AMSTATNEWS the Membership Magazine of the American Statistical Association •

JULY 2016 • Issue #469 AMSTATNEWS The Membership Magazine of the American Statistical Association • http://magazine.amstat.org

LeVange Elected President of the ASA Williamson Elected Vice President

ALSO: Reproducible Research in JASA

The Makings of a Survey Methodologist—and a Survey Methodology Conference

AMSTATNEWS JULY 2016 • ISSUE #469

Executive Director Ron Wasserstein: [email protected] Associate Executive Director and Director of Operations features Stephen Porzio: [email protected] 3 President's Invited Column Director of Science Policy Steve Pierson: [email protected] 6 Highlights of the April 2016 ASA Board of Directors Meeting Director of Strategic Initiatives and Outreach 8 ASA Leaders Reminisce: Lynne Billard Donna Lalonde: [email protected] 11 Staff Spotlight: New Science Policy Fellow Amy Nussbaum Director of Education Rebecca Nichols: [email protected] 12 LaVange Elected ASA President Williamson Elected Vice President Managing Editor Megan Murphy: [email protected] 16 Proposals Wanted for REU Sites Production Coordinators/Graphic Designers 17 Reproducible Research in JASA Sara Davidson: [email protected] Megan Ruyle: [email protected] 18 JQAS Highlights: Featured in June: Basketball, Hockey, Publications Coordinator Baseball, and Formula One Racing Val Nirala: [email protected] 19 Successful JSM Mentoring Workshop Gives Participants Advertising Manager Much to Say Claudine Donovan: [email protected]

Contributing Staff Members James Earle • Pam Craven • Naomi Friedman • Christina Link Amy Nussbaum • Eric Sampson • Jill Talley • Kathleen Wert

Amstat News welcomes news items and letters from readers on matters See Page 12 to view the of interest to the association and the profession. Address correspondence to Managing Editor, Amstat News, American Statistical Association, 732 North entire slate of election Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 USA, or email amstat@ results, including officers 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). for each of the ASA's 27 Material can be sent as a Microsoft Word document, PDF, or within an email. sections. Articles will be edited for space. Accompanying artwork will be accepted in graphics file formats only (.jpg, etc.), minimum 300 dpi. No material in WordPerfect will be accepted. Amstat News (ISSN 0163-9617) is published monthly by the American Statistical Association, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314- 1943 USA. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Amstat News, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314-1943 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, columns see www.amstat.org/join or contact ASA Member Services at (888) 231-3473. 22 STATtr@k American Statistical Association Classroom to Collaboration: 732 North Washington Street Tips for a Successful Transition Alexandria, VA 22314–1943 USA (703) 684–1221 STATtr@k is a column in Amstat News and a website geared toward people ASA GENERAL: [email protected] who are in a statistics program, recently graduated from a statistics pro- ADDRESS CHANGES: [email protected] gram, or recently entered the job world. To read more articles like this AMSTAT EDITORIAL: [email protected] one, visit the website at http://stattrak.amstat.org. If you have suggestions ADVERTISING: [email protected] for future articles, or would like to submit an article, please email Megan WEBSITE: http://magazine.amstat.org Murphy, Amstat News managing editor, Printed in USA © 2016 at [email protected]. American Statistical Association

24 MASTER'S NOTEBOOK Applied Statisticians: Get the Most Out of JSM This column is written for statisticians with master's degrees and highlights areas of employment that will benefit statisticians at the master's level. Comments and suggestions should be sent to Megan Murphy, Amstat News managing edi- The American Statistical Association is the world’s largest tor, at [email protected]. community of statisticians. The ASA supports excellence in the development, application, and dissemination of statistical science through meetings, publications, membership services, education, accreditation, and advocacy. Our members serve in industry, government, and academia in more than 90 countries, advancing research and promoting sound statistical practice to inform public policy and improve human welfare. departments 26 meetings The Makings of a Survey Methodologist—and a Survey Methodology Conference Online Articles JSM 2017 Program Committee JSM 2017 Invited Session Proposals Sought The following articles in this issue can be found online at http://magazine.amstat.org. 20th Biopharmaceutical Workshop to Focus on Making Better Decisions

Robert Johnston (of UNICEF) contacted Statistics without Borders (SWB) for support in analyzing the time stamps and GPS points collected during UNICEF’s nutrition surveys to validate the surveys’ sample selection techniques. The SWB team on this project developed three tests that could be used to review the quality of interviewer-selected samples in such situations. Read about the challenges SWB faced developing these tests at http://magazine. amstat.org. To learn more about Statistics without Borders’ other projects, or to get involved, visit Page 26 the website at http://community.amstat.org/ statisticswithoutborders/home. member news 34 People News

