

COST PROGRAM REGISTRATION The course fee for the full The 2020 program will be posted Course attendees do not need to day is $50. when available. register for the Joint Statistical Meetings* to participate in this PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS workshop. Online registration is • Refreshments The ASA/NCTM Joint Committee available at www.amstat.org/ education/baps. • Handouts will provide some registration scholarships. For more informa- • A pass to visit the JSM tion, contact Rebecca Nichols. QUESTIONS exhibit hall Contact Rebecca Nichols at [email protected]. • Certifi cate of participation LOCATION from the American Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM),* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Statistical Association certifying professional *The Joint Statistical Meetings is the development hours largest annual gathering of statisti- • Optional graduate cians, where thousands from around credit available the world meet to share advances in statistical knowledge.

® AMSTATNEWS APRIL 2020 • ISSUE #514 Executive Director Ron Wasserstein: [email protected]

Associate Executive Director and Director of Operations Stephen Porzio: [email protected] features Senior Advisor for Statistics Communication and Media Innovation 3 President’s Corner Regina Nuzzo: [email protected] 5 Recognizing the ASA’s Longtime Members Director of Science Policy Steve Pierson: [email protected] 12 Game On! Director of Strategic Initiatives and Outreach 14 Reaching Your Networking Peak: A Guided Networking Donna LaLonde: [email protected] Session at JSM Director of Education Rebecca Nichols: [email protected] 16 NYU Abu Dhabi and Pfizer Inc. Collaboration Drives Progress

Managing Editor 17 Applications Encouraged for Diversity Mentoring Program Megan Murphy: [email protected] 18 Meet Sylva Collins, Director of the Office of Biostatistics, Editor and Content Strategist US Food and Drug Administration Val Nirala: [email protected] 20 2020 Spring Research Conference Slated for May in Michigan Production Coordinators/Graphic Designers Olivia Brown: [email protected] 21 COPSS to Host First Scott Lecture, Fisher Lecture at JSM 2020 Megan Ruyle: [email protected] 23 Call for Virtual Workshop Practicum, Student Showcase Advertising Manager Submissions Claudine Donovan: [email protected] 24 FY20 Budget Brings Increases for NIH, Select Statistical Agencies Contributing Staff Members Amy Farris

Amstat News welcomes news items and letters from readers on matters of interest to the association and the profession. Address correspondence to Managing Editor, Amstat News, American Statistical Association, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 USA, or email amstat@ DATA FOR amstat.org. Items must be received by the first day of the preceding month to ensure appearance in the next issue (for example, June 1 for the July issue). Page 28: Stats4Good focuses on Material can be sent as a Microsoft Word document, PDF, or within an email. Articles will be edited for space. Accompanying artwork will be accepted ways to help the environment. in graphics file formats only (.jpg, etc.), minimum 300 dpi. No material in WordPerfect will be accepted. DAY 2020 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 USA. Send Canadian address changes to APC, PO Box 503, RPO West Beaver Creek, Rich Hill, ON L4B 4R6. Annual subscriptions are $50 per year for nonmembers. Amstat News is the member publication of the ASA. For annual membership rates, see www.amstat.org/join or contact ASA Member Services at (888) 231-3473. columns American Statistical Association 732 North Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314–1943 USA 28 STATS4GOOD (703) 684–1221 Data for Earth Day 2020 ASA GENERAL: [email protected] This column is written for those interested in learning about the world of ADDRESS CHANGES: [email protected] Data for Good, where statistical analysis is dedicated to good causes that AMSTAT EDITORIAL: [email protected] benefit our lives, our communities, and our world. If you would like to know ADVERTISING: [email protected] more or have ideas for articles, contact David Corliss at davidjcorliss@peace- WEBSITE: http://magazine.amstat.org work.org. Printed in USA © 2020 American Statistical Association

30 STATtr@k Do Pharmaceutical Statisticians Need a Master’s Degree? ® STATtr@k is a column in Amstat News and a website geared toward people The American Statistical Association is the world’s largest who are in a statistics program, recently graduated from a statistics program, community of statisticians. The ASA supports excellence in or recently entered the job world. To read more articles like this one, visit the the development, application, and dissemination of statistical website at http://stattrak.amstat.org. If you have suggestions for future arti- science through meetings, publications, membership services, cles, or would like to submit an article, please email Megan Murphy, Amstat education, accreditation, and advocacy. Our members serve in News managing editor, at [email protected]. industry, government, and academia in more than 90 countries, advancing research and promoting sound statistical practice to inform public policy and improve human welfare. Help us celebrate Mathematics and Statistics Awarenessto see Monthawesome by sharing your favorite STEM game or developing your own. Check out the work of Laber Labs at www.laber-labs.com examples of game-based learning (including Zombies on Treadmills).

Share ideas with @mathaware, @AmstatNews, and @LaberLabs GAME ON! and use the hashtags #mathstatmonth and #AmstatGames.

Statistics Awareness Month Online Articles MSAMMathematics & The following articles in this issue can be found online at http://magazine.amstat.org. LOOK INSIDE Committee Member? Chapter for our Mathematics and Statistics or Section Officer? Awareness Month poster celebrating The ASA Leader HUB is here for you. ASA leaders are game-based learning. ASA members who volunteer in some way, primarily as chapter or section officers or committee chairs or members. We appreciate your service and aim to make your volunteer experience easy by providing departments materials you need in one convenient location. If you 32 meetings cannot find what you are looking CSP 2020: Contemporary Statistical Practice for on the Leader Moving Us into Future HUB or would like 13th ICHPS Sold Out in San Diego additional resources added to it, email Jack 36 education Joyce at [email protected]. The HUB is on the ASA StatPREP: Living in Interesting Times for Community at https://bit.ly/39K0Iu2. Introductory Statistics Education

What is your pastime? Do you have a hobby outside of work you would member news like to share? If so, let us know and we’ll feature it in 37 Awards and Deadlines an upcoming Pastimes of Statisticians column. Email 38 People News Megan Murphy, Amstat News managing editor, at [email protected] to receive a short questionnaire 40 Section • Chapter • Committee News to complete. Return your answers along with photos 43 Calendar of Events of you participating in your leisure activity and we’ll publish your story in an upcoming issue. View previous 46 Professional Opportunities columns at https://bit.ly/2Q8PNlF.

Follow us on Twitter Teaching Elementary Statistics www.twitter.com/AmstatNews Few undergraduate schools in Pune, India, include a Join the ASA Community statistical programming language in their curriculum, and http://community.amstat.org many schools have no computers, so students learn basic Like us on Facebook concepts about sampling, distributions, and variability www.facebook.com/AmstatNews and work through formulas by hand. Meena Doshi taught Follow us on Instagram in both Pune and the US and shares her experience www.instagram.com/AmstatNews in “East or West: My View on Teaching Elementary Statistics.” Read it at https://magazine.amstat.org.

2 amstat news april 2020 president's corner

A Different Type of Impact

“I’m going to donate a kidney to Abe.” With that simple statement, my husband told National Donate Life Month me he was going to donate a kidney to one of our Celebrated in April each year, National colleagues who I will call Abe for the purposes Donate Life Month features an entire of this story. Since April is National Donate Life month of local, regional, and national Month (www.donatelife.net/ndlm), I thought it activities to encourage Americans appropriate to share my journey in the hope it to register as organ, eye, and tissue might inspire others. So, how did this journey start? In 2004, my donors and celebrate those who have husband and I were both working for the US saved lives through the gift of donation. Wendy Martinez Navy and as adjuncts at a local university teaching For more information and to champion night classes in statistics and mathematics. Abe was the head of the computer science department the cause, visit www.donatelife.net. at the time, and we came to know him well. From To read more about organ donation, visit conversations with Abe, my husband learned Abe www.donatelife.net/types-of-donation/ wanted to work on his PhD but was dealing with living-donation. many challenges. His family included older chil- dren and a newborn. He had a long commute to To register to become an organ, eye, the university, where he was teaching a full load and tissue donor, visit www.donatelife. of four classes per quarter and had extra duties as net/register. department head. The most critical issue was his health. Abe had end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Abe immigrated to the United States with the to ensure there are no dangers to the recipient, hope of being a donor for his older brother, who had such as diseases carried by the donor that could be ESRD. Abe was not able to be a donor because of passed on. As our donation story illustrates, the the risk he would also experience ESRD. It appears donor and recipient do not have to be related. It many from Abe’s country of origin suffer from is the match between the donor and the recipient ESRD, according to “Causes of End-Stage Renal antigens that improves the success of the trans- Disease in Sudan: A Single-Center Experience,” an plant. Blood tests are used to determine blood article by Mohamed Elhafiz Elsharif and Elham type and human leukocyte antigens (HLA), which Gariballa Elsharif published in the Saudi Journal of drive the body’s immune response. They also mix Kidney Diseases and Transplantation. a small amount of blood between the two parties What made my husband even think of being a to see if the recipient will form antibodies. donor? After all, Abe is not a blood relative. In ret- Once the two parties have been cleared medi- rospect, it is amazing, but this important decision cally and the tests have confirmed a match, the was inspired by a story on National Public Radio surgery can proceed. In most cases, the surgeons about someone donating a kidney to a non-rela- are able to use laparoscopic surgery to extract the tive. My husband decided to leave a note for Abe kidney. This is a minimally invasive approach in asking if he would be willing to accept a kidney which several small incisions are made. Devices from him, since my husband is a Christian and are inserted into the incisions that have video Abe is Muslim. Abe said yes, and the donation cameras and surgical tools. This type of surgery process was started. reduces the recovery time for the kidney donor. Doctors are careful to ensure the donor is All went well with the surgery, and the trans- healthy to mitigate the potential for harm to the plant was successful. Abe had several years during donor. Extensive tests were performed on my which he did not have to undergo dialysis, and husband, including counseling. They also need he had a much improved quality of life. We also

april 2020 amstat news 3 The process of living organ donation was so satisfying that I would consider other living-donor procedures. However, I’ll have to skip donating my other kidney because I’m going to need it for a while longer!

became close to Abe and his family, and we enjoyed itself. There are also the differences between Abe getting to know them and their extended family. and me—gender, religion, race, and culture. Organ Sadly, the success was short lived and, after about donation can cross all these boundaries and more. four years, we got some distressing news: The kid- There are other ways to be a living donor. The ney transplant was failing. They eventually had to other common organ for a living-donor proce- remove my husband’s kidney from Abe, and Abe dure is the liver. In this type of donation, part of was back on dialysis. the donor’s liver is transplanted to the recipient. I soon found myself going through a strange Eventually, the size of both sections grow to nor- grieving process over the ‘death’ of the kidney. I mal size. There are also bone marrow (or stem cell) suppose it was because a piece of my husband had transplants, which are sometimes used to treat leu- passed away. kemia, multiple myeloma, and some lymphomas. There came a point where I had committed to a I encourage you to think about organ dona- healthy lifestyle and felt I was in the right place to tion—whether it is through the living donation donate a kidney to Abe. He was a bit reluctant, but process or by registering as an organ donor. The I told him I was ready to be a donor and would like process of living organ donation was so satisfying him to be the recipient. My surgery was not done that I would consider other living-donor proce- laparoscopically because the surgeon thought that dures. However, I’ll have to skip donating my other technique put too much stress on the kidneys. Six kidney right now because I’m going to need it for a years later, I am happy to write that Abe continues while longer! to do well. What I find interesting about my journey is the many aspects I encountered along the way—a loved one donating, transplant failure, and donation

4 amstat news april 2020 Recognizing the ASA’s Longtime Members ach year, the ASA recognizes all members invitation to a reception at the annual JSM. If you reaching a milestone of 35, 40, 45, or 50+ believe you should appear in the list below but do years of membership. All members who not see your name, please contact asainfo@amstat. joinedE 35 or more years ago are also extended an org or call (703) 684-1221 to correct your record. 50+ Y ears

Abdelmonem A. Afifi James N. Arvesen Rudolf J. Beran Robert L. Brennan Joseph J. Chmiel Gerard E. Dallal Dennis O. Dixon Robert A. Agnew Orley Ashenfelter Alan P. Berens Dwight B. Brock Lee-Jay Cho James M. Davenport Thomas E. Doerfler Alan Agresti Joseph R. Assenzo Kenneth N. Berk Lyle D. Broemeling William S. Cleveland Martin H. David Norman R. Draper Dennis J. Aigner Corwin L. Atwood Donald A. Berry Donna J. Brogan Robert P. Clickner Herbert T. Davis Satya D. Dubey Per A. T. Akersten Abdolrahman Azari U. Narayan Bhat Maurice C. Bryson Ayala Cohen Robert L. Davis George T. Duncan Jack Alanen Barbara A. Bailar Peter J. Bickel Charles R. Buncher Stanley H. Cohen Chauncey Mitchell Douglas M. Dunn Dayton Arthur E. Albert R. Clifton Bailey Christopher John A. Burkart Theodore Colton Francois A. Dupuis Bingham Enrique de Alba Mir Masoom Ali John J. Bartko Kenneth P. Burnham William Jay Conover Benjamin S. Duran William C. John J. Deely Mukhtar M. Ali Noel S. Bartlett Norman Bush R. Dennis Cook Danny Dyer Blackwelder Arthur P. Dempster Stan Altan David L. Bayless Patricia L. Busk Lewis Coopersmith Robert G. Easterling Brent A. Blumenstein Frank T. Denton Philip J. Ambrosini Charles K. Bayne Margaret D. Carroll David R. Cox Brenda Kay Edwards Colin R. Blyth Timothy A. DeRouen Sigmund J. Amster Gerald J. Beck Walter H. Carter J. R. Crespo Bradley Efron Thomas J. Boardman Susan J. Devlin Gary M. Andrew Laurel A. Beckett John M. Chambers John R. Crigler Jonas H. Ellenberg Donald J. Bogue Jay L. Devore Barry C. Arnold Richard J. Beckman Edwin H. Chen Larry H. Crow William B. Fairley Gordon J. Brackstone Paula H. Diehr Jesse C. Arnold Mary S. Beersman Herman Chernoff Jonathan D. Cryer William R. Gary L. Brager W. Erwin Diewert Fairweather Ersen Arseven Donald L. Bentley Janet E. Cherry Ralph B. D’Agostino William M. Brelsford

april 2020 amstat news 5 Milton C. Fan Kenneth Harwood Melville R. Klauber Jeff B. Meeker Ross L. Prentice Daniel G. Seigel Paul I. Feder Larry D. Haugh Michael H. Klein James I. Mellon Philip J. Press Pranab K. Sen Walter Feibes Robert M. Hauser Gary G. Koch Edward L. Melnick Bertram Price Robert J. Serfling Alan H. Feiveson Douglas M. Hawkins Uwe Koehn Peter F. Merenda Philip C. Prorok Jolayne W. Service Ivan P. Fellegi Sam Hedayat Stephen L. Kozarich William L. Mietlowski Thomas W. Pullum Jayaram Sethuraman Alan C. Fisher William F. Heiland Helena C. Kraemer G. Arthur Mihram David A. Pyne Nagambal Shah Andrew J. Flatt Karl W. Heiner Richard J. Kryscio George A. Milliken Dana Quade Paul Shaman Jairus D. Flora Ronald W. Helms Lawrence L. Kupper Satish Chandra Misra J. G. Ramage Gary M. Shapiro Sandra Forman William G. Thomas E. Kurtz Douglas C. Calyampudi R. Rao Iris M. Shimizu Henderson Montgomery Richard L. Forstall Michael H. Kutner J. N. K. Rao Robert H. Shumway Neil W. Henry Billy J. Moore Alan B. Forsythe Ronald E. Kutscher Carol K. Redmond Jon J. Shuster Jay Herson David S. Moore James W. Frane Peter A. (Tony) George F. Reed Nozer D. Agnes M. Herzberg Lachenbruch Jerry L. Moreno Singpurwalla Martin R. Frankel Joan S. Reisch Milton C. Heuston John C. Lambert Carl N. Morris Dennis E. Smith Donald A. S. Fraser Benjamin Reiser