37 Section • Chapter • Committee News 41 Calendar of Events Next Month … 45 Professional Opportunities We’ll have the results of the Poster and Project competitions, as well as Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/AmstatNews an interview with the Join the ASA Community current ASA executive director, http://community.amstat.org/home Like us on Facebook Ron Wasserstein. www.facebook.com/AmstatNews

2 amstat news july 2016 president's invited column

We Have Some Serious Explaining to Do Rob Santos, Chief Methodologist, Urban Institute

A search of The New York Times for the word “statistician” during the past 30 days turned up three hits, whereas a search for “psychologist” resulted in 56 hits and “econo- mist” a whopping 204 hits. Do psychologists and economists really have more to say that’s newsworthy than statisticians do? Probably not, yet clearly someone thinks they do. Statisticians have lots of important information to convey, and society would be well-served if we had a greater media presence. Two of my presidential initiatives involve media training for statisticians, and the 2016 JSM President’s Invited Speaker is an award-winning science journalist for National Public Radio, Joe Palca. For this month’s column, I have invited ASA Vice President Rob Santos, who is leading the implementation of one of the initiatives, to discuss these initiatives and provide his insightful thoughts on statisticians and the media. In addition to being an ASA vice president, Rob is the Urban Institute’s chief methodologist and a past president of the American Association for Public Opinion Research. – Jessica Utts

s statisticians, we have some serious explaining to do. Our association tagline pro- claims promoting the practice and profession Aof statistics. It’s an elegant, simple statement with a big footprint that includes everything from teaching to advocacy. It also speaks to a statistician’s role as a public spokesperson. The media thirsts for experts who can explain and visualize quantita- Robert Santos tive data and insights, yet statisticians generally And what about our old friend, the p-value? have not been offered the opportunity to provide ASA member Regina Nuzzo published an article their perspectives. Indeed, our association could (http://go.nature.com/1gq9dtd) in Nature express- greatly benefit from bolstering the ranks of sta- ing in easy-to-understand terms the over-reliance tistical spokespeople. of statistical significance (alone) in scientific research. More recently, the ASA undertook the Shout-Outs to Current Media onerous task of developing a statement on p-values Spokespeople: STATS.org and Others (download the PDF here: http://bit.ly/1U75vcp) All too often, we see misinterpretations of statistical that has enjoyed wide distribution in the scien- results in the media and public discourse. Take the tific community. 2016 presidential primaries, for instance. More often There are more examples, but it seems the pleth- than not, the media declared one candidate was ora of misinterpretations and missed opportunities “running ahead” of their opponent by a few percent- for statisticians to show leadership in a spokesperson age points when the margins of error did not support role dwarfs the instances in which we have had the such inference. In fact, STATS.org—a partnership opportunity to step forward. The need to expand between the ASA and Sense About Science—pub- our visibility in the media is without question. I’ll lished a blog post (http://bit.ly/1ZErQPJ) on this very share some good news on this later, but first let’s issue last fall. consider a statistician’s role as an ‘explainer.’

july 2016 amstat news 3 But, as strong as the ASA infrastructure may be, that will not suffice. Our members can and should Target members to receive this training have leadership roles as spokespeople on behalf of the statistical community. And on that front, we include statistical professionals at all have even more good news. The ASA is launching two initiatives to strength- en the presence of statisticians in the media: the stages of their careers, as well as teachers, Media Training Program and Statistical Media Ambassador Program. The Media Training Program academics, and students. is designed to provide statisticians with the basics for interacting with, and communicating to, journalists and the public. This forum will cover print, audio, and visual media such as blog posts, op-eds, in-person and telephonic interviews with journal- An essential part of being a statistician involves ists, and social media. Target members to receive communicating with people about how statistics this training include statistical professionals at all work, what they can and cannot tell us, and why stages of their careers, as well as teachers, academ- there are always limitations due to inherent uncer- ics, and students. tainty. Indeed, our efficacy as statisticians often Being a media expert involves a long road of depends on our ability to digest the needs of a study, practice and preparation. Considering that, media translate them into an effective design, and later training cannot be an instantaneous, transformative communicate the results of analyses. The teaching session, but rather a starting point from which one’s of statistics is deeply rooted in theories of probabil- skills can more readily be sharpened with experience ity and mathematics, as well as applications to real- and reflection over time. world problems in manufacturing, government, Spanning up to two full days of training and social science, health, teaching, hard sciences, etc. exercises, depending on the types of media train- Yet, students of statistics are not uniformly ing desired (e.g., blogging vs. interviews with afforded the opportunity to acquire and practice journalists), the Media Training Program will kick communication skills, especially to nonstatistical off at the ASA office in Alexandria, Virginia, this audiences such as the general public. If we wish to November. As the chair of the work group responsi- ‘promote the practice and profession of statistics,’ ble for developing this program, I encourage you to we should be able to speak to different audiences in consider attending, as space is limited for this pilot terms they understand—be they fellow colleagues, program. An official announcement will be made in scientists from other fields, policy makers and gov- the coming months. ernment officials, the media, students, or even the The Statistical Media Ambassador Program, on public. But, what is the ASA’s role in and contribu- the other hand, is designed for senior-level statisti- tion to helping our membership acquire or hone cians with media experience who wish to take their their communication skills? game to the next level and become a recognized statistical spokesperson for the ASA. Ambassadors in New Initiatives Inspiring Members to this program will support STATS.org and pledge to Media Engagement be available when journalists engage the ASA for an The ASA is spearheading several initiatives to not expert statistical spokesperson. Terms of service are only be more publically visible, but to help its mem- expected to be three years with about a dozen or so bers sharpen their media skills. First, the association statisticians on board at any point in time. has built-in infrastructure on its staff with Steve This program consists of formal training, com- Pierson, ASA director of science policy, and Ron plete with videotaped mock interviews, and pro- Wasserstein, ASA executive director. Moreover, Jill vides an exceptional opportunity for senior-level Talley, the ASA’s public relations manager, recently statisticians to stretch and challenge themselves, joined the staff. These individuals each have roles in advance our profession, and just have fun. Wendy promoting statistics to a wide range of audiences. Lou, professor at the University of Toronto and a

4 amstat news july 2016 Council of Chapters Representative to the ASA Board of Directors, chairs the work group responsible for designing the program. Like the Media Training Program, the Statistical Media Ambassador Program is expected to formally launch in 2017. BONUS—National Public Radio’s Science Correspondent Joe Palca to Speak at JSM Going hand-in-hand with the Media Training and Statistical Media Ambassador programs as a means to promote our profession, grow the capacity of our members, and educate consumers, this year’s prestigious President’s Invited Address will feature Photo courtesy of Doby Photography/NPR National Public Radio’s (NPR) award-winning sci- Joe Palca, award-winning science correspondent ence correspondent, Joe Palca. and this year’s prestigious President’s Invited A PhD scientist and journalist, Palca covers an Address speaker at JSM August 1 at 4:45 p.m. array of scientific breakthroughs and highly technical concepts over the airwaves, doing so in a way that embraces simplicity and verve to maximize audience comprehension and enjoyment. He will polling results can sometimes be wrong and why present his own experience and perspective on the we should expect capricious discrepancies to con- unique challenges in the scientific news-making tinue. Instead of talking about noncoverage and process, and his address will elucidate the impor- nonresponse bias or the finer points of prediction tance of communicating our value to the media and modeling for likely voters, I addressed how new the public. A can’t-miss session at JSM, Palca will technology (including social media) fundamentally address attendees on August 1 at 4:45 p.m. changed how people consume and react to information and how concerns about privacy and identity My Media Story theft altered public behavior in polling and voting. Statisticians and data scientists, by the interdisci- I suggested that heavy use of social media had moti- plinary and meaningful nature of our work, deserve vated those who otherwise would not vote (e.g., to be trained in media interactions and need not younger voters) to show up at the polls. Predicting feel overwhelmed in communicating with report- if and when historical nonvoters will vote is diffi- ers. My own recent experience working with the cult using traditional models that heavily rely on media demonstrates the value of such interaction past voter behavior. Thus, I offered a framework to and emphasizes the importance of media training. explain why past methods won’t work as well in a In March, I was invited to write an op-ed piece society that increasingly embraces and is motivated for the LA Times (http://lat.ms/1qbqi3H) on the by new technology. state of political polling in the U.S. presidential pri- As an ambassador to our profession, I wanted maries. The request came on the heels of the New to show the public that statisticians not only know Hampshire and Michigan primaries, where vot- our statistical theory and its applications, but we ing outcomes defied pollsters’ predictions. While can also offer insights that help the public under- not having been involved in polling for years, I stand why unexpected things happen. The op-ed remained close to the polling community and fol- was published Easter Sunday. lowed their methods and performance. I also knew Yes, we statisticians need to promote our profes- that just about everything there was to say from sion. And it can be challenging, fun, and reward- a statistical methods perspective had already been ing. We hope you will join us in the effort to train published in the media by polling scholars. a cadre of statistical media ambassadors and a new Rather than simply recounting technical details crop of media-savvy statisticians. As I stated at the that already had been published, I used this plat- beginning of this column, we have some serious form to provide thoughts about why pre-election explaining to do. Let’s get ready to roll! ■

july 2016 amstat news 5 Highlights of the April 2016 ASA Board of Directors Meeting