Longtime members Longtime William J. Hill Lynn Roy LaMotte Donald F. Morrison William Boyce Smith Edward L. Frome Robert H. Riffenburgh Bruce Hoadley Kenneth C. Land John W. Morse Ronald D. Snee Carol Holly E. Fuchs Naomi B. Robbins Paul W. Holland James M. Landwehr Effat A. Moussa Mitchell Snyder Mark C. Fulcomer Bruce E. Rodda Myles Hollander Kinley Larntz Thomas D. Murphy Daniel L. Solomon Wayne A. Fuller Charles A. Rohde David W. Hosmer Eugene M. Laska Charles B. Nam Edward J. Spar A. Ronald Gallant Joan R. Rosenblatt Paul B. Huber William D. Lawing Subhash C. Narula Douglas E. Splitstone Fernando L. Bernard Rosner Garagorry J. Stuart Hunter Jerald F. Lawless Wayne B. Nelson Randall K. Spoeri Donald C. Ross Joseph L. Gastwirth Huynh Huynh Anthony James Marc Nerlove M. K. Srirama Paul F. Ross Lawrance David W. Gaylor Peter B. Imrey John Neter Stephen M. Stigler Richard S. Ross Kenneth D. Jane F. Gentleman Gudmund R. Iversen Anna B. Nevius Jerrell T. Stracener Lawrence Donald B. Rubin Stephen L. George Laurence F. Jackson S. Edward Nevius William E. Russell V. Lenth Barbara J. Rutledge Strawderman Gauri L. Ghai Aridaman K. Jain David S. Newman David Levine Robert A. Rutledge Nariaki Sugiura Jean D. Gibbons Sreenivasa Rao Peter C. O’Brien Robert A. Lew Julia Sabella Jammalamadaka Moon W. Suh Rudy A. Gideon W. Michael O’Fallon Donald Lewin Harold B. Sackrowitz Dallas E. Johnson Michael Sutherland Dennis C. Gilliland Robert L. Obenchain Thomas M. Lewinson Susan T. Sacks Richard A. Johnson D. Derk Swain Phil D. Gilliland Anthony R. Olsen David L. Libby David S. Salsburg Bruce Johnston Paul Switzer Edward J. Gilroy Richard A. Olshen Robert G. Lovell Francisco J. Richard Hunn Jones Elliot A. Tanis John R. Gleason J. Keith Ord Samaniego Stanley E. Lunde Joseph B. Kadane Judith M. Tanur Leon J. Gleser Anthony M. Orlando Charles B. Sampson Lars Lyberg John H. Kalbfleisch Aaron Tenenbein Prem K. Goel Albert C. Ovedovitz Douglas A. George W. Lynch John D. Kalbfleisch Samuelson Carol B. Thompson Judith D. Goldberg William J. Padgett Bruce E. Mackey Balvant K. Kale Patricia D. Saunders Leo J. Tick Robert N. Goldman Charles D. Palit Edward MacNeal William D. Kalsbeek Eberhard G. Schaich Lowell H. Tomlinson Charles H. Goldsmith Vernon E. Palmour Brian D. Macpherson Graham Kalton Richard L. Scheaffer James Tonascia Bernard S. Gorman Darrel W. Parke Albert Madansky Howard S. Kaplon Robert R. Scheer Ram C. Tripathi David M. Grether Robert P. Parker Charles R. Mann Marvin J. Karson David Schenker J. Richard Trout Donald Guthrie Leonard J. Parsons Nancy R. Mann Joseph D. Kasile Fritz J. Scheuren Bruce E. Trumbo Irwin Guttman James L. Pate Helen Marcus- Marvin A. James J. Chris P. Tsokos Gerald J. Hahn Roberts Ganapati P. Patil Kastenbaum Schlesselman Bruce W. Turnbull Silas Halperin Jack A. Marshall Jon K. Peck Myron J. Katzoff Joyce A. Schlieter N. Scott Urquhart Martin A. Hamilton Harry F. Martz Edward B. Perrin Gordon M. Kaufman James Schmeidler Gerald van Belle J. Wayne Hamman Takashi Matsui Eswar G. Phadia Thomas Keefe J. Richard Schmid Joseph G. Van Matre Chien-Pai Han George P. McCabe Louis A. Pingel Kathleen M. Keenan Stanley Schor Willem R. Van Zwet R. Choudary James B. McDonald S. R. S. Rao Poduri William J. Kennedy William R. Schucany Hanumara Lonnie C. Vance Lyman L. McDonald Ralph D. Pollard Jon R. Kettenring Stanley L. Sclove Roy Dean Hardy James R. Veale Robert L. McKnight Stephen L. Portnoy Benjamin F. King Stuart Scott Lynne B. Hare R. Lakshmi Robert A. McLean Richard F. Potthoff Elizabeth S. King- Donald T. Searls Vishnuvajjala David A. Harville Sloan Glen D. Meeden John W. Pratt Nell Sedransk

6 amstat news april 2020 Kenneth W. Wachter William G. Warren Owen Whitby Robert L. Winkler Douglas A. Wolfe Morty Yalovsky Longtime members Sylvan Wallenstein Edward J. Wegman George W. Williams John J. Wiorkowski John Harmon Wolfe Donald E. Young Ray A. Waller Bruce S. Weir John Williams John E. Witcher Robert F. Woolson Douglas A. Zahn James A. Walsh Herbert I. Weisberg William H. Williams Janet Wittes Gooloo S. Ann Graham Zauber Wunderlich George H. Wang Sanford Weisberg Othmar W. Winkler Calvin Zippin

45–49 Y ears

Robert D. Abbott Dennis Boos L Marlin Eby Louis Gordon Dar-Shong Hwang Kelvin K. Lee Sandra C. Abbott Ellen F. Brewer Janet D. Elashoff Robert D. Gordon David N. Ikle Kerry L. Lee Bovas Abraham J. Michael Brick Kathleen Louise Spencer B. Graves Ronald L. Iman Martin L. Lee Emery Judith Abrams David R. Bristol Timothy A. Green Alan J. Izenman Stanley A. Wil B. Emmert Lemeshow Lee R. Abramson Richard K. Burdick John Vic Grice Allen E. Izu Samuel M. Epstein James M. Lepkowski Chris Adcock Lawrence S. Cahoon Susan Groshen Kirk A. Jackson Eugene P. Ericksen Martin L. Lesser Francis B. Alt Patrick J. Cantwell Marvin H. J. Gruber William E. Jackson Thomas B. Farver Marcia J. Levenstein Dallas W. Anderson William L. Carlson Leslie S. Grunes David Jaspen Alan Fask Bruce Levin Robert L. Andrews Raymond J. Carroll Joseph A. Guarnieri Clifford L. Johnson Robert E. Fay Charles Lewis Lawrence Annable Frank C. Castronova Victor M. Guerrero Paulette M. Johnson John P. Fazio Lawrence I-Kuei Lin W. Tad Archambault John P. Chandler Shelby J. Haberman Gerald A. Joireman Ronald S. Fecso Carol L. Link Steve Ascher Judith-Anne W. Hermann Ian T. Jolliffe Chapman Martin Feuerman Habermann Greta M. Ljung Taka Ashikaga Paul K. Jones Yogendra P. Chaubey David F. Findley Timothy O. Haifley Michael T. Anthony C. Atkinson David C. Jordan Longnecker Raj S. Chhikara Nicholas I. Fisher James L. Hall Agustin F. Ayuso Henry D. Kahn Thomas A. Louis Joan Sander Chmiel Allen I. Fleishman Nancy R. Hall Saad T. Bakir Theodore G. Karrison Milton W. Loyer Jai Won Choi Nancy Flournoy Janet M. Hanley Vincent P. Barabba Daniel Kasprzyk Jay H. Lubin George W. Cobb Peter E. Fortini David Hardison William A. Barnett Richard W. Katz Linda C. Malone Timothy C. Coburn Mary A. Foulkes Frank E. Harrell John L. Barone Robert M. Katz Charles F. Manski Steven B. Cohen Janet F. Fowler Kenneth R. Richard A. Becker Sheryl F. Kelsey Hartmann Dennis R. Mar James J. Colaianne John D. Fox Roger L. Berger James L. Kenkel Richard M. Heiberger Kanti V. Mardia John R. Collins Martin D. Fraser Timothy M. James L. Kepner Lance K. Heilbrun Mary A. Marion Bergquist Margaret D. David Frontz David L. Kimble Copenhaver Thomas Herzog Donald L. Marx James S. Bergum Barbara A. Gabianelli Ignatius A. Kinsella Robert J. Costello James J. Higgins Robert L. Mason Jose Miguel Mitchell H. Gail Nancy J. Kirkendall Bernardo Brenda G. Cox Steven C. Hillmer LeRoy T. Mattson Edward J. Gainer Rudolf G. Kittlitz David J. Bernklau Giles L. Crane Klaus Hinkelmann Timothy A. Max Stephen J. Ganocy Kenneth J. Koehler Wayne F. Bialas William G. Susan M. Hinkins Scott E. Maxwell Turkan K. Gardenier Cumberland Neal Koss Paul P. Biemer Jerry L. Hintze Stephen A. McGuire Edward E. Gbur Gary R. Cutter Abba M. Krieger Lynne Billard David C. Hoaglin Joseph W. McKean Cynthia D. Gentillon Pierre C. Delfiner S. David Kriska Richard A. Bilonick Thomas P. Hogan John D. McKenzie David E. Giles David L. DeMets Robert Kushler David S. Birkes Theodore R. Holford Geoffrey J. Phyllis A. Gimotty Lorraine Denby Alan H. Kvanli McLachlan Herbert L. Bishop Alan Hopkins Howard Seth Gitlow Thomas F. Devlin John M. Lachin William Q. Meeker Richard M. Bittman Berne Martin Dennis R. Givens David A. Dickey Howard Nan Laird Cyrus R. Mehta Peter Bloomfield Beth C. Gladen E. Jacquelin Dietz Ina P. Howell Carol J. Lancaster Robert J. Meier Harvey Blumberg Marcia A. David P. Doane Marla L. Huddleston J. Richard Landis Gayle T. Meltesen Lennart Bodin Glauberman Dennis A. DuBose Mark Hudes Philip T. Lavin Roy Mendelssohn Dan C. Boger Joseph Glaz Joseph W. Duncan Mohammad F. Sheila M. Lawrence Michael M. Meyer Robert J. Boik Richard F. Goldstein Huque William D. Dupont Johannes Ledolter Terry G. Meyer James A. Bolognese James H. Goodnight

april 2020 amstat news 7 Joel E. Michalek Bernard V. O’Neill Alfred W. Rademaker Donald J. Robert D. Sutherland Sophronia W. Ward Schuirmann Richard O. Michaud Terence John O’Neill Rose M. Ray David A. Swanson Herbert W. Ware Eugene F. Schuster Mary-Jane David Oakes William J. Raynor Ajit C. Tamhane Stanley Wasserman Mietlowski Neil C. Schwertman Morris Olitsky Kenneth J. Resser Ronald A. Thisted William L. Weber John A. Miller William L. Seaver Leonard Paula K. Roberson Hoben Thomas William E. Wecker John Francis Oppenheimer Joseph Sedransk Rosemary A. Roberts John M. Thomas Thomas E. Wehrly Monahan Joyce Orsini Subrata K. Sen Jeffrey A. Robinson John H. Thompson William W. S. Wei Roderick Willis L. Owen Glenn R. Shafer Montgomery Frank W. Rockhold Steven F. Thomson Lynn Weidman Maurice E. B. Owens Arvind K. Shah Katherine L. Monti Robert N. Rodriguez Jerome D. Toporek Daniel L. Weiner William S. Pan Andrew F. Siegel John K. Moore Russell H. Roegner Robert D. Tortora Jon August Wellner Won J. Park Richard S. Sigman David R. John E. Rolph Kam-Wah Tsui Roy E. Welsch Morganstein Van L. Parsons Walter Sloboda Paul R. Rosenbaum Alan R. Tupek Fredrick S. Whaley Max D. Morris Karl E. Peace Robert D. Small James L. Rosenberger David L. Turner James P. Whipple Barbara G. N. Shirlene Pearson Martyn R. Smith N. Phillip Ross Gregory W. Ulferts Andrew A. White Mroczkowski Longtime members Longtime Raymond C. Peck William A. Sollecito Estelle Russek-Cohen Neil R. Ullman David G. Whitmore Robb J. Muirhead Peter H. Peskun Dan J. Sommers Carl T. Russell Jessica M. Utts Howard L. Wiener Wayne L. Myers Arthur V. Peterson Bruce D. Spencer John P. Sall Richard L. Valliant Rand R. Wilcox Elliott Nebenzahl A. John Petkau Nancy L. Spruill William M. Sallas Kerstin Vannman Leland Wilkinson Reinhard Neck Charles G. Pfeifer Richard M. Stanley Allan R. Sampson Niels H. Veldhuijzen Jean F. Williams James W. Neill John G. Phillips Robert R. Starbuck Gilles F. M. Santini Paul F. Velleman Michael A. Wincek Margaret A. Nemeth Philip J. Pichotta David W. Stewart Thomas J. Santner Joseph S. Verducci Lawrence C. Wolfe H. Joseph Newton Linda Williams Pickle John A. Stewart Patricia A. Scanlan Hrishikesh D. Vinod Kirk M. Wolter Earl Nordbrock Dale J. Poirier Sandra S. Stinnett Nancy K. Schatz Howard Wainer Tommy Wright Marija J. Norusis William E. Pollard Robert L. Stout Josef Schmee Joseph J. Walker Marvin Yablon El-Sayed E. Nour Darwin H. Poritz Miron L. Straf David A. Schoenfeld Katherine K. Wallman Michael G. Ralph G. O’Brien Dale L. Preston Donna F. Stroup Yochmowitz Timothy L. Schofield Stephen D. Walter Michael W. O’Donnell Kevin Price Perla Subbaiah Daniel Zelterman Friedrich W. Scholz Chao Wang Judith Rich O’Fallon John N. Quiring Richard A. Sundheim Eric R. Ziegel John H. James F. Ward Patrick D. O’Meara Schuenemeyer

40–44 Y ears

John M. Abowd Arlene S. Ash Nancy Berman James E. Breneman Deborah A. Peter D. Christenson Cernauskas Michael A. Adena Steven P. Bailey Charles C. Berry Ron Brookmeyer B. Christine Clark Raymond L. Mohammad Stephen P. Baker James Calvin Berry Roger L. Brown Cynthia Z.F. Clark Chambers Ahsanullah Jim Baldwin Robert H. Bigelow Edward C. Bryant Daren B. H. Cline Amrut M. Adelin I. Albert David L. Banks Thomas R. Birkett Judith A. Buchino Champaneri Avital Cnaan James H. Albert Chris M. Barker Jan F. Bjornstad Shelley B. Bull Promod K. Paul E. Coffman Jeanne M. Aldred Chandhok Andrew Lewis Baughman David K. Blough Christine M. Bunck Mark E. Cohen Robert W. Aldred Richard A. Chechile Eileen J. Beachell David E. Booth Lawrence F. Burant Michael L. Cohen Melvin T. Alexander Gina G. Chen Moraye B. Bear Richard C. Borden Thomas E. Burk Michael P. Cohen Rich Allen William W. S. Chen Mark P. Becker Victor Marek Borun Thomas J. Bzik Stephen H. Cohen Paul D. Allison Ching-Shui Cheng Jay H. Beder Robert D. Bowser Richard J. Caplan Salvatore V. Colucci Wendy L. Alvey Michael R. Chernick Alexander E. Belinfante Michael N. Boyd Lynda T. Carlson Charles F. Contant Yasuo Amemiya Richard P. Michael E. Bellow John E. Boyer Arthur Carpenter Richard S. Conway Chiacchierini Clifford W. Angstman Peter M. Bentler Nancy J. Boynton B. Thomas Carr Bruce K. Cooil Yu-Kun Chiang Thomas Arbutiski James O. Berger Norman M. Bradburn Daniel B. Carr Peyton J. Cook Vernon M. Chinchilli Stephan Arndt Catherine S. Berkey Mary-Lynn Brecht Aki N. Caszatt Kennon R. Copeland Ronald Christensen

8 amstat news april 2020 Charles D. Cowan Stephen A. Freitas Carol C. House Thomas P. Lane Samuel Merrill Elgin S. Perry Longtime members John R. Crammer Arthur Fries Wei-Min Huang Jerry Langley Eva R. Miller David W. Peterson Keith N. Crank Paul Gallo Arthur L. Hughes Stephen S. Langley Michael F. Miller John J. Peterson James A. Creiman Michael A. Gates Allen C. Humbolt Linda B. Lannom Renee H. Miller Daniel Pfeffermann Noel A. Cressie Constantine Luis H. Hurtado Lisa M. LaVange David H. Moen Gerald L. Phillips Gatsonis Douglas E. Critchlow Henry F. Inman Brian T. Leahy Leyla K. Mohadjer Gregory F. Piepel Jeffrey J. Gaynor Leonard A. John M. Irvine Barbara A. Leczynski George E. Morgan Joseph G. Pigeon Cupingood Joseph C. Gfroerer Denis George Janky Hyunshik J. Lee Walter T. Morgan Chester H. Estella Bee Dagum Malay Ghosh Ponikowski Guillermina Jasso Kwan R. Lee June Morita Robin A. Darton John A. Gillespie Dudley L. Poston Jean G. Jenkins John J. Lefante Michael Joe Morton Marie Davidian Michael E. Ginevan Paul N. Powell Gary R. Johnson Greg M. Lepak Ronald P. Mowers Bruce M. Davis William J. Glynn Manfred Precht Robert E. Johnson Donald K. Lewis Daniel H. Mowrey Charles S. Davis A. Blanton Godfrey Louis H. Primavera Albyn C. Jones Richard A. Lewis Lawrence H. Thomas M. Davis Alfred D. Godfrey Muhlbaier Howard M. Proskin Michael P. Jones Steven A. Lewis Thomas C. Dawe Avni Goeksel Nitis Mukhopadhyay Lloyd P. Provost Harmon S. Jordan Wai K. Li Virginia A. de Wolf Barry I. Graubard Jay Munson Jamie K. Pugh David R. Judkins Lillian S. Lin Angela M. Dean J. Brian Gray Bengt Muthen William M. Pugh Karen Kafadar Barbara A. Lingg Michael R. Delozier Janis G. Grechko Haikady N. Nagaraja Clifford R. Qualls Lee D. Kaiser Charles L. Liss Wayne S. Desarbo John W. Green Larry Alan Nelson Volker W. Rahlfs Tzu-Cheg Kao George A. Livingston Marie Diener-West Stephanie J. Green Dean V. Neubauer James O. Ramsay Bruce A. Kaplan Wei-Yin Loh Ralph Digaetano Joel B. Greenhouse David Butcher Nolle Richard F. Raubertas John M. Karon Roger Longbotham Joseph R. Donovan Berton H. Gunter Michael A. Nolte Gopa Ray Charles R. Katholi Stephen W. Looney Gaylen W. Drape Yesvy Gustasp Phillip N. Norton Domenic J. Reda Barry P. Katz Helmut Luetkepohl Kevin Ward Josue Guzman Robert M. Norton Nancy Reid Darryl Katz Michael J. LuValle Drummey Perry D. Haaland Tom S. Nunnikhoven Mark R. Reiser Jerome P. Keating Michael F. Macaluso Bonnie P. Dumas Michael Haber Barry D. Nussbaum William K. Rice Elizabeth J. Kelly John MacIntyre Harold E. Dyck Michael D. Hale Douglas W. Nychka Wasima N. Rida Arthur J. Kendall Donald Jean L. Dyer William A. Halteman Macnaughton Kevin F. O’Brien Mark William Riggs Harry J. Khamis Robert G. Edson Katherine T. Jay Magidson Thomas W. William J. Riley Meena Khare Don Edwards Halvorsen O’Gorman David A. Marker Edwin L. Robison John E. Kimmel Marlene J. Egger Michael S. Hamada Walter W. Offen Paul J. Marovich David M. Rocke Robin Laurence Curtis S. Engelhard David C. Hamilton Akinori Ohashi Kirby Ray L. Marr Ward Rodriguez Patricia A. English John B. Hannon Thomas H. Oliphant Syed N.U.A. Kirmani Adam T. Martinsek Javier Rojo Eugene A. Enneking J. Michael Hardin John A. Ondrasik John C. Klensin Joe Matsuoka Anthony M. Roman A. Richard Entsuah William V. Harper George Ostrouchov George J. Knafl Carl A. Mauro Elvezio Ronchetti Neil R. Ericsson Stephen P. Harris Soo Peter Ouyang Edward L. Korn Fred M. Mayes Robin L. Rose Kent M. Eskridge Rachel M. Harter William J. Owen Kallappa M. Koti Charles Maynard Gary L. Rosner Mark A. Espeland Nancy C. Hassett Albert Palachek Kenneth J. Koury Michael J. Mazu Peter J. Rousseeuw Sylvia R. Esterby Gary D. Hatfield Alberto Palloni Lawrence Krasnoff Donna K. McClish Lawrence V. Michael J. Evans Maurine A. Haver J. Lynn Palmer Rubinstein Jeffrey P. Krischer Joseph P. McCloskey David Fairley William D. Heavlin Mari Palta Andrew L. Rukhin Alok Krishen Kenneth F. McCue Frederick W. Faltin Charles E. Heckler Deborah L. David Ruppert Pieter M. Peter McCullagh Panebianco Dean H. Fearn David H. Henry Kroonenberg Roland T. Rust Janet Elizabeth Sastry G. Pantula Michael B. Feil Ellen Hertzmark Katherine B. Krystinik McDougall Jim Rutherford Robert A. Parker Luisa T. Fernholz Richard P. Heydorn Naoto Kunitomo Daniel L. McGee Pedro J. Saavedra Robert E. Parson Christopher A. Field Chihiro Hirotsu Lynn Kuo Philip G. McGuire Michael S. Saccucci Sharon M. Passe Dianne M. Joseph G. Hirschberg James R. Lackritz Christine E. McLaren William H. Sachs Finkelstein Jeffrey S. Passel Edward C. Hirschland Edward Lakatos Kenneth B. McRae Jerome Sacks Hans-Theo Forst Kevin Pate Doug A. Hlavacek Mansum A. Lam Kathleen A. Mellars Ulderico Santarelli T. A. Foster Charles L. Paule Lorrie L. Hoffman Kuang-Kuo Gordon Shailendra S. Robert L. Santos Leroy A. Franklin Lan Menjoge Roxy L. Peck Larry R. Holden Michael J. Santulli Larry D. Freese Jurate M. Landwehr Michael Meredith Jane F. Pendergast Paul S. Horn Rama Sastry

april 2020 amstat news 9 Miles M. Sato Teddy I. Seidenfeld Elizabeth C. Smith Mark Lionel Suda Thomas P. Turiel Clarice R. Weinberg Nathan E. Savin Thomas R. Sexton Eric P. Smith James J. Swain Leo T. Upchurch James G. Wendelberger John W. Sawyer Ramalingam Richard J. Smith Yoshio Takane Thomas J. Uryniak Shanmugam Robert M. Wharton William G. Saylor Richard L. Smith Roy Noriki Tamura Esa Ilkka Uusipaikka Steven J. Shapiro Glenn Dean White, Stephen M. Scariano Robert A. Smith Deborah L. Tasky Pamela M. Vacek Jr. Mohammed A. Stephen Schacht Tom A.B. Snijders Robert L. Taylor Richard Craig Van Shayib David C. Whitford Nostrand David J. Schaeffer Karen L. Snowdon- Marcia A. Testa Mack C. Shelley Dexter C. Whittinghill Kenneth Way Stephen B. Brian J. Thelen Schechtman Mark R. Shenkman Vardeman Priya J. Francisco P. Soler Hanspeter Thoeni Wickramaratne Mark J. Schervish Weichung J. Shih Denton R. Vaughan Eric R. Sowey Mary E. Thompson Christopher John Mark F. Schilling Lucy Shneyer Steve P. Verrill Terence P. Speed Wild Theodore J. Brian R. Schlain Gary L. Shoop Joseph G. Voelkel Clifford H. Thompson William E. Wilkinson Mark D. Schluchter Patrick E. Shrout Spiegelman Joachim Vollmar Anthony D. Thrall Thomas R. Willemain Paul R. Schneeman Stanley A. Shulman Gene D. Sprechini Edward F. Vonesh Luke-Jon Tierney Jeffrey R. Wilson Longtime members Longtime Donald E. Schreiner Arthur R. Silverberg Donald M. Stablein Grace Wahba Richard B. Tiller William E. Winkler Charles B. Schriver Jeffrey S. Simonoff Joel H. Steckel Paul G. Wakim Naitee Ting F. Lennie Wong Steven J. Schwager Judith D. Singer Barbara Stevens Joel A. Waksman David C. Trindade Farroll T. Wright Sidney H. Schwartz Joan H. Skurnick Robert A. Stine Lars Walloe Claire Tsao Linda J. Young David W. Scott Charles Eugene Michael A. Stoto Carol Weideman Elizabeth R. Zell Smith Ruey-Shiong Tsay Marilyn M. Seastrom Walter W. Stroup David L. Weimer Clyde Tucker

35–39 Y ears

Joseph Adwere- Bruce Steven Subhabrata John L. Czajka Gwyn R. Ferguson Michael M. Granaas Boamah Binkowitz Chakraborti Mark Y. Czarnolewski Eric Jeffrey Feuer Michael A. Greene Chul W. Ahn Paul K. Black Charles W. Champ Veronica A. Czitrom Denzil G. Fiebig Daniel A. Greer Sung K. Ahn Carol Joyce Theodore C. Chang Richard A. Davis Patrick E. Flanagan Timothy G. Gregoire Blumberg Christian M. Alaouze Douglass S. Anthony C. Davison Stergios B. Yves Grize Mary Ellen Bock Chapman Demissie Alemayehu Fotopoulos Pieter J. de Jongh Miriam S. Grosof Barry A. Bodt Robert L. Chastain Dhammika Floyd J. Fowler Richard D. De Veaux Antonio F. Amaratunga Steven B. Boswell Jean Chesson David J. Francis Gualtierotti Roger L. Deaton Kathryn H. Anderson Leonard E. Braitman Christy Chuang-Stein Christine A. Franklin Pushpa L. Gupta Thomas A. John Angle Craig C. Brandt Constance F. Citro Delehanty Jerome Frieman Ramesh C. Gupta John E. Angus Pamela W. Broene Murray K. Clayton Dipak K. Dey Peter P. Gaccione Sam Gutterman Gerhard Arminger Thomas W. Broene Mario A. Cleves James DiCanzio Shayne C. Gad Wilbur C. Hadden Sarah J. Arterburn William J. Browning James J. Cochran David M. Dillard Lionel A. Galway Alula Hadgu Babatunde J. Ayeni Nancy E. Brucken Richard D. Cohn John S. Dixon Joseph C. Gardiner Marc Hallin Jenny A. Baglivo Janet P. Buckingham Michael Christopher Thomas W. Dobbins Mary E. Garvin Trevor J. Hastie Conlon John Bailer Carolee Bush Ken Grant Dodds James Connell Gear John D. Healy Margaret Conomos Steven A. Bailey Kevin C. Cain Jeff F. Doerzbacher Subir Ghosh Nathaniel Alan Nancy R. Cook Donald E. Bamber Carol Veum Caldwell Heckert Susan L. Durham Eric Ghysels Germaine Anna E. Baron Charles A. Calhoun Donald R. Hedeker Cornelissen- Kirk A. Easley Zvi Gilula Edward J. Bedrick Richard Raymond Guillaume Daniel F. Heitjan Bruce P. Ekholm Carl V. Gogolak Carlson Stephen S. Bell Stephen R. Cosslett Wolf-Dieter Heller Ronald K. Elswick Miguel A. Gomez- Michael L. Carniello Jonathan Berkowitz David A. Crabtree Villegas Victoria Black Hench Brian John English John V. Castellana Jonas V. Bilenas William S. Croson Nancy M. Gordon Tim Hesterberg James T. Fagan N. Rao Chaganty Warren B. Bilker David C. Cue William Warren Keith Heyen Charles M. Farmer Gould

10 amstat news april 2020 Susan G. Hilsenbeck Ingo Klein Morteza Marzjarani Sudhir Ranjan Paul John Weldon Ram C. Tiwari Longtime members Seaman Hideo Hirose Mark D. Knowles Cathy Mayhew Robert J. Pavur Walter S. Tletski Gilg U.H. Seeber Myron Hlynka John Miller Koester Allen A. McIntosh Dennis K. Pearl Mark A. Traccarella Bahman Shafii Brian Hochrein Sarah Hurwicz Kogut Raymond E. McIntyre Darryl Neil Michael W. Trosset Penenberg Simon J. Sheather James S. Hodges Henryka K. Gerald W. Kao-Tai Tsai Komanska McLaughlin Kimberly T. Perry Lianne Sheppard Robert Michael Siu-Keung Tse Hoekstra Ken G. Kowalski Gregory C. Barbara H. Perry Holly B. Shulman David M. Umbach McLaughlin Cooper David B. Holiday Rita M. Kristy Stephen D. Simon Leslie A. Van Alstine Paul B. McMahon John D. Pesek Frederick W. Gregory A. Kruger Douglas G. Simpson Robert L. Vogel Hollmann Robert W. Mee Walter W. Piegorsch Bertram Krumm Karan P. Singh Stanley Von Hagen Welling C. Howell David W. Meek Rebecca L. Pierce Richard A. Kulka Krishan Pal Singh Mark Von Tress Pao-sheng Hsu William S. Messina Mark M. Pierzchala Joachim Kunert Barbara W. Sirotnik William Dennis Norma Faris Hubele R. Daniel Meyer Michael J. Pomerantz Edmund C. Lau Eric V. Slud Wacker Esther Sid Hudes Rosemarie Mick Stanley Presser Purushottam W. Richard A. Smiley Chih-Ming Wang Beverley Adams Laud Ruth M. Mickey J. Michael Price Marjolein V. Smith Ronald L. Huet Michael Lavine Steven P. Millard Victor R. Prybutok Wasserstein Steven M. Snapinn Clive A. Hunt David J. LeBlond Margaret A. Minkwitz Charles P. Ann E. Watkins Victor Solo Gerardo Ignacio Quesenberry William M. Lebow Brian C. Monsell Michael T. Weaver Hurtado Andrew R. Solow Trivellore E. Lawrence M. Leemis Clinton T. Moore Sheila O’Leary Clifford M. Hurvich Raghunathan Refik Soyer Weaver Peter J. Lenk Dirk F. Moore Shelley Hurwitz David C. Randall James C. Spall David W. Webb Peter E. Leone Leslie M. Moore Linda S. Hynan Dabeeru C. Rao John J. Spinelli William J. Welch Virginia M. Lesser John P. Morgan James N. Issos Howard L. Rauch Andrew W. Spisak Stefan Wellek Hans Levenbach Stephan Harald K. Iverson David M. Reboussin Kadaba P. Srinath Morgenthaler Alan H. Welsh Burton B. Lieberman Satish Iyengar Ray Redd Cidambi Srinivasan Christopher H. Joanne R. Stephen B. Linda Patricia A. Jacobs Morrell James S. Roberts Paul G. Staneski Wendelberger Anne S. Lindblad Debra J. Jacobson Linda L. C. Moss Richard A. Rode Leonard A. Stefanski Peter H. Westfall Ernst Linder J. Rodney Jee Lawrence H. John W. Rogers Michael L. Stein Donald B. White Bo Henry Lindqvist Moulton Christopher Jorge Luis Romeu David M. Steinberg David A. Whitney Jennison Amanda F. Linnell Hans-Georg Mueller Robert J. Rosati Seth M. Steinberg Alice S. Whittemore Nemec Daniel R. Jeske Robert A. Muenchen Mitchell J. Rosen Lorraine C. Steiner John L. Wieting Regina Y. Liu B. Alan Johnson Jurgen Muller Francis J. Rossi Hal S. Stern Christopher J. Lily Llorens Roger W. Johnson Jeri Metzger Mulrow Williams Peter E. Rossi Susan LeRoy Stewart Andrew W. Lo Wesley Orin Johnson Daniel Najjar Jeffrey A. Witmer Keith F. Rust Mark C. Strong A. Russell Localio Bradley A. Jones Jayalakshmi Marty J. Witt Jon Todd Sahlroot Therese A. Stukel Joseph J. Locascio Natarajan Wendell D. Jones Luke G. Wolfe Michael E. Salzillo Agus Sukmana Robin H. Lock William Navidi John J. Judge Peter C. Wollan V. A. Samaranayake Shumei Sun Sharon L. Lohr Tapan K. Nayak Robert I. Kabacoff John R. Woods Thomas D. Sandry Tim B. Swartz Anthony J. Lonardo Fassil Nebebe Alan F. Karr Werner Wothke Sanat K. Sarkar Winson Taam Jeffrey A. Longmate Barry L. Nelson Sri Haryatmi Kartiko Patricia Wozniak Albert Satorra Jeremy M. G. Taylor James T. Love Steven Nettler Laurent M. Kassalow Lap-Ming Wun Daniel J. Schaid Veronica Taylor Joseph F. Lucke John M. Neuhaus Richard L. Kasul John Charles Wurst Michael J. Schell Timo L. Terasvirta Esfandiar Maasoumi William I. Notz Terry L. Katz Sergio Yanez-Canal Nathaniel Schenker Fisseha Tesfaye Greg Maislin William P. O’Hare Sallie Keller Emmanuel Yashchin David C. Jeffrey D. Tew Dibyen Majumdar Yoshimichi Ochi John T. Kent Schlotzhauer K. F. Yee Terry M. Therneau Lukas Makris Ann W. Olmsted Kurt T. Kessler Stephen P. Schmaltz James H. Yen Neal Thomas Michael K. Mara Robert A. Oster Ravindra Khattree Helmut Schneider Cun-Hui Zhang Lori A. Thombs Laurentius Marais Mark C. Otto Choongrak Kim John R. Schoenfelder Georgia Ziemba David J. Thomson James C March Franz Christian Palm Morgan KyungMann Kim Loren T. Schoof Michael H. Thomson James Stephen Jeffrey R. Parno Dale L. Zimmerman Seock-Ho Kim John D. Schoolfield Marron Antonio Pascual- Yeow M. Thum David M. Zucker Genshiro Kitagawa Lonni R. Schultz Acosta Robert W. Tipping Rebecca Zwick n John M. Kittelson

april 2020 amstat news 11 GAME ON! Help celebrate Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month Donna LaLonde, ASA Director of Strategic Initiatives and Outreach April is Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month. The goal of this month-long celebration is to increase public understanding of and appreciation for statistics and mathematics. Past activities have included workshops, competitions, festivals, lectures, symposia, department open houses, math art exhibits, and math poetry readings. This year, we are celebrating by launching a game development challenge!