ASA President Jessica Utts convened the board’s first meeting of the year at the ASA’s headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The highlights of the meeting follow. against individuals based on gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, age, Discussion Items national origin, gender identity or expression, • The board heard a report on the response to veteran status, or other protected status.” the ASA Statement on P-Values and Statistical Significance and discussed plans for following • At the recommendation of search committees up on the statement. and the Committee on Publications, the board appointed the following editors for terms to • Roger Tourangeau, president-elect of the begin next year: American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), discussed ideas for col- Regina Liu, Rutgers University, and laborations between AAPOR and the ASA. As Hongyu Zhao, Yale University, co-editors, a result of the discussion, two joint task forces JASA Theory and Methods have been formed to develop a white paper on detecting data falsification in surveys and con- F. Jay Breidt, Colorado State University, sider how to improve the climate for surveys, JASA/TAS Reviews especially with regard to essential data collection activities of the federal government. Scott Evans, Harvard University, CHANCE (2nd term) • The board had the opportunity to hear about and discuss funding activities and priorities Frank Bretz, Novartis, Statistics in with three senior leaders from research funders: Biopharmaceutical Research Chaitan Baru, senior adviser for data science in the NSF Computer and Information Science • The SPAIG Award was reinstated after a multi- and Engineering Directorate; Michelle Dunn, year hiatus. senior adviser for data science training, diversity, and outreach in the NIH Office of the • Journal prices were reviewed and an increase of Associate Director for Data Science; and Henry 5% on institutional North American and inter- Warchall, senior adviser in the NSF Division national print and online prices for 2017 was of Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical and approved. There is no increase planned for ASA Physical Sciences Directorate. member rates for print subscriptions.

Action Items • Five proposals through the Member Initiative • A revised version of the ASA’s Ethical Guidelines Program were funded by the board. for Statistical Practice (www.amstat.org/about/ ethicalguidelines.cfm) was approved by the board, • The board approved funding to make the ASA which thanked Howard Hogan and the other a sponsor of the 2016 Data Science and Applied members of the Committee on Professional Analytics (DSAA) Conference. Ethics for a job very well done. Reported Items • The board passed a resolution saying “the • On the financial side, Mingxiu Hu, ASA trea- ASA will not sign contracts for meetings in surer, reported to the board on the status of the any state that passes laws that discriminate ASA’s investments. Last year was not a good one for equities, but our investments are still in good

6 amstat news july 2016 shape overall. Associate Executive Director and Director of Operations Steve Porzio reported on 2016 Board of Directors the 2015 ASA end-of-year financials. The ASA Jessica Utts, President operated at $237,000 in the black during 2015. He said the ASA continues to be in good finan- Barry Nussbaum, President-elect cial condition and that 2016 net income is also David Morganstein, Past President expected to be in the black. The board received the ASA’s 2015 audit, which was once again a Jeri Mulrow, 3rd-Year Vice President “clean audit,” and thanked Porzio and the staff Rob Santos, 2nd-Year Vice President for its great work in that regard. Kathy Ensor, 1st-Year Vice President • As part of the ongoing development of board Dan Jeske, 3rd-Year Council of Chapters Representative members, the ASA’s auditor reviewed the basics of fiduciary responsibilities for nonprofit boards. Wendy Lou, 2nd-Year Council of Chapters Representative Paula Roberson, 1st-Year Council of Chapters Representative • Nell Sedransk, director of the National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS), discussed the tran- Cyndy Long, 3rd-Year Council of Sections Representative sitions taking place at NISS and looked at future Anna Nevius, 2nd-Year Council of Sections Representative directions of the organization. Eileen King, 1st-Year Council of Sections Representative • Trevor Butterworth and Rebecca Goldin Ming-Yen Cheng, International Representative reported to the board on the activities and plans David van Dyk, Publications Representative for STATS.org, the ASA’s media outreach in partnership with Sense About Science USA. Ron Wasserstein, Executive Director and Board Secretary Exciting plans for statistics training workshop development for media personnel were discussed. Response to current workshops and to STATS.org in general has been very good.

• ASA Vice President Jeri Mulrow reported to the (1) getting information about careers in statistics board on the activities of the committees that into high-school statistics classes; (2) prioritizing make up the ASA’s Membership Council. For the statistics education research agenda (as a help each, she reported on its major accomplishments to funders); (3) developing media training for of the past year and its anticipated activities statisticians; and (4) creating a “statistical ambas- for the coming year. Regular communication sadors’ roundtable.” All these initiatives are com- between the board and the various committees is ing along on schedule. essential to efficient operation of the association. • President-elect Barry Nussbaum introduced to • Equally important to the efficiency and effec- the board three areas of interest for develop- tiveness of the ASA are the chapters and sec- ing specific initiatives during 2017. He said he tions, so, as it always does, the board heard wants to find ways to increase member engage- detailed reports from the governing boards of ment, improve communication, and reach out both groups and their respective activities. The to young people as they consider career choices. Council of Chapters Governing Board is consid- He proposed specific ideas and asked for feed- ering ways to get more chapter representation at back. The board provided considerable feed- JSM. The Council of Sections Governing Board back, which Nussbaum will use to formalize the is addressing issues related to the cap on the initiatives. These initiatives will be formally pre- number of topic-contributed sessions at JSM. sented to the board at a later meeting.