12 amstat news april 2020 Virtual Science Fair In addition to the game development challenge, we are celebrating MSAM with a virtual science fair. Working independently or as a member of a team, spend the month investigating an interesting topic and submit a short video highlighting your process and results. What Students Do • Formulate a question about a topic that fascinates you Photo courtesy of Laber Labs North Carolina State University graduate students Jesse Clifton, Alex Cloud, and Kyle • Design a plan to collect appropriate Duke play “Space Mice” in Laber Labs. Find it and more at www.laber-labs.com. data to help you answer the question • Use your plan to collect the data lex, I will take Statistical Questions for $100.” From that quote, you may have • Use appropriate graphical and guessed being a contestant on “Jeopardy” CHECK numerical methods to analyze is“A on my bucket list. Before joining the American OUT THE your data Statistical Association staff, one of my favorite teach- CENTERFOLD FOR • Interpret your analysis and answer ing activities was to collaborate with colleagues to your original question plan and host summer computer camps for middle- A SPECIAL MSAM schoolers. As you may know, middle-schoolers have a POSTER! • Create a 3–5-minute video lot of energy, so we had to plan a variety of activities. showcasing your process and results Playing STEM “Jeopardy” was one success- • Write a short essay outlining your ful activity. We would create a “Jeopardy” game process and analysis to accompany complete with the appropriate theme music. The campers would compete as teams to state questions your video for the “answers” in STEM categories. It was active SHARE ON What Teachers, Parents, or learning and fun. SOCIAL MEDIA! Sponsors Do Fun and educational games are effective resourc- What are you doing to es for teaching and learning at all levels. To help celebrate? Follow • Submit a form online to register @Mathaware on Twitter your student or team for the virtual celebrate Mathematics and Statistics Awareness all month. Share science fair Month (MSAM) and as part of ASA President your activities with Wendy Martinez’s K–6 presidential initiative, we #mathstatmonth on • Assist your student or team in the final are launching a game development challenge. We social media and see submission of the video and essay want you to be creative, so your game can be a what others are doing. board game, card game, video game, or Shiny app Good to Know like the Correlation Game (https://bit.ly/2Qg4nrP). The science fair is open to any student Although the initiative is focused on K–6, your in grades K–12. Homeschoolers may game may be for any age level. participate. There are three grade The Correlation Game, STEM “Jeopardy,” and categories: K–4, 5–8, 9–12. In each the Laber Lab video games highlighted in the MSAM category, projects may be submitted poster (see centerfold) are great examples, but we by individuals or teams composed want more! Working with colleagues or independent- of 2–3 students. All the students on ly, generate ideas—apps, video games, board games, a team must be in the same grade and card games. A panel will judge all the submis- category. Registration and video and sions and prizes will be awarded. Submissions will be accepted until July 1, 2020. essay submission are due by 11:59 p.m. To enter the contest, you will need to provide a ET June 1. Winners will be notified by brief description of your game and specify the grade July 1. Visit https://bit.ly/2TRQ6Un for level for which the game is designed. Use the form at more information. https://bit.ly/2TREgK1 and enter as many ideas as you have. Game on! n

april 2020 amstat news 13 Reaching Your Networking Peak: A Guided Networking Session at JSM

he Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) and other conferences are great venues to network with people from around the world. THowever, for many students and early-career professionals, networking can be extremely intimidat- ing. Additionally, although networking is an essential skill at all stages of a professional’s career, courses and/or training on how to network may be Claire McKay Bowen is hard to find. With the goal of helping students and the lead data scientist for early-career statisticians, the ASA Committee on privacy and data security Career Development (ASA CCD) hosted the guid- at the Urban Institute. She is a member of the ed networking session, “Reaching Your Networking ASA Committee on Peak,” at JSM 2019 in Denver and will host the Career Development, same event at JSM 2020 in Philadelphia. secretary/treasurer In Denver, pro-networker Sally Morton, dean of for the Statistical the college of science at Virginia Tech and an ASA Computing Section, and former president, discussed topics such as introduc- program chair for the Physical and Engineering ing yourself confidently. Each topic discussion was Sciences Section. followed by three five-minute practice sessions during which participants had the opportunity to interact with more experienced members of the ASA commu- Sally Morton is dean of the college of science at nity. Color-coded tags indicated whether the seasoned Virginia Tech and a former ASA president. networkers were from industry, government, or academia, so participants could connect with profession- confidence boost that I needed to network with als in the career area they plan to pursue. potential employers and interview well at the These volunteers were invaluable, as they pro- Career Service.” – Kara Martinez, North Carolina State vided both constructive feedback and a friendly University graduate student networking environment in which participants Elizabeth Mannshardt could practice their own networking skills. The “Sally helped me beef up my one-liner game for is a statistician at the engagement, encouragement, and active learning the next time I’m stuck alone at a JSM mixer.” – US Environmental between the attendees and volunteers was ener- Eva Tourangeau, University of Washington gradu- Protection Agency. She gizing,” said Morton. “We all left the session with ate student is active in the ASA, practical tips and increased confidence—thanks to currently serving as past the Committee on Career Development and Claire “It was great to have such a well-organized and chair of the Government Statistics Section for the impactful session!” focused event to start JSM. As a mentor, I enjoyed and recently as 2018 Morton also solicited networking tips from the listening to Sally Morton and thinking about ways president of the North seasoned networking volunteers. Tips included how to help our students learn how to network at con- Carolina Chapter. She is to exit a conversation gracefully and the importance ferences.” – Emily Griffith, SAMSI deputy director and also an adjunct associate of eye contact. North Carolina State University associate professor professor in the department of statistics Feedback was overwhelmingly positive from “The students from NCSU who attended gained a lot at North Carolina State both participants and volunteers: University. of confidence. We were so inspired by this that we “As a shy person with little networking experi- are organizing a smaller version of this at NCSU be- ence, meeting people at a large conference like fore ENAR using ASA CCD materials.” – Kara Martinez, JSM was really daunting. The session gave me the 2019 ASA CCD guided networking participant

14 amstat news april 2020 Sally Morton shares networking tips with a packed room of volunteers and participants at JSM 2019 in Denver.

Participants practice Sally Morton’s suggestions with seasoned networking volunteers.

“It was great to interact with young professionals Organizer Takeaways and students. They were excited to ask about in- The ASA CCD received overwhelmingly posi- sights on how to navigate JSM and benefit from tive feedback from participants, volunteers, and EDITOR’S NOTE networking at conferences and other profession- Morton. Given the success of the session, the Due to Covid-19, al events.” – Elizabeth Mannshardt, US EPA dates and formats organizers encourage academic institutions to for meetings, consider hosting similar events locally to help Looking Forward to JSM 2020 conferences, and their students become networking pros. Full ses- workshops may ASA President-elect and Vice President and Chief sion details and tips for organizers can be found change. Please check Methodologist Director at the Urban Institute Rob on the ASA CCD blog at https://bit.ly/2Qvn36X. event websites often Santos will lead the 2020 JSM guided networking Visit the ASA CCD Upcoming Events page at for updates. session in Philadelphia as the pro-networker. ASA https://bit.ly/2xbm4lo for details about the 2020 CCD will also welcome seasoned networkers as schedule and additional CCD offerings such volunteers. Based on feedback from 2019, the ASA as office hours and professional development CCD plans to have an area for networking and an webinars, including “A Beginner’s Guide to area for sitting, as well as water drinking stations. Navigating JSM.” n

april 2020 amstat news 15 NYU Abu Dhabi and Pfizer Inc. Collaboration Drives Progress Raghib Ali, New York University Abu Dhabi; Omar El Shahawy, New York University; Kelly H. Zou, Upjohn Division, Pfizer Inc.; Scott Sherman, New York University; Michael Weitzman, New York University; and Amrit Ray, Upjohn Division, Pfizer Inc.

Photo courtesy of Amina Cherchali Delegates, instructors, and organizers of the joint Clinical Research Training Program held at New York University Abu Dhabi November 24, 2019

ew York University Abu and management of noncommu- As analytic capabilities and dig- Dhabi (NYUAD) and nicable diseases (NCD). ital innovation mature, there are the Upjohn Division of RWE is the clinical evidence new opportunities to analyze high EDITOR’S NOTE PfizerN Inc. (Upjohn) launched a regarding the usage and poten- volumes of data in an efficient The authors collaboration—the Clinical tial benefits or risks of a medi- way, harnessing computational are respective employees of New Research Training Program—to cal product derived from analy- power and artificial intelligence. York University Abu bring academia and the private sis of real-world data (RWD), The Clinical Research Training Dhabi, New York sector together to build scientific according to the US Food and Program is designed to provide the University School research capacity in the United Drug Administration. RWE can basic research skills and advanced of Medicine, and Arab Emirates (UAE). be generated by different study analytic skills needed to enable Upjohn. Views This collaboration is based in designs or analyses, including researchers in the UAE to drive expressed are their own and do not Abu Dhabi and has the mandate randomized trials, large simple scientific initiatives that include necessarily represent of both building research capac- trials, pragmatic trials, and obser- RWD and RWE. those of their ity in the UAE and contributing vational studies (prospective and/ employers. Editorial scientific insights that can affect or retrospective). RWE offers The Inaugural Research support was not the population locally, regionally, possibilities for translating data Training Module provided. and globally. The long-term vision into meaningful health outcomes, The first module of the Clinical of the partnership is to harness particularly through observation- Research Training Program observational data, randomized al studies, patient-reported out- attracted more than 40 delegates, clinical trials, and analytical skills comes, clinical trial optimization, who were exposed to presentations to generate real-world evidence synthetic control arm construc- concerning qualitative and quan- (RWE) to advance the prevention tion, and pragmatic trials. titative methodology from NYU

16 amstat news april 2020 faculty members and Upjohn experts to serve as a foundation for the ensuing series of modules. An array of topics was introduced and innovative and highly interactive teaching methods were used to engage delegates. For example, VoxVote, a mobile app to facilitate teaching, enabled live voting during presentations. Core topics included the following: • Assumptions in research, qualitative and quantitative approaches, assessing validity of your research question, and steps in conducting research

• Discrete and continuous Diversity Mentoring Program participants took part in JSM 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, data probability distribu- Canada. The 2020 program will be held during JSM 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. tions, estimation, and central limit theorem, confidence intervals Applications Encouraged for • Introduction to systematic reviews as a research methodology Diversity Mentoring Program • Protection of human sub- he 2020 JSM Diversity jects, informed consent, Mentoring Program will About the program and patient and data confidentiality be held during the Joint The 2020 Diversity Mentoring Program StatisticalT Meetings, taking place is celebrating 10 years of mentoring, • Sampling in quantitative and August 1–6 in Philadelphia, networking, leadership and skills qualitative research Pennsylvania. This program, pro- development, community growth, vided by the ASA’s Committee on • Study design and causal and ensuring a diverse profession. Minorities in Statistics, brings inference Join the program this year as it brings together historically underrepresented minority (e.g., African/ underrepresented students and Vision for a Successful early-career professionals together Private-Public Partnership African American, Hispanic/ with senior statisticians. By working closely across sec- Latino, and Native American) stat- tors through scientific partner- isticians and data scientists at early- ships (e.g., the pharmaceutical to mid-career levels with senior- level statisticians and data scientists support is available. Full consid- EDITOR’S NOTE industry, academia, and gov- Due to Covid-19, ernment), previously disparate from academia, government, and eration for travel funding will be the private sector. The program given to applications received by dates and formats data and discrete tools can con- for meetings, features one-on-one mentoring May 31. Applications received verge to generate new scientific conferences, and insights, identify risk factors, and professional development such after May 31 will be considered workshops may and define interventions that as engaging small-group discus- as space allows. change. Please check sions and networking. For more information and event websites often can make a difference in reliev- for updates. ing the burden of NCDs. Interested students and pro- a link to the application, visit For more information about fessionals are encouraged to https://bit.ly/333Hugl or contact the Upjohn and NYUAD partner- apply on or before May 31. Emily Butler at emily.lynn.butler@ gmail.com. n ship, visit https://bit.ly/2wEb3cm. n Limited student travel funding

april 2020 amstat news 17 Meet Sylva Collins, Director of the Office of Biostatistics, US Food and Drug Administration

master’s and doctoral degrees in statistics from Boston University, and later a master’s degree in computer science from New York University. Please tell us about your work as director of the Office of Biostatistics at the US Food and Drug Administration? The Office of Biostatistics (OB) at FDA enjoys a reputation for excellence. Seeing it up close is even more impressive. OB’s core mission is to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs and biologics. Our staff reviews regulatory submissions for new drugs, therapeutic biologics, and generic products (NDAs, BLAs, and ANDAs). We check for data quality and complete- ness; perform thoughtful, state-of-the-art statistical analyses to determine the validity of the sponsor’s analyses; assess risk vs. benefit in support of product approval; and present findings to advisory committees. Once drugs are approved, our mission continues. We develop methods for post-marketing ylva Collins joined the US Food and Drug surveillance and review surveillance studies. Administration’s Office of Biostatistics in OB’s role in reviewing hundreds of applications the Office of Translational Sciences of the is well known. However, our role extends beyond CenterS for Drug Evaluation and Research on application review. Our statisticians advise spon- August 19, 2019. She brings more than 30 years sors on statistical approaches in study protocols. In of drug development experience and biostatistics 2019, OB reviewed more than 350 NDAs, BLAs, leadership to her position. and ANDAs and provided advice on more than Prior to joining the FDA, Collins was vice presi- 2,500 study protocols. dent of biometrics at ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, There are nearly 250 analysts, statisticians, based in San Diego, where she led all aspects of sta- and support staff in OB. Almost all the staff hold tistical design and analysis of clinical trials, as well advanced degrees in statistics or biostatistics. The as statistical programming and clinical data man- majority have PhDs. agement. She has emphasized standardization and Our staff stays current on all relevant statistical automation to accelerate clinical development. She developments. They conduct independent research pioneered the large-scale deployment of electronic on statistical methodologies relevant to Center for data capture at multiple companies, including Bayer Drug Evaluation and Research’s (CDER’s) scientif- and Novartis. She implemented standardization of ic mission and regulatory review process. Research biometrics systems and processes for large pharma includes such topics as Bayesian methods, meta- organizations to allow near simultaneous regulatory analysis, risk-benefit analysis, signal detection, and submissions globally. She has experience leading bioequivalence. In 2019, OB staff published more large global biometrics organizations and has con- than 70 papers in peer-reviewed journals about tributed to dozens of successful regulatory submis- these topics. sions in multiple jurisdictions. The Office of Biostatistics recently completed Collins earned her bachelor’s degree in math- a reorganization (Figure 1) to align with a larger ematics from the American University of Beirut, reorganization of the Office of New Drugs.

18 amstat news april 2020 O ce of Biostatistics

Analytics and Informatics Sta

Biometrics I Biometrics II Biometrics III Biometrics IV Biometrics V Biometrics VI Biometrics VII Biometrics VIII Biometrics IX Diabetes, Lipids, Pharmacology Hematologic Psychiatry Gastroenterology Anti-infective Oncology IA Safety I Genetics I and Obesity and Toxicology Malignancies I Chemistry and Hematologic Medical Pediatrics and Pulmonary, Antiviral Oncology IB Safety II Genetics II Imaging Maternal Health Allergy, Biochemistry I Malignancies II Cardiology and and Critical Care Chemistry and Non-Malignant Neurology I Ophthalmology Oncology II Safety III Genetics III Nephrology Rheumatology Biochemistry II Hematology General and Transplant Urology, Controlled Neurology II Oncology III Safety IV Genetics IV Endocrinology Hepatology and Obstetrics, and Substance Anesthesia, Nutrition Gynecology Cardiac Safety Genetics V Analgesics, Dermatology Studies Rare Disease and Addiction and Dentistry Patient-Focused Statistical Support

Figure 1: The Office of Biostatistics organizational structure

What about this position appealed to you, and What do you like most about working as a statistician what are your priorities for the next few years? for the FDA? What’s most challenging? OB’s overarching objective is to maintain global There are two basic parts to the statistician’s job. One scientific leadership and rigorous standards for is to identify the relevant statistical methods needed to statistical reviews of drug applications while striv- reach a useful conclusion. The other is getting it done. ing constantly to be faster and more efficient. OB is a focal point for statistical development. It Biostatistics is an open field. Our staff car- is where statistical theory meets statistical practice. ries out independent research on statistical meth- The development of new pharmaceuticals adds some ods relevant to CDER’s mission. There are many dimensions to the question of statistical inference. ongoing and emerging topics in statistical design In the practical world, we must always be cognizant and analysis. There is strong motivation to reach of time and efficiency. Our overriding objective is more definitive conclusions in less time. to serve patients. We cannot ignore the cost in time We are at the forefront of promoting complex and resources when working to improve strategies innovative clinical trial designs and patient-focused for drug development. drug development. An emerging topic is the use In these regards, this is an exciting time to be a of real-world evidence (RWE) for regulatory deci- statistician. In my position, I can contribute to the sions. Our statisticians organize public workshops, process of accelerating these new strategies. develop guidance documents for industry, and pres- The esteem with which OB is held in the indus- ent about these topics at professional conferences. try is well known. Nonetheless, FDA does not have We are speaking with industry, academia, all the answers, nor does it have all the questions. and the patient community about innovative At FDA, I can fully collaborate with industry and approaches to drug development and approval, academia. OB not only reviews protocols and sub- including nontraditional data sources such as missions, but also makes original contributions. It is RWE, external controls, and Bayesian methods. stimulating to be at the intersection of statistical the- These present interesting statistical challenges ory, clinical trial practice, and regulatory oversight. to exploit available data while avoiding bias and other statistical pitfalls. What was your training and career path to your It has been an exciting first few months. current position? Coming up to speed on all the initiatives in OB Prior to FDA, all my positions were in the pharmaceu- has been a large but enjoyable experience. Just tical industry. These positions ranged across sponsors, getting to know the staff members and their contract research organizations, and software develop- capabilities has been rewarding. ers. My very first position at Lederle Laboratories came

april 2020 amstat news 19 immediately after completing my PhD in mathemati- In addition, we develop new methods of analysis cal statistics at Boston University. My title was research and write guidance documents for industry. Our statistician. Soon after, I enrolled in a graduate pro- staff is expected to stay current on all relevant gram in computer science at New York University, developments, to participate in the activities of where I completed a master’s degree. My roles in the professional societies, and to give presentations at industry have included leadership positions in statis- technical conferences. Newly hired staff are men- tics, data management, statistical programming, and tored by senior staff and collaborate broadly with health economics. In all my positions, I have achieved other regulatory scientists. efficiencies by means of standardization and applica- Part of FDA’s mission is to ensure the safety and tion of relevant computer technologies. efficacy of new drugs and monitor existing products. Regulatory statisticians play a vital role in analyzing a What advice would you offer younger statisticians constant stream of new data to carry out its objectives. and students who might be interested in working Working at OB has many characteristics of aca- for the government? demic research. Statisticians are not only reviewing OB is a very rewarding place to deploy skills in state-of-the-art regulatory submissions, but also biostatistics, statistical programming, and project developing fundamentally new statistical approach- management. By many measures, OB offers a great es. The breadth of analysis is that of the entire phar- opportunity to apply the most sophisticated tech- maceutical industry. niques in biostatistical analysis. Our statisticians The newly hired statisticians are assigned a serve to protect the American public by ensuring senior mentor to introduce them to the regulatory that safe and effective drugs are available. environments, the review process, and their role in We review thousands of new protocols every developing new methods of analysis. Many of our year submitted by sponsors from all over the world. new statisticians participated in the ORISE (Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education) summer internship program, where their mentoring began. 2020 Spring Research Conference How does one find out about opportunities for Slated for May in Michigan internships and employment at FDA? There are many avenues to find a job at FDA. he 2020 Spring Research Conference (SRC) of the Institute Graduate students would be particularly interested of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) and American Statistical in the ORISE summer internship program. Association Section on Physical and Engineering Sciences (SPES)T will be hosted by the Oakland University Department of ORISE Research Participation Training Program Mathematics and Statistics May 20–22. (Editor’s note: Due to The goal of the ORISE Research Participation Covid-19, dates and formats for meetings, conferences, and work- Training Program is to provide practical scientific shops may change. Please check event websites often for updates.) training for scientists and physicians through the Alfred O. Hero of the University of Michigan and Roshan performance of scientific projects onsite at the FDA. Joseph of Georgia Institute of Technology are the keynote All the projects are relevant to the FDA’s mission. speakers. A list of invited speakers and topics can be found at https://bit.ly/2UeZEaP. Office of Biostatistics Recruitment Program SRC has been a popular venue for interaction between indus- The Office of Biostatistics recruits statisticians through try and academia with an emphasis on applied topics, novel a continual search for qualified master’s- and doctor- applications, and new methodological developments in statis- al-degree candidates who are interested in statistical tics. As a conference smaller in size than JSM, it provides an methods in clinical trial conduct and evaluation, risk ideal environment for closer and more informal interactions and assessment, pharmacovigilance (statistical reviewers), exchange of research ideas. and statistical programming (statistical analysts). Oakland University is located half way between Detroit and Information about employment with the FDA is Flint, Michigan. Southeast Michigan has pleasant weather during available at www.fda.gov/about-fda/jobs-and-training- late May, and the area is known for its beautiful lakes, beaches, fda and https://bit.ly/2Izf3gG. water sports, and historic museums. Meadow Brook Theater and Additional information may be obtained by email- the historic Meadow Brook Hall are on the Oakland campus, and ing [email protected]. Henry Ford Car Museum is a 45-minute drive away. Windsor in Ontario, Canada, is also about 45 minutes from the campus. Please tell us about your personal interests or hobbies. More information about the conference can be found at I enjoy spending time with family, boating in https://bit.ly/2WvIF6O. New England, and traveling widely. Recently, we explored a number of the western national parks. n

20 amstat news april 2020 COPSS to Host First Scott Lecture, Fisher Lecture at JSM 2020

Kathryn Roeder will be the R.A. Fisher Lecturer at JSM Amita Manatunga will be the Elizabeth L. Scott Lecturer 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. at JSM 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

he Committee of Presidents of Statistical Purdue University and her PhD in statistics from Societies (COPSS) will host the 2020 the University of Rochester in 1990. Manatunga Elizabeth L. Scott and R.A. Fisher lec- was an assistant professor of biostatistics at Indiana EDITOR’S NOTE Ttures at the Joint Statistical Meetings in University before joining Emory in 1994. Due to Covid-19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Manatunga’s research is inspired by the need for dates and formats The Elizabeth L. Scott Award committee award- innovative statistical methods in important and com- for meetings, ed the 2020 Scott Lecture to Amita Manatunga of plex public health problems. Three primary areas of conferences, and Emory University. She was selected as this year’s recip- application she has worked on are mental health, workshops may change. Please check ient for her dedicated mentoring of the next genera- epidemiology, and nuclear medicine. She has made event websites often tion of statisticians; committed leadership in expand- substantial methodological contributions in multiple for updates. ing statistical opportunities for women and minorities areas, including survival analysis, interpretation of at the individual, institutional, and professional soci- diagnostic markers, agreement studies, and function- ety levels; and excellence in biostatistical research. al data. She has also published more than 125 peer- Manatunga is Donna Jean Brogan Professor reviewed papers and been funded by numerous meth- of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics in the Rollins odological and collaborative grants from the National School of Public Health at Emory University. Institutes of Health (NIH). Manatunga is a recipient She was born and raised in Sri Lanka and earned of many awards, including a FIRST award from NIH her BS in physics and mathematics with first- in 1996 and fellow award from the ASA in 2004. class honors from the University of Colombo, Sri Throughout her career, Manatunga has served as Lanka. She earned her master’s in statistics from a mentor to many graduate students, junior faculty,

april 2020 amstat news 21 Manatunga Also Named Donna J. Brogan Professor in Biostatistics Kelly Jordan Amita Manatunga has been named as the inaugural “Amita is a good fit for the named professorship Donna J. Brogan Professor in Biostatistics. This because of her excellence in all aspects of a model endowed professorship recognizes Manatunga’s biostatistics career,” says Brogan, referencing excellence in teaching and research—particularly as Manatunga’s methodological research, collaborative it relates to the field of biostatistics—and honors the research, teaching, service, and mentoring. “Her legacy of Donna Jean Brogan. selection is a well-deserved acknowledgement of her past and ongoing contributions to the field.” “Being named as the Donna J. Brogan Professor is personally gratifying and deeply meaningful to Manatunga has dedicated her more than 26-year me,” says Manatunga. “Donna is a mentor and a career to advancing methods and applications colleague who I have long admired and respected. of complex data structures to address critical She is a wonderful role model in light of her extensive public health problems, including mental health, contributions to the advancement of the careers of epidemiology, and nuclear medicine. She has women, her scholarship, and her honesty and integrity. published more than 125 peer-reviewed manuscripts It is incredible to be a part of her legacy in this way.” and is the senior biostatistician for Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Emory University This is the first named professorship in the and lead biostatistician for a phase-two clinical trial department of biostatistics and bioinformatics other and another group randomized clinical trial. than the Rollins Professorship, which is designated for the chair of the department. Additionally, Manatunga has led seven major R01 grants on statistical methodology as principal Aside from recognizing Brogan’s illustrious career, this investigator or multiple principal investigator and named professorship also serves to commemorate has served as a co-investigator to many collaborative, the contributions women have made to biostatistics, federally sponsored research grants. She has a field in which women have historically been partnered with researchers across the university and underrepresented. Brogan is also hopeful it will helped establish a strong mental health methodology help attract more exceptional people to the field research group within the Department of Biostatistics (particularly women), like Manatunga. that currently includes three full professors (all female).

and other researchers in biostatistics and the health Manatunga’s Scott lecture is titled “Statistical sciences, with a focus on helping early-career women. Methods for Diagnosis of Complex Diseases with She has chaired the ASA Committee on Women in Complex Data.” She will speak about innovative sta- Statistics and Gertrude Cox Scholarship for Women tistical methods addressing challenging problems in Award Committee and is deeply involved in mul- the diagnosis of complex diseases and characterization tiple diversity initiatives. She is a co-founder (in of their underlying mechanisms in two specific con- 2010) and consistent supporter of ENAR’s Diversity texts. One is mental disorders, complex and multifac- Caucus and a frequent invited speaker at workshops torial conditions often lacking reliable tools for diag- aimed at increasing diversity. Her contributions to nosis. Multiple instruments are often used to quantify ENAR’s annual Fostering Diversity in Biostatistics the same mental health trait, and combining them is a Workshop—continuously since its inception—have challenge. A statistical framework will be proposed for had a lasting impact on the participants and many creating new scales and interpreting new instruments others who see her as a role model. Many of her for- on different types of measurements. mer students are now in leadership positions in aca- In a different setting, nuclear medicine prac- demia, government, and professional societies. titioners collect and analyze diverse and complex

22 amstat news april 2020 clinical data to characterize kidney obstruction, Sequencing Consortium, an international orga- including renal images, renogram curves, and phar- nization dedicated to discovering the genetic macokinetic parameters. Due to the lack of well- etiology of autism. Her collaborative work has established and objective guidelines for analyzing been published in Scientific American, Cell, Plos these data, clinical judgement of kidney obstruc- Genetics, and Nature. tion heavily depends on the experience of the radi- Roeder is an elected member of the National ologist and typically has poor interrater agreement. Academy of Sciences; a fellow of the ASA, A statistical model will be presented to effectively IMS, and AAAS; and an elected member of the integrate information from different modalities International Statistical Institute. Her awards and produce accurate interpretations and stable include the National Science Foundation Young predictions of kidney obstruction. Investigator Award, COPSS Snedecor Award, Kathryn Roeder, UPMC professor of statistics COPSS Presidents’ Award, IMS Medallion Lecture and life sciences in the department of statistics and Award, Janet L. Norwood Award, and Myrto data science at Carnegie Mellon University, was Lefkapoulou Lecture Award. n chosen to give the R.A. Fisher Lecture. Roeder, a former vice provost for faculty at Carnegie Mellon, is a professor in the department of statistics and data science and department of computational biology. Her research contribu- Call for Virtual tions are wide and deep in both statistical theory and applications. Her influences on the design and Workshop Practicum, analysis of genetic studies are substantial. Roeder earned a BS in biology from the Student Showcase University of Idaho and a PhD in statistics from Penn State. Prior to joining Carnegie Mellon, she Submissions held appointments of assistant and associate profes- ue to the success the six-part virtual sor of statistics at Yale University. She has served in workshop about various aspects and editorial roles for JASA, Biometrics, and Genetics. challenges of working with blended Roeder has supervised 19 PhD students and has Ddata (see https://bit.ly/39K0cMC), the been an outstanding mentor for numerous faculty Government and Social Statistics sections are members, particularly through her work on the continuing in fall 2020 with sessions focusing Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) New on user applications. Researchers Committee. Hosted again as part of the ASA’s profes- Roeder has developed statistical approaches sional development series, this virtual work- to exploiting and adjusting for heterogeneity in shop practicum will share experiences putting samples from populations using ideas of mixture the techniques and lessons learned into practice modeling. Her solution to adjusting for confound- with a large statistical community without the ing in genome-wide association studies, denoted inconvenience and cost of conference travel. genomic control, is now the standard. Roeder has In addition to highlighting work from also developed a framework to integrate informa- career professionals and seasoned practitioners tion gathered from multiple types of study designs in blended data, the sections are offering a stu- using Bayesian principles for gene discovery, a par- dent showcase within the practicum offerings ticularly valuable approach for high-dimensional so students can share their work with the sta- data. Her development of an approach to identify tistics community. discrete clusters whose membership may belong to Students and professionals can submit their two clusters, denoted semi-soft clustering, continues projects putting blended data techniques into to make a profound impact on single-cell RNA practice by sending a title and brief description sequencing analyses. (200-word abstract) to Government Statistics Roeder’s collaborative work focuses on iden- Section 2020 Chair Jenny Thompson at tification of the genetic basis of complex dis- [email protected]. ease. She is one of the leaders of the Autism

april 2020 amstat news 23 FY20 Budget Brings Increases for NIH, Select Statistical Agencies

he FY20 federal budgets were finalized in for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), but December, yielding the fifth consecutive also increases for the Bureau of Economic Analysis year of multi-billion-dollar increases for (BEA), BLS, and National Center for Education Tthe National Institutes of Health (NIH). The US Statistics (NCES). The budget for the Census Census Bureau budget was also increased to $7.6 Bureau, one of the three economic statistical agen- billion to complete the decennial census. Among cies along with BEA and BLS, is ramped back down, the other highlights, as seen in Table 1, the but its economic statistics accounts receive a mod- National Science Foundation (NSF) received a est increase as part of the administration’s emphasis $200 million (2.5 percent) increase, the Bureau on economic statistics. President Donald Trump’s of Labor Statistics (BLS) received a $13 million FY21 budget also proposes to double the funding for (2.1 percent) increase, and two federal statistical research and development for artificial intelligence agencies received increases of many percent. and quantum information science over two years. The FY21 budget request has the administra- The FY21 request has two impactful requests for tion’s usual cuts for the NIH, NSF, and Agency the federal statistical agencies. In the Department

Table 1: FY16–FY20 Budgets and FY21 Requests FY20 FY21 Change Change Final Request FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 (estimate) from FY19 from FY20 Research Agency (amounts in millions of dollars) NIH 32311 34229 37084 39084 41684 6.7% 38694 -7.2% NSF 7463 7472 7767 8075 8278 2.5% 7741 -6.5% AHRQ 334 324 334 338 338 0.0% 257 -24.1% Statistical Agency (amounts in millions of dollars) BEA 105.1 103.8 99.0 101.0 108.0 6.9% 111.9 3.6% BJS 41.0 45.5 48.0 43.0 43.0 0.0% 43.0 0.0% BLS 609.0 609.0 612.0 615.0 628.0 2.1% 645.3 2.8% BTS 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 0.0% 26.0 0.0% Census 1370.0 1457.0 2814.0 3821.4 7558.0 97.8% 1599.8 -78.8% EIA 122.0 122.0 125.0 125.0 126.8 1.4% 128.7 1.5% ERS 85.4 86.8 86.8 86.8 84.8 -2.3% 62.1 -26.8% NASS 168.4 171.2 191.7 174.5 180.3 3.3% 174.5 -3.2% NCES 261.0 258.5 258.5 260.5 263.5 1.2% 294.5 11.8% NCHS 160.4 160.4 160.4 160.4 160.4 0.0% 155.0 -3.4% NCSES 58.3 59.7 62.4 64.0 65.0 1.6% 62.3 -4.2% ORES 25.9 24.0 27.0 35.4* 38.8 9.6% 39.9 2.8% SOI 37.8 34.3 33.7 35.9 34.7 -3.3% 37.4 7.8% *The ORES budget increase from FY18 to FY19 is partially explained by the merging of the Office of Retirement Policy (ORP) into ORES. The FY18 ORP budget was $2.3M.

24 amstat news april 2020 of Education (ED), the administration proposes Table 2: Requested Changes in Budget the transfer of the NCES’s assessment responsibili- (Percent) ties—which has a $151 million budget in FY20— FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 to a new center and the transfer of the appointment BEA -6.1 -1.0 6.9 3.6 of the commissioner from the president to the director of the ED Institute of Education Sciences. BJS -10.0 -14.6 11.6 0.0 The new center creates additional bureaucracy that BLS -0.2 -0.5 0.0 2.8 could undermine the current efficiencies and ben- BTS 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 efits of having the array of statistical studies housed together and integrated. The removal of presiden- Census 1.6 34.9 88.0 -78.8 tial appointment of the NCES commissioner runs EIA -3.3 -8.0 -5.6 1.5 counter to the ASA’s efforts to have Senate con- ERS -11.6 -48.1 -48.7 -26.8 firmation of the commissioner, removed in 2012, restored to strengthen NCES’s ability to provide NASS 8.5 -13.9 -6.6 -3.2 objective and credible statistical data. NCES -0.6 1.2 -0.6 11.8 For the fourth straight year, the USDA proposes NCHS -3.4 -3.4 -3.4 -3.4 to cut the Economic Research Service (ERS) budget, this time by 27 percent. As justification, The NCSES -5.3 -4.2 -4.1 -4.2 White House states they seek “to eliminate low ORES 24.0 14.8 6.7 2.8 priority research that is duplicative of research at SOI -2.0 -0.6 -1.5 7.8 land-grant universities … while still supporting ERS’s core mission to develop the statistics needed to measure economic concepts in a dynamic farm and agricultural sector.” They specify the requested $645 million for BLS shown in Table Census of Agriculture and Agricultural Resource 1, there is an additional $13 million requested to Management Survey as high-priority statistical support the move of the BLS from Washington, reports. The specific proposed cuts for ERS are DC, to the Census Bureau facilities in Suitland, $11 million to research on agricultural markets Maryland. While the requested BLS increase is and trade, farms, conservation, and agricultural positive, if it were to be fully funded by Congress, research and development; $8 million to research BLS would still be down $50 million in purchas- and analysis on food assistance, nutrition, and diet ing power since FY09, as seen in Table 3. quality; $2 million to rural prosperity and well- The requested increase of 12% for NCES is being research and analysis; and $2 million to food mostly a $28 million increase for NCES’s assessment safety research and analysis. Congress has rejected line to address, in large part, the rising cost of devel- these cuts in past years and is likely to do so again. oping and implementing digital-based assessments. The administration’s congr essional justifica- Turning to the finalized FY20 budgets, NIH tion does affirm the ERS headquarters remains in again saw a sizable increase. For the more modest Washington, DC, with 78 positions. The remain- budgets of the federal statistical agencies, the Office ing 251 ERS positions are in Kansas City, Missouri, of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics (ORES) in following last year’s move, though an estimated 200 the Social Security Administration saw a 10 percent are in the early stages of being filled. increase in FY20 over its FY19 level and the BEA Excluding the Census Bureau, which has large saw a 7 percent increase. As seen in Figure 1, the swings for the decennial census, the median per- increases mean each agency has the same or more centage requested for the federal statistical agencies purchasing power than they had in FY09. The BEA trends up from -2.7 percent in FY18 to 0.8 percent increase is to be used to harmonize the national, for FY21, as seen in Table 3. state, and industry release of gross domestic prod- The requested increases for BEA and BLS are uct data, develop and begin reporting on income shown in Table 1. For the Census Bureau, the gen- growth indicators by 2020, and continue its work eral economic statistics accounts see a requested on the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account. increase of $4.3 million to $79.0 million that will The $13 million increase for the BLS—accom- be used for work with the BEA. In addition to the panied by $27 million in multi-year funding for

april 2020 amstat news 25 Mid-Size Federal Statistical Agencies

BEA 1.5 BJS

BTS

1.25 ERS

NCSES Normalized Budgets Normalized 1 ORES

SOI (FY12)

GDP Deflator 0.75

FY09 FY14 FY19

Figure 1: The budgets of the seven mid-sized statistical agencies normalized to their FY09 levels, along with the GDP deflator to account for inflation. Budget restructuring for ERS in FY15 and ORES in FY19 are accounted for in the graph to allow for comparison over this time period. One-time moving costs in FY16 for BEA are omitted.