• President Jessica Utts reported on the progress The board meets again July 29-30 in Chicago of her strategic initiatives for 2016. (All initia- immediately prior to JSM. ■ tives of the ASA presidents are based on the ASA’s strategic plan.) The four initiatives are

july 2016 amstat news 7 ASA LEADERS REMINISCE Lynne Billard

In the 19th installment of the Amstat News series of interviews with ASA presidents and executive directors, we feature a discussion with 1996 ASA President Lynne Billard.

In the 1980s, you worked most vulnerable cohort and also Qon research projects a cohort most influenced by designed to increase under- their peers. However, when standing of the incubation this incubation period was period of the human immu- closer to 10 years—instead of nodeficiency virus. This was 2-3-4 years—rather than seeing at a time when AIDS was their friends diagnosed while poorly understood and greatly still college mates, so to speak, feared. What misunderstand- 10 years meant those college ings about HIV and AIDS did friends were no longer close you and your research partners by to influence their behavior. address in this research, and Thus, for the health educa- what were the ramifications on tors, it was imperative to make public health education in the radical changes to the way they United States? approached this issue. The most important col- Billard The impact of these results Alaboration on HIV/AIDS was are still vivid to me. Let me back our work (Medley et al. in 1987 model that included distributions up a bit. I had gone on leave to and 1988; Billard et al. in 1990) of the unknown truncated times Imperial College to work with on the mean incubation period and that estimated the number of David Cox on some other topic. between becoming infected with unknown observations. The week before arriving, Roy HIV and being diagnosed with Another innovation was to Anderson, a renowned popula- AIDS. The data set consisted divide the data into age groups— tion biologist who at the time of the entire U.S. data of those young children, adults, and the was unfamiliar with epidem- who had received infected blood elderly. The results differed by ics, approached David for help transfusions and been diagnosed. age group—the mean incuba- with the data he had obtained Prior to our work, this incubation tion period, based on a Weibull from CDC [Centers for Disease period was effectively calculated distribution, was shorter for the Control and Prevention]. David by averaging the times for known young, about two years with knew I had worked in epidemic diagnosed individuals. The basic a standard deviation of 1.25, theory and so asked if we could set-up is that we had truncated because their immune systems change plans to work on this data. However, unlike then-trun- were not fully developed. We saw issue. Sure! That was July or cated data sets, we only had those a similar result for the elderly, maybe early August of 1986. By observations that had actually with a mean of about 5.6 years October, the mathematics was been diagnosed (i.e., the start and and standard deviation of 2.1, completed; however, I did not end points were known). because they were receiving know how to run their comput- There were clearly other blood transfusions reflecting er and we did not want to wait observations out there, but we their not-so-healthy condition. until my return to Georgia in did not know about them yet More importantly, the average January of 1987. Therefore, one because they were still undiag- time for adults was 8.1 with a of Anderson’s doctoral students, nosed. This meant we did not standard deviation of 3.6; this Graham Medley, was brought have any truncated times, nor did quickly became a 10-year figure. in to assist in the programming we know how many there were. At the time, 17- to 25-year- on the Imperial computer. By Therefore, we had to build a olds were viewed as being the November, we had our results. 8 amstat news july 2016 They were startlingly differ- Lynne Billard earned her BS with first class honors from Australia’s New South ent from previous results. David Wales University in 1966. As an undergraduate student, she was employed as a and I knew the mathematics was correct. The only question statistician with the Department of Main Roads in Sydney in 1963–1964 and as a was whether there were enough statistician with the Colonial Sugar Refinery in 1964–1965. She earned her PhD in data to ensure robustness; the 1969, again from Australia’s New South Wales University. 1990 paper answered that ques- Billard then held the position of lecturer at the University of Birmingham through tion affirmatively. Armed with 1970. She has since served on the faculty of the University of Waterloo, Florida the health education knowledge, State University, and the University of Georgia. She has also been a visiting faculty rather than statistical rigor, we were convinced by the ethical member with SUNY at Buffalo and Stanford University and a research fellow with humanitarian arguments that the the Naval Postgraduate School and University of California at Berkeley. In 2009, results had to be announced then Billard was named an honorary professorial fellow by the University of Melbourne. and not later. Therefore, I went She also held several administrative positions while with the University of back to my office and proceeded Georgia, including head of the department of computer science and statistics to write it all up. from 1980–1984, head of the department of statistics from 1984–1989, and By early 1987, I mailed the associate to the dean from 1989–1991. She was named a distinguished university draft manuscript to David. Soon professor by the University of Georgia in 1992. thereafter, the journal nature asked for a summary of the 1987 Billard has published more than 250 articles in a wide range of journals, as well as paper; the rest of my draft con- eight books. In 1990, she received the ASA’s Outstanding Statistical Application tained the details that came out Award for her work with Graham F. Medley, David R. Cox, and Roy M. Anderson in the Proceedings of the Royal on the distribution of the incubation period for AIDS, which was published in the Society B in 1988. I always think Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, Series B 233 in 1988. of those two papers as one. It was only yesterday—or so In addition to being the 1996 ASA president, Billard was international president of it seems; actually, it was 1987— the International Biometric Society from 1994–1995. She has served on countless when I heard the first public national and international committees for the ASA, International Biometric service announcement on NPR Society, International Statistical Institute, Institute of Mathematical Statistics, whilst driving into work on the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies, Interface Foundation of North education of the public about the America, and American Association for the Advancement of Science. She says the ramifications of being infected most interesting of these experiences was the appointment to the secretary of with HIV. It was stupefying. I commerce’s Census 2000 Advisory Board. just sat there and marveled that statistics could come up with a Billard has also received numerous awards, including ASA Fellow in 1980, Samuel real-life result so quickly, a result S. Wilks Award in 1999, and ASA Founder in 2003. Recently, she was inducted into that would alter the way people the Slovenian Statistical Society as an honorary fellow. saw things, at least as they related to this disease. Years later, in 2014, when working on a medical boat on the Amazon River, a health teacher from Oregon relayed a You established the Let me first say that, for some story explaining how those NPR Q“Pathways to the Future,” Aof those years, the Office of announcements changed her life. an annual National Science Naval Research also funded these We marveled at the smallness Foundation workshop from workshops; however, the original of our world. Here we were, an 1988 to 2004 that focused on funding did originate with NSF Australian and an American in mentoring women who had [National Science Foundation]. Brazil discussing work done in recently received PhDs in sta- It would be great to be able to England. Somehow, Alaska came tistics and wanted academic say that inequities had evolved into the equation, too. Such is the careers. How did the focus of to the disappearing point to the impact of, or should we say the these workshops evolve over its extent that the workshops were no breadth of, the world of, statistics! 16-year life? longer necessary. Unfortunately,