Table 3: Agency Budgets in 2009 Dollars, Calculated Using the GDP Deflator

% Change FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 since FY09 BEA 87 91.9 90.2 87.6 83.8 87.5 87.4 94.4 91.5 85.2 85.4 89.5 2.90% BJS 51 59.3 58.1 39.2 38.6 41.3 37.2 36.8 40.1 41.3 36.4 35.6 -30.10% BLS 597 604 590.6 579 539 543 537 546.9 536.7 526.6 520 520.6 -12.80% BTS 27 26.7 26.1 23.9 24.3 23.8 23.6 23.3 22.9 22.4 22 21.6 -20.20% Census 4169 7142 1115 895 786 866 987 1230 1284 2421 3231 6266 50.30% EIA 111 109.7 93 99.8 92.9 107 106 109.5 107.5 107.5 105.7 105.1 -5.30% ERS 80 81.1 79.2 73.8 66.7 71.6 70.5 69.8 69.7 68.1 66.9 63.9 -20.10% NASS 152 160.1 151.4 151 155 148 148 143 142.8 157 139.8 141.8 -6.70% NCES 246 244.2 239.2 235 211 215 211 234.4 227.8 222.4 220.3 218.4 -11.20% NCHS 125 137.4 134.3 132 130 128 127 130.2 127.8 124.8 122.6 120.2 -3.80% NCSES 39 40.5 40.7 41.1 38.8 43.2 52.9 52.4 52.6 53.7 54.1 53.9 38.20% ORES 27 27.7 28.1 27.6 25.7 24.7 26.3 23.3 21.2 23.2 28 30.3 12.20% SOI 42 42.6 37.9 36.8 32.6 34 33.4 33.9 30.2 29 30.4 28.8 -21.80%

26 amstat news april 2020 Large-Size Federal Statistical Agencies 1.25

BLS

EIA

1 NASS

NCES

Normalized Budgets Normalized NCHS

GDP Deflator

0.75

FY09 FY14 FY19

Figure 2: The budgets of five larger statistical agencies normalized to their FY09 levels, along with the GDP deflator to account for inflation. Census is omitted because of the large changes in the decennial census cycle. Budget restructuring for NASS and NCHS in FY15 is accounted for in the graph to allow for comparison over this time period. the physical move of BLS to Suitland, Maryland— Evidence-Based Policymaking Act and Federal is to be used for an annual supplement to the Data Strategy, as Data Coalition Executive Current Population Survey for the digital economy Director Nick Hart writes in “President’s 2021 and work on a new National Longitudinal Survey Budget Includes Positive Signals for Data and of Youth cohort. Evidence Priorities” (https://bit.ly/2Q35X04). As noted in previous years, funding for the fed- *The ERS, NASS, NCHS, and ORES budgets eral statistical agencies has been anemic, as seen in were adjusted for their budget restructurings to figures 1 and 2, where nine of the 12 (non-Census) make their budget levels comparable for the time statistical agencies have lost purchasing power due period covered. to inflation since FY09. This trend is also seen in To follow the FY21 budget developments, Table 3, where the budgets are shown in FY09 dol- see “FY21 NIH, NSF, and AHRQ Budget lars. For six of the agencies, the loss of purchasing Developments” at https://bit.ly/2TKGs65 and power is greater than 10 percent. As a result, many “FY21 Statistical Agency Budget Developments” of these agencies are struggling to track emerg- at https://bit.ly/3cP9OYj and follow @ASA_SciPol ing trends and take advantage of methodological on Twitter. Also, join the Count on Stats LinkedIn and technological advances that would help them group at https://bit.ly/3cV2quH, where you can net- improve data and reduce respondent burden. work with fellow supporters of the federal statistical The FY21 budget request also takes sev- agencies, share your observations and perspective, eral steps to implement the Foundations for and receive relevant updates. n

april 2020 amstat news 27 columns

STATS4GOOD

DATA FOR

DAY 2020 With a PhD in statistical astrophysics, David Corliss leads a data science team at Fiat Chrysler. He is the founder of Peace- Work, a volunteer cooperative of statisticians and data scientists providing analytic support for charitable groups ith Earth Day on April 22, this month’s participating in activities is a great way to introduce and applying statistical methods Stats4Good column features the work of the power of statistics for environmental action. in issue-driven Data for Good scientist-activists to sup- While we cherish and are inspired by global advocacy. Wport and strengthen environmental action. The leaders, the truth remains that most actions for opportunities are endless, and D4G can have a huge preserving, protecting, and sustaining the envi- impact for the benefit of the world around us. ronment take place in a local setting. The apho- For people just starting out in Data for the rism “Think Globally, Act Locally” is nowhere Environment, one way to get involved is by working truer than in Data for Good. Whether support- with organizations you are supporting now. Maybe ing sustainable use of energy and other resources; it’s a nature center looking for teachers and other wildlife conservation; human and habitat health; volunteers with an analytic background. Maybe it’s or air, water, and land pollution, the application a birding group needing analysis of bird counts to of statistics and data science to support local proj- study trends and identify local risk factors. Maybe ects often makes the biggest difference in turning it’s a community group needing practical, effective broad goals into tangible results. One of the most ways in which people can reduce their carbon foot- basic questions we can ask is how local organiza- print. Working where we are already connected and tions participating in good environmental projects

28 amstat news april 2020 columns

can become even better through the application of statistical science. Partnering with local groups— often the same organizations where we are work- Get Involved ing now—is one of the best ways to get plugged in JSM is now less than four months away! to a D4G project or start a new one. This year, with the theme Everyone Other promising opportunities can be found Counts: Data for the Public Good, JSM on the job. Corporations in a variety of industries are increasingly aware of the central role advanced is the biggest D4G event anywhere. analytics plays in addressing environmental issues. You can get all the details at ww2. For example, a survey of business leaders under- amstat.org/jsm. I am looking forward taken by Intel found 74 percent saw a role for arti- to meeting many of you there, getting ficial intelligence in addressing these challenges. your feedback about this column, and This trend is especially strong in tech industries: talking about your plans for making a Corporations already using statistical science to difference with Data for Good. guide their business and develop new products— or as their products—will see the value these same capabilities bring to acting as good corporate citi- zens for the benefit of the community. pictures. Blue pieces represent genera requiring very The number of hackathons in Data for Good has clean water, brown for dirty, green for those associ- exploded, and they have become one of the most ated with algal blooms, and the other colors for gen- MORE ONLINE important avenues for environmental Data for Good. era without a water quality preference. Students can Intel Study: Applying Hackathons offer many advantages. They focus on a assess the quality of the water in their “sample” and Emerging Technology to Solve Environmental single important question; are prepared in advance so match it to a map of the local watershed marked Challenges, https:// participants can focus on developing analytic solu- with colors at places in which the water was tested. intel.ly/2IEYaS0 tions, networking, and collaborating; and are high Analysis of the patterns shows how pollution travels in intensity with a specific, short-term time commit- downstream and identifies locations in which the ment. Local environmental groups and ASA chapters water quality deteriorates quickly. Classes like this can make perfect partners for hosting a hackathon, so are a fun way to introduce statistical science as a talk with members of your chapter to brainstorm ideas powerful tool for protecting the environment. and find the right organization for a partner. These are just a few of the many ways people Another great way to use our analytic skills to are getting involved. The list of Data for Good make a big impact is through educational programs projects to preserve and protect our planet is as offered by nature centers affiliated with parks, col- colorful and diverse as the Earth itself. Each of us leges, and other institutions. Many volunteer teach- can have a role to play. ers like to use statistics with M&M’S to show stu- Each year in April, Earth Day brings to mind dents how math can be used for good. For example, pressing environmental concerns and the different statistics can be used to describe benthic testing of ways people can make a difference. Now is the time macro-invertebrates—basically bugs that live in to start conversations—with our colleagues, in our stream beds. Different genera have varying affinity communities, in the organizations we support, and for water purity, with some very sensitive to pol- in the workplace—about the roles Data for Good lution. A few families actually prefer dirty water, can play. From collecting, curating, and publishing and some are found in all water conditions. The environmental data to innovative research, greener equivalent mammal types are chipmunks for very manufacturing, and supporting data-driven deci- clean environments, rats in adverse locations, and sion-making and legislation, thousands of statisti- squirrels in almost all conditions. cians, data scientists, and other researchers are work- Benthic testing is a popular and effective means ing to make the world a better, cleaner, healthier for environmental resource centers to partner with place. The dedication of countless people in this the general public to monitor water quality. For a labor of love is reaching beyond the horizon to Statistics for the Environment session, each piece create a brighter future for all. In this, as in all our of candy represents one genus found in a water work, the Data for Good movement is changing the sample—the corresponding bugs only appear in way people change with world. n

april 2020 amstat news 29 columns

STATtr@k Do Pharmaceutical Statisticians Need a Master’s Degree?

he vast majority of pharmaceutical compa- Results nies and clinical research organizations Would you employ a graduate statistician without (CROs) ask for a master’s degree (MSc) in an MSc in statistics, but with an alternative mas- Tstatistics (or medical statistics) when hiring statisti- ter’s-level qualification? cians, claiming these degrees in particular provide Some “yes” answers came with a condition—if adequate preparation and the necessary hands-on it was an exceptional candidate, if they had right experience needed to work in the industry. skills, if there was a good foundation in statistics, However, how strict is this rule across different etc. The yes/no split was even between pharma companies, and should it be a requirement? Can companies and CROs. similar qualifications, such as an MMath or PGDip (which can have a lot of crossover with tradition- Would you employ a graduate statistician al statistics MScs), be equivalent and provide the without an MSc in statistics, but with an required statistical training for a successful career in alternative master’s-level qualification? industry? Or, can a BSc be sufficient? I aimed to answer these questions by asking 90% 85% Sofia Baber senior statistical leaders and recruiters the following 80% has five years of 70% experience working four questions: 60% as a statistician in • Would you employ a graduate statistician the pharmaceutical 50% without an MSc in statistics, but with an 40% industry. She alternative master’s-level qualification? earned her BSc in 30% mathematics with • If yes, which alternative master’s-level qualifi- 20% 17% honors and MSc cations would you consider? 10% in statistics from 0% Imperial College • Do you feel that not having an MSc would Yes No London before put someone at a disadvantage? joining Quanticate in their UK head office. • Do you think the typical requirement for an If yes, which alternative master’s-level qualifications She worked there for MSc in statistics is justified or an unnecessary would you consider? a year before moving formality? to Canada. 6 Of the 34 people emailed, 18 (53 percent) responded. The percentages below are out of the total for that type of company. 4 Responders by company type 10 2

8 0 Math PGDip Other Any with No, MSc 6 MScs* stats only

4 *Includes mathematics, epidemiology, bioinformatics, medical areas, psychology, genetics, data science, and machine learning 2

0 Pharma CRO Recruiter Software 9 (60%) 5 (56%) 3 (43%) 1 (100%)

30 amstat news april 2020 columns

Do you feel that not having an MSc would put someone at a disadvantage? Methodology Almost everyone thought one would be at a disad- • Find suitable contacts in pharmaceutical/biotech vantage without any master’s degree, especially if companies, CROs, universities, recruitment agencies, starting out in their career. Six said a PhD is becom- and others ing a growing preference, with two of those saying not having a PhD would be a disadvantage, espe- • Create draft “test” questions and send to small number cially for American companies. of contacts, receive feedback to determine whether questions are clear and understood Do you feel that not having an MSc would put someone at a disadvantage? • Create final four questions and send to all contacts, 100% collate results, conduct follow-up discussion 90% 80% 70% 60% There was confusion between different types of 50% 40% master’s degree. Respondents said the MSc require- 30% ment is justified but other master’s degrees are also 20% fine. Clearly, the requirement is justified, but, in 10% reality, not always necessary. 0% Yes No Final Word Do you think the typical requirement for an MSc in From the results, we can conclude that some form of statistics is justified or an unnecessary formality? master’s degree is a definite requirement, and even a PhD is favorable. However, several of those sur- EDITOR’S NOTE The various reasons given were the following: veyed said they know successful statisticians without This article originally • Master’s degrees demonstrate hard work and a master’s degree. appeared on knowledge the Quanticate Employers typically appear to be open to many blog (https://bit. • CROs need to showcase their talent and an types of master’s degrees. Some have not heard of ly/2U0Wrvq) and MSc does this more obscure ones such as MMath, but would hap- is reprinted with pily accept it as a form of qualification if it demon- permission. • The complexity and more practical compo- strates enough statistical content. nents of an MSc As one advances in their career and applies/pro- • Companies are pushing statisticians to be gresses to more senior positions, the less relevant more technical, hence the high requirements academic background is. Even graduates with an • MSc degrees provide better training and MSc and PhD can struggle to step on the career require more perseverance ladder, as companies are increasingly wanting industry experience. One commented that BSc + Placement students Clearly, each company has their own policy. One could give MSc graduates a run for their money, and general recommendation for the industry would be three said they would consider someone with a BSc if to promote this career choice in a wider variety of they fulfilled the requirements and had considerable courses. Currently, the pharmaceutical industry gets relevant experience (10+ years) and depth of knowl- no mention as a potential workplace in any tradi- edge. Six said BSc + PhD would also be accepted. tional math courses. Do you think the typical requirement Companies should also be more explicit about for an MSc in statistics is justified or an their entry requirements. Asking specifically for unnecessary formality? an MSc in statistics when they would be open to 100% other qualifications eliminates many graduates 90% who don’t apply because they are put off by the 80% strict requirement and don’t realize they could 70% be eligible. Also, companies should look into 60% the course content, rather than just the name, to 50% not miss out on quality candidates who may not 40% match their ideal profile. 30% In short, while an MSc is not the be-all, end-all 20% for a pharmaceutical statistician (though it helps), 10% some sort of master’s in a quantitative discipline is 0% Justified Unnecessary recommended. n

april 2020 amstat news 31 meetings

CSP 2020: Contemporary Statistical Practice Moving Us into Future Kim Love, Owner and Lead Collaborator, K. R. Love QCC; Chair, 2020 CSP Steering Committee

Photos by Olivia Brown/ASA Leena Choi of Vanderbilt University Medical Center presents her e-poster, “An Algorithm for Post-Processing Medication Information Extracted by Natural Language Processing Systems from Electronic Health Records,” at CSP 2020.

he 9th annual Conference on Statistical Practice (CSP) took place February 20–22 in Sacramento, California. The size of CSP Tis consistently small when compared to conferences like JSM (approximately 350 attended this year), but the heart of this conference is large enough to rival any ASA event. Attendees come to this conference each year for multiple reasons. An obvious draw, given the title of the conference, is adding to their knowledge of statistics and data science in ways that move them forward in their careers. The conference features Rittal Mehta of The Ohio State University presents an e-poster. 24 concurrent sessions, three poster sessions, and short courses and tutorials drawn from four major themes. This year, those were the following: • Communication, Collaboration, and Career Development • Data Modeling and Analysis • Data Science and Big Data • Software, Programming, and Data Visualization Eric Vance (left) of LISA-University of Colorado Boulder speaks on a panel Topics covered included everything from statis- about CSP themes with Mary Kwasny of Northwestern University and tical image processing to mediation analysis, from Michael Regier of Verisk Analytics.

32 amstat news april 2020 meetings

Mohammed Chowdhury, Kennesaw State University, presents a short course titled Nick Lytal of the University of Arizona participates in an interactive activity during “Side-by-Side Learning of R and Python by the “Communication with ADEPT and Methods for Sparse Data” session. Analyzing Big Longitudinal Data.”