july 2016 amstat news 9 importance of the results, this has to be the two-paper set of HIV/ AIDS papers that we discussed earlier. That said, the derivation of the mathematical results was fun to do, too. Your most recent book, QSymbolic Data Analysis: Conceptual Statistics and Data Mining, takes a very different Lynne (left) with her mother, Chris Billard, in 2001. The UNSW mathematics and interesting approach to cadetship (see Q3) and her mother were key ingredients to Lynne’s career. data mining. What is the most innovative way you have seen while perceptions are that these the Department of Main Roads symbolic representation of inequities no longer exist, the in Sydney and for the Colonial data implemented into statis- data suggest otherwise. By and Sugar Refinery. How did these tical analyses since you and large, initial hiring is not a prob- experiences shape your ambi- Edwin Diday published this lem. Problems lie in inequitable tion for a career in statistics, book in 2006? promotion and tenure rates and how did they influence First, a brief description of and in salaries. Karen Kafadar your approach to research? Asymbolic data is that they and I reported on this in 2015 Well, not at all. The sum- are hypercubes in p-dimensional in Advancing Women in Science, Amer jobs came after I had space, instead of points as in clas- where we looked at national aca- embarked on statistics and were sical data. Some data arise natu- demic data up to 2014. Both arranged by my university for rally, but most will be products these aspects depend on subjec- statistics students. Over my of aggregations of larger data sets. tive evaluation of faculty work schooling, any elective chosen One example is interval- COMING UP Please return to in varying ways. Therefore, the was always what was perceived valued observations (e.g., low this column next need for the workshop focus still to be the hardest of the avail- vs. high stock prices over time, month, when we will pertains today. able choices. My mathematics minimum and maximum daily feature an interview Given the unfortunate but cadetship required that I do two temperatures, etc.). Take two with current ASA stark reality, the workshop would honors mathematics programs. samples of size n=1 with inter- Executive Director Ron Wasserstein. open with presentation of the Statistics was considered the val observations over [9, 11] and latest data, followed by several most difficult of all the (three) [0, 20], respectively. Any analysis discussions and sessions designed mathematics options offered. based on the midpoints only will to help participants not become Pure mathematics was a given, give the same results—which are victims to those realities. This so statistics was by default my usually incorrect—when clearly included addressing issues such other choice. However, while I the intervals are different and as the importance of publishing may have landed in statistics by so analyses should give differing their research; how to respond to an unorthodox route, I was very results. It is the internal varia- deflating referee reports—deflat- glad to discover this most excit- tions that distinguish symbolic ing at these early stages of a career ing world. So, back to your ques- analyses from classical ones. since most young researchers are tion, yes, it was nice to engage Probably the most exciting so sure “everyone” will acknowl- in real-life statistical work. Some analyses so far are the principal edge and appreciate their work— of those experiences have fueled component analyses of inter- the importance of attending and many illustrations in my teaching val observations with the PCA presenting their work at meet- over the years. projections being polytopes; ings; and grants, teaching, pro- Of the well over 250 publi- you can read more about this motion, and tenure—the usual Qcations you have published, in the Journal of Computational steps along an academic career. which was the most interesting and Graphical Statistics The success rate of pathways to you? Why? (Le-Rademacher and Billard, alumnae is very gratifying indeed. Which one? There are many 2012). Even more interesting is Prior to earning your PhD Ainteresting and satisfying the fact that the output princi- Qfrom the University of New papers, depending on the con- pal components are histogram- South Wales, you worked dur- text in which the work was valued observations, not points ing summers as a statistician for undertaken. However, given the nor intervals. ■ 10 amstat news july 2016 Staff Spotlight: New Science Policy Fellow Amy Nussbaum Steve Pierson, ASA Director of Science Policy

Photo by Sara Davidson he ASA is excited to welcome Amy Nussbaum to the ASA as the inaugural Tscience policy fellow. Nussbaum started May 31 in her work to amplify the ASA’s science policy efforts to raise the profile of statisticians in policy making and advocate on behalf of the statistics community. Initially, Nussbaum will work on a variety of ongoing projects—from STEM education to forensic science—while also exploring new science policy activities. Originally from Illinois, Nussbaum completed her PhD in statistical science from Southern Methodist University. Her gradu- Nussbaum ate research was on the statistical challenges of analyzing person- beliefs around the ASA science She began her academic ality assessment data within the policy fellowship position, say- career at Wheaton College, a greater field of psychology and ing, “As statisticians, we have a small liberal arts school in sub- culminated in her dissertation, responsibility to present analyses urban Chicago, where she stud- Analysis of Longitudinal Latent- objectively and ethically, and we ied mathematics and psychology Variable Models with Two Sources should be held accountable for while always keeping a career in of Measurement Error. Her PhD abusing our skills or misleading statistics in mind. She realized as adviser is Cornelis Potgieter. others. We also have a duty to tell an undergraduate that combin- Nussbaum spent the 2016 a story of our results in such a way ing ideas from separate arenas spring semester teaching that anyone could understand almost always resulted in a deeper Introduction to Statistical Methods without getting bogged down understanding of complex con- in the statistical science depart- in complicated terminology or cepts and stronger solutions to ment at SMU and Experimental trivial minutiae. Complicated difficult problems, and that col- Statistics I and II for SMU’s MS in examples are rarely helpful, and laborating with others brings out Data Science program. it is a skill to present illustrations the best in herself. Crediting SMU’s statistical that paint a picture of the con- In her free time, Nussbaum sciences department’s emphasis cepts without burdening people enjoys traveling, trying new res- on the ability to communicate with unnecessary complexities.” taurants, and reading—especially statistical concepts and results Nussbaum has a particular inter- presidential biographies. She is in a clear and concise manner, est in public policy regarding sta- particularly glad to be living and Nussbaum expressed her inter- tistical literacy and encouraging working in the Alexandria area, est in, qualifications for, and young women in STEM fields. since it has such a rich history. n

july 2016 amstat news 11 Lisa LaVange G. David Willimason LaVange Elected ASA President Williamson Elected Vice President

Lisa LaVange, director of the Office of Biostatistics work to lay audiences. My work in government, aca- in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research demia, and private industry has allowed me to grasp (CDER) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the big picture and relate to the experiences of stat- (FDA), has been elected the 113th president of the isticians everywhere. I look forward to working with ASA. LaVange will serve a one-year term as president- the ASA Board, staff, and members to expand the elect beginning January 1, 2017. Her term as president value and understanding of our profession and the becomes effective January 1, 2018. critical role statistics plays in all aspects of life.” The ASA membership also elected G. David At FDA, LaVange is responsible for developing Williamson, senior science adviser at the U.S. policies and procedures to guide statistical review of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regulatory submissions in addition to coordinating as an ASA vice president. biometric research to evaluate drugs and therapeu- “Statistics is experiencing great strides these days, tic biologics and providing comprehensive statistical from the expansion of undergraduate degree pro- services to CDER scientific and regulatory programs. grams across the country to the surge in employment In doing so, she oversees the work of more than opportunities associated with the data revolution. 170 statistical reviewers. Prior to joining the FDA, And yet, with that energy and growth, come chal- LaVange was a professor in the Gillings School of lenges,” said LaVange. “It could be experts in other Global Public Health at The University of North fields who lack statistical training or even statisticians Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also spent 10 years experiencing difficulty communicating about their in the pharmaceutical industry as vice president