Poster session attendees discuss their ideas. ASA President Wendy Martinez delivers the conference’s keynote address. project management to R packages—topics relevant that will drive changes in data practices in the near to many areas of application, appropriate for vary- (and potentially far) future. Attendees had a chance ing levels of pre-existing expertise. to join in on the discussion of ethics with a panel Another reason this conference holds continuing during a later session. appeal for attendees is the prospect of networking. Another panel, “Adventuring Beyond P < 0.05,” The smaller size means attendees have opportuni- picked up on the recent ASA focus on p-values and ties to come together, converse with each other, and provided perspectives from different parts of indus- truly digest what they are taking in at the confer- try, government, academia, and private practice for MORE ONLINE ence. For several years, we have facilitated group audience discussion. Check out ww2. amstat.org/csp for gatherings, and this year’s gatherings included meals Next year, CSP will return to the East Coast, more information organized for isolated statisticians and those prac- as it takes place in Nashville, Tennessee, February about CSP 2021, ticing in health care, among others. Although only 18–20. Although I will no longer be heading up which will take one poster session was an official “mixer,” all three the dedicated committee’s effort to make this place in Nashville, of these sessions served double duty: small crowds conference a reality, I am already looking forward Tennessee. gathered around poster presentations, leading to to my next CSP experience with my colleagues in-depth conversations and forging further connec- in the data community. Look for changes to the tions between the attendees. theme descriptions and objectives in 2021 as the A final layer to the conference, though, is the conference continues to flow into the future of opportunity to learn about and discuss major cur- statistical practice. I especially encourage you to rent issues that affect everyone in our data-oriented consider submitting your own proposal for a pre- communities. Wendy Martinez, president of the sentation—what knowledge can you share with ASA, gave a keynote titled “The Ethical Statistician this community, and what can you bring to the and Data Scientist,” raising many important issues discussion? See you there! n

april 2020 amstat news 33 meetings

13th ICHPS Sold Out in San Diego Kate Crespi

Photos by Olivia Brown/ASA Students and special guests enjoy lunch during the 13th International Conference on Health Policy Statistics.

he 13th International Conference on The theme, “Leveraging Data to Shape the Health Policy Statistics was host to a sold- Future,” emphasized the key role of statistics and out crowd—with more than 350 statisti- data science in developing evidence that shapes the Tcians, methodologists, and health policy experts— future of health care, health outcomes, and health January 6–8 at the Wyndham San Diego Bayside policy. Eleven workshops and 26 themed sessions in San Diego, California. over three days addressed such topics as causal infer- ICHPS is held every two years and is the flagship ence for observational data, measurement of the conference of the Health Policy Statistics Section quality of health care, evaluating disparities, con- (HPSS) of the ASA. Conference co-chairs Catherine ducting research using electronic medical records, (Kate) Crespi from the University of California at and using machine learning and artificial intelligence Los Angeles and Ofer Harel from the University of in health research. Several invited sessions addressed Connecticut were supported by organizing com- the pressing societal issues of gun violence and the mittees with more than 30 members hailing from opioid addiction crisis. academic centers, government organizations, and Daniel Polsky of The Johns Hopkins University pharmaceutical and medical devices companies. gave the opening keynote address, titled “Closing

34 amstat news april 2020 meetings

HPSS award winners (from left): Health Policy Statistics Section award Susan Murphy of Harvard University delivers the closing honorees Thomas Belin, Sherri Rose, and Rebecca Hubbard with HPSS plenary address, titled “Online Experimentation and President Laura Hatfield (second from left) during the 13th International Learning Algorithms in a Clinical Trial.” Conference on Health Policy Statistics

and social network analysis. A communication skills workshop was conducted by COMPASS, a nonprofit, nonadvocacy organization with a vision to see more scientists engage effectively in public discourse. Networking dinners and meet-ups afforded opportunities to mingle in a relaxed environment while enjoying San Diego’s delicious food in its highly walkable and entertaining Little Italy section of town. Student attendees were hosted at a special networking lunch. ICHPS is committed to disseminating the conference proceedings. Many conference presenters have shared their presentations online under the online program at https://bit.ly/2Q7w5qB. A peer-reviewed special issue of conference papers will be published in Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology. Daniel Polsky of The Johns Hopkins University delivers At the close of the conference, the Health Policy the opening plenary address, titled “Closing the Gap Statistics Section conferred its most important Between Research and Policy,” at ICHPS. awards. HPSS presented the Long-Term Excellence Award to Tom Belin (UCLA) and mid-career awards the Gap Between Research and Policy,” while Susan to Rebecca Hubbard (University of Pennsylvania) Murphy of Harvard University gave the closing and Sherri Rose (Harvard Medical School). ICHPS keynote address, “Online Experimentation and also provided 17 student travel awards. Learning Algorithms in a Clinical Trial.” Planning is underway for the 14th ICHPS. Workshop topics included deep learning, For more information, contact conference chairs stepped wedge trials, utilizing nonprobability sam- Ruth Etzioni at [email protected] and Mike ples in survey analysis, causal inference methods, Baiocchi at [email protected]. n

april 2020 amstat news 35 education

StatPREP Living in Interesting Times for Introductory Statistics Education Daniel Kaplan, Macalester College The StatPREP initiative (StatPREP.org), funded by hese are interesting times in statistics educa- the National Science Foundation, is a collaboration tion. As with the proverb, living in interest- of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), ing times can be both blessing and curse. American Mathematical Association of Two-Year TThe last decade has seen the emergence of data sci- Colleges (AMATYC), and the ASA. StatPREP works ence as an organizing theme for extracting information to help introductory statistics instructors overcome from data. Some claim data science is merely a rebrand- the challenges of change. Only about 1–2 percent of ing of statistics, a position that doesn’t withstand scru- statistics instructors can participate in StatPREP sum- tiny. We face a genuine need to collaborate, an unnat- mer faculty-development workshops, although the ural position for many academics. Our colleagues in StatPREP materials are available to anyone. computer science education need to acknowledge that Through the StatPREP project, we have learned they are often naïve with respect to statistics and the a lot about the obstacles to change. Not least among statistics education community accept that decision- these are the many statistics instructors who have making—the root of the demand for data science—is no training and no professional contact with statis- closely aligned with Bayesian thinking. tics beyond the introductory course. Another is the The last decade has also brought the emergence sprawling historical development of the introductory of randomization-based inference as a mainstream course balkanizing the central inferential concepts approach to teaching. This is a wonderful opportu- into a series of historically contingent settings. A ran- nity to enhance student understanding of inference, domization curriculum can provide unity. But facing but requires careful rethinking of the traditional the simultaneous challenges of requiring a transition algebra-based curriculum. to computing and introducing a new paradigm, the Two other developments can be bewildering to authors of leading textbooks have sensibly decided to educators. Prompted by the “crisis” in reproduc- stick to the balkanized settings. ibility, and in the face of a century of conflict about StatPREP.org is highly computationally oriented, an appropriate basis for statistical inference, the so it may seem a surprise that we are also exploring American Statistical Association issued a statement an alternative strategy: minimizing computation, in 2016 about p-values, calling for a course correc- retaining formulas, but unifying inference. Our new tion toward a “post p < 0.05 world.” Ideas are starting short book, A Compact Guide to Classical Inference to emerge about how to respond. For instance, Jeff (https://dtkaplan.github.io/CompactInference), brings Witmer proposed replacing the technical word “sig- all the traditional inference settings of introductory nificant” with “discernible,” avoiding the misleading statistics into a common framework: simple model- confusion of “significant” with its everyday meaning. ing and a single test statistic introduced in a novel, Still another important development, modern streamlined manner. We are literally “F-ing up statis- causal inference, is unknown to the vast majority of tics.” Some may see “F-ing” as referring to something statistical educators. It conflicts with the central man- other than Fisher’s eponymous statistic, particularly tra of introduction to statistics—“correlation is not since we dispense with the extensive probability causation”—and calls for tools for dealing with con- tables still found in most textbooks. But we propose founding that are alien to the traditional t-test course. the substantial gains are worth the tiny loss. A challenge that must be met before we can Compact Guide is not a textbook. First, it is solely respond completely to the previous developments is about inference. Second, it is a guide for instructors, the crawling pace of the integration of modern com- not students. We hope the book can help instructors puting into the statistics education curriculum. The see a path forward from the traditional course and computer is the essential tool in all areas of the econ- toward one that can properly embrace covariation, omy, science, and government and the foundation of computing, and data. data science. Yet it’s commonplace for introduction Take a look at StatPREP.org and share your to statistics students to see only graphing calculators, thoughts with us. You may find Compact Guide illu- a limited and obsolete appliance widely found in minating or utterly confounding. Whichever, it is an algebra courses but in no other place in professional honest attempt to respond to the interesting times in work or education. which we live. n

36 amstat news april 2020 awards & deadlines

Links Lecture Award Lu, Bartko, and Curtin Jerome Sacks Award The Links Lecture Award honors Awards Nominations are being sought the contributions of Constance The Lingzi Lu, John Bartko, for the 2020 National Institute Citro, Robert Groves, and Fritz and Lester R. Curtin awards of Statistical Sciences’ (NISS’s) Scheuren. It recognizes excel- offer registration and travel sup- Jerome Sacks Award for lence in the advancement of offi- port to students attending the Outstanding Cross-Disciplinary cial statistics through the statisti- ASA Conference on Statistical Research. The prize recognizes cal use of administrative records Practice, which takes place in sustained, high-quality, cross- and alternative data sources, Nashville, Tennessee, in 2021. disciplinary research involv- record linkage, statistical meth- The Curtin and Bartko awards ing the statistical sciences. An ods for creating blended esti- provide $1,000 in travel support, award of $1,000 will be pre- mates, and issues associated with while the Lu award provides up sented during the National these activities such as privacy, to $1,300 in travel support. Early Institute of Statistical Sciences’ confidentiality, researcher access, registration for the conference reception at the Joint Statistical and reproducibility of results. opens September 30. Meetings (JSM) in Philadelphia, The deadline to send nomi- Applications for the Lu and Pennsylvania, August 1–6. The nations to [email protected] Curtin awards should be sent deadline for submissions is is May 1. Contact Barry W. by October 15 to awards@ April 30. For more informa- Johnson at barry.w.johnson@irs. amstat.org or mailed to American tion, including a list of previ- gov with questions. n Statistical Association, Attn: ous award winners, see http://bit. Awards Nominations, 732 N. ly/38doHQN. Washington St., Alexandria, VA To nominate an individual, Health Policy Statistics 22314-1943. the nominator is asked to col- Section Achievement Applications for the Bartko lect two letters of recommen- Awards award are due by December 2. n dation with the names and contact information of the The Health Policy Statistics letter writers and submit them Section (HPSS) achievement Monroe. G. Sirken Award with their nomination letter awards honor individuals who in Interdisciplinary and the most current version have made significant contri- of the nominee’s CV as one butions to the development Survey Methods Research PDF to [email protected] by of statistical methods or have Monroe G. Sirken created an April 30. developed innovative statisti- endowment to recognize a distin- Questions can be sent to cal applications for health care guished researcher for contribu- [email protected]. n policy or health services research. tions to interdisciplinary survey The awards are given to encour- research that improve the theory age research in this area and and methods of collecting, veri- increase awareness of HPSS in fying, processing, presenting, or the statistical community. analyzing survey data. The deadline to send nomi- Send nominations to awards@ nations and questions to amstat.org by December 20. Send [email protected] is questions to Aaron Maitland at September 15. n [email protected]. n

april 2020 amstat news 37 people news

be formally inducted during a ceremony at the NAE’s annual Obituary meeting in Washington, DC, on October 4. Roger C. Pfaffenberger For more about Keller, read Roger C. Pfaffenberger, 76, an interview with her at https:// died at his home in Kailua at.virginia.edu/2U0efXA. n Kona, Hawaii, July 12, 2019, after a brief illness. Roger was born in Los Angeles, California, February 14, 1943. He earned his PhD in statistics from Texas A&M University in 1971 and spent the next 30 years as a beloved and gifted teacher, researcher, and textbook author. Sallie Ann Keller, 2006 ASA His career led him to president, has been elected a Penn State, the University of National Academy for Engineering Maryland, and Texas Christian (NAE) member. University, where he was pro- Keller—Division Director, fessor of decision sciences at Social and Decision Analytics, the Neeley School of Business Distinguished Professor in from 1978–2001. In July 2001, Biocomplexity Professor of Public Roger began a new career with John Peterson, senior direc- Health Sciences at the University the tax services and consulting of Virginia—was elected for tor in chemistry and manu- firm of Ryan, LLC, based in development and application of facturing control statistics at Dallas, Texas, directing its audit engineering and statistical tech- GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, sampling and statistical analysis niques in support of national was recently presented with the practice for 18 years. security and industry. 2019 AIChE Pharmaceutical Roger was passionate about Election to the NAE is among Discovery, Development, and baseball from an early age. He the highest professional dis- Manufacturing Award for “out- liked to say his aptitude for cal- EDITOR’S NOTE tinctions accorded to an engi- standing contributions to quality- culating baseball statistics as a Due to Covid-19, by-design for drug product.” This child led to his eventual career. dates and formats neer. Membership honors those for meetings, who have done one or more of is a national annual award present- He loved to travel and his favor- conferences, and the following: ed by the American Institute of ite destination was Hawaii, workshops may Chemical Engineering (AIChE). where he was determined to change. Please check • Made outstanding con- Peterson received this award one day live. That dream was tributions to engineering event websites often for contributions across the fulfilled in 2012 when he and for updates. research, practice, or edu- pharmaceutical product lifecycle cation, including signifi- his wife moved to Kona. cant contributions to the through discovery, development, Roger is survived by his engineering literature and manufacturing spanning wife, Barbara; his daughter, drug substance, drug product, Janelle Bretten, and her partner, • Pioneered new and devel- and in-vivo studies. In particu- Chris Knox, of Oklahoma City, oping fields of technology, lar, he was recognized for his Oklahoma; and brother, Bryan making major advance- work on ICH Q8 design space Pfaffenberger of Virginia. ments in traditional fields development, where he created Those who wish to remem- of engineering an innovative and highly cited ber his legacy may donate by • Developed/implemented Bayesian approach: https://bit. mail to The Ryan Foundation, innovative approaches to ly/2TWNweB. Attn: Amy Lee, 13155 Noel engineering education Peterson is the first statistician Road, Suite 100, Dallas, TX to receive this award from AIChE. 75240 and designate their gift This year, the NAE elected He is a longtime member of the for “The Roger Pfaffenberger 87 new members and 18 inter- American Statistical Association Endowed Scholarship at national members through a and an ASA Fellow. For more TCU” or online at https://bit. year-long process. Individuals information about this award, visit ly/2TVHr25. in the newly elected class will https://bit.ly/2TIsaCL. n

38 amstat news april 2020 people news

Obituary Peter F. Merenda Contributed by Lisa L. Harlow and Grayson L. Baird Peter Francis Merenda—statistician, laboratory and who also became the statistics. Peter was also an engaged psychometrician, quantitative psy- first chair of the new department. member of the American Statistical chologist, professor, dean, Navy cap- The creation of the computer sci- Association for 68 years (1951–2019). tain, father, and husband—passed ence and statistics department was a His prodigious scholarly research away October 19, 2019, at the age reaction, in part, to URI accidentally included three books and more than of 97. Peter is survived by his three renting an IBM 1410 commercial 250 articles, book chapters, book daughters, three granddaughters, and computer, which was underpowered reviews, technical research reports, three great-grandchildren. to do research, instead of a 1620 scien- and test critiques. His expertise was Born in Everett, Massachusetts, tific computer. Ultimately, through the substantial, providing greater under- in 1922, Peter was the first son of advocacy of Peter and others at URI, standing to a multitude of areas. In Sicilian immigrant parents and raised the computer mix-up helped serve as his later years, Peter’s work continued by an extended family of his mother, the impetus for the formation of what to contribute much to the field, par- grandmother, and aunts. He earned is now the Academic Computer Center ticularly as he shared his experience and his BS (1947) and MA (1948) degrees and a vibrant and successful depart- vision with an overarching and histori- in mathematics and education, respec- ment of computer science and statistics cal focus, such as in his 2003 article, tively, from Tufts University. While at that currently has more than 20 faculty “Measurements in the Future: Beyond Tufts, Peter participated in the Navy working on research in computational the 20th Century.” ROTC program, eventually becom- statistics, big data, machine learning, Among his notable achievements, ing an ensign and serving the US and high-performance computing, Peter made it a priority to recognize Navy during World War II. After the among other areas. and reward those young emerging sta- war, he married Rosie Cafasso. He In all, Peter was with Clarke tistical scholars who had just received enrolled in a psychometrics graduate Associates for 40 years (1957–1997) their PhDs. To this end, he established program at Harvard under Philip J. and was a professor at URI for 25 years the Peter Merenda Prize in Statistics Rulon, taking courses from Kenneth (1960–1985), although he became pro- and Research Methodology at URI Vaughn, David V. Tiedeman, and fessor emeritus and remained involved that generously awarded more than 30 Julian Stanley. In 1951, he left this at URI well past 1985. During much students an annual prize and check for program due to an invitation to work of this time, Peter was active in the $1,500. The prize winners have gone as the director of research and sole US Navy Reserves, rising from ensign on to highly successful careers, with psychometrician for the newly estab- (1944) to captain before retiring in more than half of them each publish- lished US Naval Examining Center. 1980 (between 1950–1980 as a line ing from 50 to 100 or more major During this time, he worked on his psychologist in the Navy Reserve). articles in their fields. In an ongoing doctorate in statistics at the University Not surprisingly, Peter received commitment to mentoring, Peter of Wisconsin-Madison, completing many honors during his long career. also made opportunities to invite col- his PhD in 1957 under Chester Harris He was a senior Fulbright-Hay leagues and students over to his home and Julian Stanley. Research Scholar (Italy, 1967–1968, for a sumptuous meal and wine, where Soon after, Peter accepted a posi- 1974–1975) and a Pacific Cultural vibrant statistical discussions punctu- tion as director of research for Walter Foundation Grantee (Taiwan, Republic ated the air. V. Clarke Associates in Rhode Island, of China, 1981–1982). In addi- In closing, Peter Merenda will a national and international consult- tion, he received the Karl F. Heiser always be remembered for his many ing firm for psychometrics and statis- Presidential Award for Advocacy in remarkable accomplishments, includ- tics. In 1960, he was approached by Professional Psychology, the New ing his encouragement and nurtur- Kenneth Carpenter of the University England Psychological Association ance of the interests and achievements of Rhode Island (URI) to co-found the Distinguished Contributions Award, of students, faculty, and other profes- department of psychology, thus split- the James McKeen Cattell Fellow sionals in the wonders of statistics and ting his time between URI and Clarke Award for Outstanding Contributions, research methodology. He left a leg- Associates. In 1968, while serving as an Honorary Doctorate of Humane acy built on enormous expertise and the dean of the graduate school at URI, Letters from the University of Rhode myriad meaningful contributions that Peter co-founded the URI Department Island, and the prestigious American spanned more than six decades, long of Computer Science and Statistics Psychological Association Messick into his retirement. A more complete with William Hemmerle, who was the Award for Distinguished Scientific account of Peter’s life can be found at recently hired director of the computer Contributions in methodology and https://bit.ly/38DX2IQ.

april 2020 amstat news 39 section • chapter • committee news

Quality and Productivity The 37th annual Quality and Productivity Research Conference (QPRC, https://bit.ly/396MD8W) will be hosted by Florida State University June 8–11. It is the main annual meeting for the ASA Quality and Productivity Section. The conference theme reflects the changing nature of the statistics discipline, “Data Science and Statistics for Quality.” The aim of the conference is promotion of data science in diverse applied areas, especially those associated with the fields of quality and process control. Massive amounts of data are being collected on a daily basis, processed and analyzed in virtually every branch of society and every aspect of everyday life, and so the science, quality, and statistical communities are obligated to keep up with the rapid growth and variety of collected data and provide up-to- date methodologies and guidance Members of the Detroit chapter, from left: Barry DeCicco, Julie Keros, Angela Lin, Heather Johnson, Margaret Mikula, Bob Graban, Andrew Ekstrom, David Corliss, Rob Podolsky, Karry to those using this data. This con- Roberts, Nathan Soderborg, Rob Kushler, Ellen Barnes, Mary Coffey, and Nai-Wei Chen ference will explore and promote ideas that will further this goal. Statisticians, data scientists, Detroit traditional chapter meetings with and practitioners will propose Karry Roberts, Detroit Chapter Secretary a presentation. The next social and discuss the latest ideas and will be held in May. cutting-edge modern methodolo- Members of the Detroit Chapter Numbers & Network events gies in all aspects of data analysis had a successful second Numbers allow members to share opportu- and their applications. Sessions & Networking social event nities such as upcoming seminars will focus on the progress made in EDITOR’S NOTE Due to Covid-19, January 17 as they gathered on a and science fair judging. Plus, computationally intensive fields dates and formats snowy night at an event hosted by the casual atmosphere offered such as data mining, machine for meetings, chapter president, Rob Podolsky. members a chance to get to know learning, functional data analysis, conferences, and Attendance increased by 50 each other. The chapter provided image reconstruction, statistical workshops may percent over the first Numbers appetizers, and members pur- process control, and uncertainty change. Please check event websites often & Networking social event in chased their own beverages and quantification. for updates. October 2019. Intentionally menu items. The first day of the confer- choosing a different location, this Podolsky was motivated to initi- ence is a short course empha- time in the western Detroit sub- ate the Numbers & Network events sizing computational meth- urbs, a different group of chapter when he attended the March 18, ods for analyzing big data, members attended, as well as two 2019, Chapter Mentoring Virtual “Introduction to Data Science interested non-members. Workshop sponsored by the ASA the Tidy Way.” The remaining Planning for Numbers & Council of Chapters Governing three days consist of plenary, Network events includes a delib- Board. During the workshop, invited, and contributed presen- erate choice of locations for members of the governing board tations and poster sessions. wider coverage of the chapter’s suggested chapters start small with To submit a contributed paper region. Plans are in the works a community outreach event and or a proposal for a contributed to continue hosting these events continue to offer it to let the con- session, contact Eric Chicken quarterly as an alternative to the cept develop. n at [email protected]. n

40 amstat news april 2020 section • chapter • committee news

Photo Courtesy of Hai Yang From left: Cristina Tortora, Chito Hernandez, Bhramar Mukherjee, Bin Yu, and Rajesh Parekh at the SFASA chapter’s gathering in January SFASA Members Celebrate New Year with Keynotes, Panel Discussion

Ling Shen, Chad Pickering, and Jing Huang

early 100 ASA San Francisco Bay Area on the career of data scientists in the era of big data. Chapter (SFASA) members gathered at San He emphasized that passion with purpose is the key José State University January 26 to celebrate to a successful career and a meaningful life. He shared theN arrival of 2020 with an event that included key- his personal journey, as well as his daughters’ stories, note presentations, a panel discussion, sponsor presen- to highlight the importance of passion. He also rec- tations, dinner, and social networking opportunities. ommended everyone think deeply about their passion and purpose. He said passion alone is guaranteed to Keynote Presentations fall short. Four invited keynote speakers shared their views Bin Yu, chancellor’s distinguished professor and during 30-minute presentations. Bhramar class of 1936 second chair in the departments of Mukherjee, John D Kalbfleisch Collegiate Professor statistics and EECS at the University of California, and chair of biostatistics in the school of public Berkeley, proposed the predictability, computabil- MORE ONLINE health at the University of Michigan focused on the ity, and stability (PCS) framework for veridical data Read the ASA’s Ethical Guidelines nature of data science and its three key elements: science, including PCS documentation that records for Statistical statistics; computer science; and domain knowl- human judgment calls in the data science life cycle. Practice at https:// edge. She touched on the meaning of data science She also proposed the PDR desiderata for inter- bit.ly/2IDIGhb. beyond algorithmic prediction and cited Miguel- pretable machine learning as part of veridical data Herman, saying “A hallmark of intelligence is the science (with PDR standing for predictive accuracy ability to predict counterfactually how the world and relevancy to a human audience and a particular would change under different actions by integrating domain problem). expert knowledge and mapping algorithm.” Rajesh Parekh, engineering director at Google Chito Hernandez, group vice president at LLC, explained that Google has deployed cameras all BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., shared his perspective over the world to gather street views. These imaging

april 2020 amstat news 41 section • chapter • committee news

Photo Courtesy of Hai Yang SFAS panelists and SFAS officers, from left: Ron Yu, Charles Qi, Ray Lin, Li Zhang, Jing Du, Rajesh Parekh, Cristina Tortora, Bin Yu, Alexandra Piryatinska, Bhramar Mukherjee, Tao He, Chito Hernandez, Jing Huang, Ling Shen, Ruixiao Lu, and Kathy Zhang

data and crowdsourcing were fed into artificial intel- salaries. A data scientist can have an annual salary as ligence to enable business recognition and capture high as $200,000 with just two years of experience. changes in our environment. Parekh said the high salaries at Google can be justified by the impact of the work itself. Panel Discussion Yu said today’s students are more socially con- Cristina Tortora, assistant professor in the depart- scious compared to previous generations and, as a ment of mathematics and statistics at San José result, inspired to contribute to society. The social State University, moderated as Mukherjee, Yu, impact of high-tech companies such as Google, Hernandez, and Parekh provided responses to the Facebook, and Uber are massive and therefore following questions: attractive to students. Yu urged Hernandez and similar biotech executives to sponsor research pro- What are the codes of ethics? How does one grams and student projects so students would have deal with pressures in publication? an easier time developing their passion toward bio- Yu cautioned about being compelled to publish technology and transitioning into the industry. because of a significant p-value. While the p-value remains a useful statistic in hypothesis testing, we What are the important qualities or skills to as statisticians must acknowledge limitations of the be successful? study and work closely with domain-specific scien- Mukherjee advised, when working with people in tists to understand scientific implications. other fields, be open to criticism, give respect, and Mukherjee elaborated that statistics is not just try to learn from them. She shared her personal about crunching numbers such as p-values; the experience working with oncologists as an example. focus, rather, is far more fundamental—serving the She emphasized the role of the three C’s of being scientific community and general public. a modern data scientist: computation; communica- Hernandez responded with a thought-provoking tion; and collaboration. analogy: You should only feel comfortable publish- All panelist emphasized the importance of being ing if it could withstand the scrutiny that would fol- a life-long learner to keep up with tech innovations low if it were reported on the front page of The New and develop interdisciplinary knowledge. York Times. Lightning Talks What are statistics job prospects in terms of The celebration concluded with a networking dinner compensations in different industries? and lightning talks by sponsors. Industry and aca- According to Yu, the top job markets for UC demic sponsorship are an important way to support Berkeley statistics students are high-tech companies, such events and connect statistics and data science fintech companies, academia, biotech companies, professionals within the SFASA community. During and entrepreneurship. the dinner, gold- and silver-level sponsors provided Hernandez noted that today’s students are drawn an overview of their business and the role of statis- to high-tech companies. They offer incredibly high tics/data science in the company. n

42 amstat news april 2020 calendar of events

The following events are the latest additions to the ASA’s online calendar of events. Announce- ments are accepted from education and not-for- profit organizations only. To view the complete list of statistics meetings and workshops, visit www. amstat.org/dateline.

* Indicates events sponsored by the ASA or one of its sections, chapters, or committees

›› Indicates events posted since the previous issue

*29—13th Annual UPenn Conference on Statistical Issues in Clinical Trials: Cluster Randomized Clinical Trials: Opportunities and Challenges, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania For more information, contact Jonas Ellenberg, 423 Guardian Drive, Suite 617, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (215) 573-3904; jellenbe@pennmedicine. upenn.edu.

»30–5/1—Biostatistics: EDITOR’S NOTE Foundations and the Era Due to Covid-19, of Data Science, Waterloo, dates and formats Ontario, Canada for meetings, For more information, visit uwaterloo. conferences, and ca/sas/conference or contact Greg workshops may change. Please Preston, 200 University Ave. W., check event Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; websites often for (519) 888-4567, Ext. 33277; updates. [email protected].

May

5–7—SIAM Conference on Mathematics of Data Science (202) 469-7374; wbrowning@ (MDS20), Cincinatti, Ohio 2020 advamed.org. For more information, contact Adrianne Ali, 3600 Market St., »*24–25—Conference of Texas Philadelphia, PA 19104; (215) 382- April Statisticians 2020, Corpus 9800; [email protected]. Christi, Texas »23–24—13th Annual FDA/ For details, visit https://bit. 8–10—The 8th Workshop on AdvaMed Medical Devices and ly/2Ud4Agj or contact Sunil Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Diagnostics Statistical Issues Mathur, Department of Atlanta, Georgia Conference, Washington, DC Mathematics and Statistics, Texas For details, visit https://bit. A&M University, Corpus Christi, For more information, visit https:// ly/38UigSI or contact Yichuan Zhao, Texas 78412; (361) 825-3932; bit.ly/3b2T8Ll or contact Will 1342, 25 Park Place, Atlanta, GA [email protected]. Browning, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. 30303; (404) 413-6446; yichuan@ NW, #800, Washington, DC 20004; gsu.edu.

april 2020 amstat news 43 calendar of events

*3–6—2020 Symposium on Data Science & Statistics, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania For more information, visit ww2. amstat.org/meetings/sdss/2020 or contact ASA Meetings, 732 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 684-1221; meetings@ amstat.org.

»7–8—3rd LARS-IASC School on Computational Statistics and Data Science, Mexico City, Mexico For more information, visit https://bit.ly/33nsrye or contact David Muñoz, Av. Camino a Santa Teresa, #930, Col. Héroes de Padierna, Mexico City, International 10700, Mexico, 5628 4000; [email protected].

»*8–11—Quality and Productivity Research Conference (QPRC2020), Tallahassee, Florida For details, visit qprc2020.com or contact Eric Chicken, Department of Statistics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306; (850) 644- 3218; [email protected].

»9–11—LACSC 2020 5th Latin American Conference on Statistical Computing, *27–29—SLDS 2020, Newport *18—Pfizer/ASA/Columbia Mexico City, Mexico Beach, California University Symposium on For more information, visit For details, visit https://bit. Risks and Opportunities of AI lacsc2020.itam.mx or contact ly/2QkMsA3 or contact Po-Ling Loh, in Clinical Drug Development, David Muñoz, Av. Camino a 1300 University Ave., Madison, CA New York, NY Santa Teresa, #930, Col. Héroes 53706; [email protected]. For more information, contact de Padierna, Mexico City, Stephen Porzio, 732 N. Washington International 10700, Mexico, 5628 St., Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 684- 4000; [email protected]. 1221; [email protected]. June 15–18/2020—10th 1–5—NSF-CBMS Regional International Workshop on »*20–22—2020 IMS/ASA Applied Probability (IWAP2020), Spring Research Conference, Research Conference: Parallel Time Integration, Michigan Thessaloniki, Greece Rochester, Michigan For more information, visit For more infotmation, visit https:// Technological University, Houghton, Michigan iwap2020.web.auth.gr or contact bit.ly/2QmUcSm or contact Harvey George Tsaklidis, Aristotle University Qu, Department of Mathematics For details, visit https://bit.ly/39VvQ9Y or contact Benjamin Ong, Michigan of Thessaloniki, University Campus, and Statistics, Oakland University, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece; Rochester, MI 48309; (248) 370- Tech University, Houghton, MI 49931; [email protected]. +302310997964; tsaklidi@math. 4029, [email protected]. auth.gr.

44 amstat news april 2020 calendar of events

July

5–10—International Biometric Conference (IBC), Seoul, South Korea For more information, visit https://bit.ly/33o2WwU or contact Kristina Wolford, 1120 20th St. NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 712-9049; conference@ biometricsociety.org.

6–10—International Conference on Robust Statistics (ICORS 2020), Vienna, Austria For details, contact Peter Filzmoser, Wiedner Hauptstr. 8-10, Vienna, International 1040, Austria; 43-1-58801-10560; [email protected].

»6–10—ANZSC2020, Gold Coast, Australia For more information, visit anzsc2020.com.au or contact Marie-Louise Rankin, PO Box 213, Belconnen, International 2616, 24–27—5th International »17–18—45th Annual Summer Australia, 0262513647; eo@ Workshop on Functional and Institute of Applied Statistics, statsoc.org.au. Provo, Utah Operatorial Statistics (IWFOS For details, visit statistics.byu.edu/sias 2020), Brno, Czech Republic or contact Diana Larsen, 223 TMCB, For details, visit https://bit. *16–17—2020 Data Science & Provo, UT 84602; (801) 422-4506; ly/3b0FYOYor contact David Kraus, Intelligent Systems Conference, [email protected]. Kotlárská 2, Brno, International 611 London, United Kingdom 37, Czech Republic; david.kraus@ For more information, visit www. mail.muni.cz. dsis2020.com or contact Nathan 21–23—The Fifth Workshop Walsh, 5201 Great America Pkwy., 25–27—Open Problems in on Higher-Order Asymptotics #320, Santa Clara, CA 95054; (408) Parametric Likelihood-Based and Post-Selection Inference 352-1010; nathanwalsh2020@ Inference, St. Louis, Missouri (WHOA-PSI), St. Louis, Missouri gmail.com. For details, visit https://bit.ly/2TV9VKg For details, visit https://bit.ly/39Xqefw or contact Todd Kuffner, 1 Brookings or contact Todd Kuffner, 1 Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1146, Saint Drive, Campus Box 1146, Saint »28–30—ISBIS2020, St. Louis, MO 63130; [email protected]. Louis, MO 63130; [email protected]. Catherines, Ontario, Canada For details, visit https://bit. ly/2xI896S or contact Martina 29–7/3—2020 World Meeting 22–26—International Statistical Vandebroek, Naamsestraat 69, of the International Society of Ecology Conference (ISEC2020), Leuven, International 3000, Bayesian Analysis (ISBA2020), Sydney, Australia Belgium, +32476676323; martina. For more information, visit isec2020. Kunming, China [email protected]. n org or contact David Warton, School For more information, visit https:// of Mathematics and Statistics, bit.ly/2U61TgG or contact Li Ma, UNSW Sydney, International 2052, Statistical Science Box 90251, 214 Australia; +61405781724; isec2020@ Old Chemistry, Durham, NC 27708; unsw.edu.au. (919) 684-2871; [email protected].

april 2020 amstat news 45 professional opportunities

Massachusetts Professional Opportunity listings may not exceed 65 words, plus equal opportunity information. The deadline for their receipt is the 20th of the month two months prior n The Statistical and Data Sciences to when the ad is to be published (e.g., May 20 for the July issue). Ads will be pub- Program at Smith College invites lished in the next available issue following receipt. applications for two-year, benefits eligible position at the rank of lecturer, Listings are shown alphabetically by state, followed by international listings. Vacancy to begin July 1, 2020. Candidates listings may include the institutional name and address or be identified by number, should have teaching experience in as desired. statistics and/or data science. Info: Professional Opportunities vacancies also will be published on the ASA’s website Statistical and Data Sciences Program (www.amstat.org). Vacancy listings will appear on the website for the entire calendar at Smith College at www.smith. month. Ads may not be placed for publication in the magazine only; all ads will be edu/sds. For more information and published both electronically and in print. to apply, visit http://apply.interfolio. com/73980. Review of applications These listings and additional information about the 65-word ads can be found at will begin on March 15. EO/AA/Vet/ ww2.amstat.org/ads. Disability Employer. EO/AA/Vet/ Employers are expected to acknowledge all responses resulting from publication of Disability Employer. their ads. Personnel advertising is accepted with the understanding that the adver- tiser does not discriminate among applicants on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, New Jersey color, national origin, handicap, or sexual orientation. n Full-time Biostatistician openings Also, look for job ads on the ASA website at https://jobs.amstat.org/jobseekers. at Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. Apply here: https://bit. ly/39oTtaI. EOE.

Texas n Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at UNT Health Science Center is seeking an outstanding faculty at the rank of Assistant/Associate Professor on the tenure-track in the field of Biostatistics. The successful candidate will develop an independent program of methodological research and actively collaborate with other researchers at UNTHSC. A cover letter, CV, and name of three references should be submitted online at www.unthsc.edu/about-us/careers. University of North Texas Health Science Center is an EOE. n

46 amstat news april 2020 AMSTATNEWS ADVERTISING DIRECTORY

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48 amstat news april 2020 a statistics workshop for math and science teachers www.amstat.org/education/mwm

Based on the Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education (GAISE) Report: A Pre-K–12 Curriculum Framework II and college and career readiness standards

Dates: Tuesday, August 4, and Wednesday, August 5, 2020 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Place: Joint Statistical Meetings, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (meeting room TBD)

Middle- and high-school mathematics and science teachers. Multiple mathematics/science teachers from Audience: the same school are especially encouraged to attend.

Enhance understanding and teaching of statistics within the mathematics/science curriculum through Objectives: conceptual understanding, active learning, real-world data applications, and appropriate technology

Teachers will explore problems that require them to formulate questions and collect, organize, analyze, and draw conclusions from data and apply basic concepts of probability. The MWM program will include Content: 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 college and career standards, GAISE recommendations, and NCTM standards.

Presenters: GAISE Report authors and prominent statistics educators

Middle-school and high-school statistics sessions Format: Activity-based sessions, including lesson plan development

Refreshments Handouts Provided: Certifi cate of participation from the ASA certifying professional development hours Optional graduate credit available The course fee for the two days is $50. Please note: Course attendees do not need to register Cost: for the Joint Statistical Meetings* to participate in this workshop.

Follow-up activities and webinars (www.amstat.org/asa/education/K-12-Statistics-Education-Webinars.aspx) Follow up: Network with statisticians and teachers to organize learning communities

More information and online registration is available at www.amstat.org/education/mwm. Registration: 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, poster sessions, and the exhibit hall.

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