12 amstat news july 2016 of biostatistics and data management for Inspire Among his appointments with the ASA, Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and as vice president of sta- Williamson became a fellow in 2004 and was Joint tistics for North American clinical development at Program Committee chair of JSM in 2000. Active Quintiles, Inc. on awards and membership committees, Williamson Elected as an ASA Fellow in 2004, LaVange has also served as vice chair of the Committee on held numerous leadership positions, including JSM Meetings from 1999–2002; was a member of the program chair, general methodology program chair, Fellows Nominating Committee of the Statistics and section program chair. She was editor-in-chief and the Environment Section from 2004–2006; and of the ASA-SIAM book series, co-editor of the jour- was program chair of the Statistics in Epidemiology nal Pharmaceutical Statistics, and associate editor of Section in 1997. Statistics in Biopharmaceutical Research. LaVange earned her PhD in biostatistics from The The ASA membership also elected: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1983, Jim Lepkowski, professor in the department of her master’s in mathematics from the University of biostatistics at the University of Michigan, Massachusetts at Amherst in 1976, and her unde- as Council of Sections Representative to the graduate degree in mathematics from The University ASA Board of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974. Julia Sharp, associate professor in mathemati- G. David Williamson is senior science adviser and cal sciences at Clemson University, as Council of executive director of the Statistical Advisory Group Chapters Representative to the ASA Board at the CDC and an adjunct professor in the department of biostatistics and bioinformatics in the school Cynthia Bocci of Statistics Canada as the of public health at Emory University and Georgia International Representative to the ASA Board Southern University. Prior to that, he was the asso- Terri Utlaut, principal engineer and statistician ciate director of science at the CDC’s National at Intel Corp., as chair-elect of the Council of Center for Injury Prevention and chief science offi- Sections Governing Board cer in the Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Alex Hanlon, Laboratory Science. research professor of nursing at the He earned his PhD in biostatistics from Emory University of Pennsylvania, as chair-elect of the University in 1987; two master’s degrees in statis- Council of Chapters Governing Board tics and biology from Virginia Tech and Georgia Officers for each of the ASA’s 27 sections, are fea- Southern, respectively; and an undergraduate degree tured below: in biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1973. Section Officers

Vice-Chair, Region 3, District 5 Council of Sections Biopharmaceutical Melinda Holt, Sam Houston State Representative Chair-Elect University Lynn Lin, Penn State Heather Thomas, PRA Health Sciences Vice-Chair, Region 3, District 6 Biometrics Ji-Hyun Lee, University of New Chair-Elect, 2017 Program Chair-Elect Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Rebecca Hubbard, University Qi Jiang, Amgen Center of Pennsylvania and University of Washington Treasurer Vice-Chair Alan Hartford, AbbVie William Notz, The Ohio State Secretary/Treasurer University Sherri Rose, Harvard Medical Council of Sections School Representative Bayesian Statistical Science Erik Pulkstenis, MedImmune Chair-Elect Council of Sections Merlise Clyde, Duke University Representative Business and Economic Pamela Shaw, University of Statistics Program Chair-Elect Pennsylvania Perelman School of Chair-Elect Elena Erosheva, University of Medicine Ataman Ozyildirim, The Washington Conference Board

july 2016 amstat news 13 Program Chair-Elect Mental Health Statistics Social Statistics David Matteson, Cornell Chair-Elect Chair-Elect University Yuanjia Wang, Columbia Paul Beatty, U.S. Census University and New York State Bureau Secretary/Treasurer Psychiatric Institute Henry Hyatt, U.S. Census Bureau Program Chair-Elect Program Chair-Elect Asaph Young Chun, U.S. Census Council of Sections Hongyuan Cao, University of Bureau Representative Missouri Bruce Meyer, The University of Publications Officer Chicago and National Bureau of Nonparametric Morgan Earp, Bureau of Labor Economic Research Chair-Elect Statistics and The George Ingrid Van Keilegom, Université Washington University Government Statistics catholique de Louvain Chair-Elect Statistical Computing Marilyln Seastrom, National Program Chair-Elect Chair-Elect Center for Education Statistics Lan Wang, University of Juergen Symanzik, Utah State Minnesota University Program Chair-Elect Gina Walejko, U.S. Census Bureau Treasurer, 2017 Program Chair-Elect John Staudenmayer, University Hadley Wickham, RStudio and Secretary/Treasurer of Massachusetts The University of Auckland Darcy Miller, National Agricultural Statistics Service Physical and Engineering Publications Officer and The George Washington Sciences Radu Herbei, The Ohio State University Chair-Elect University Peter Hovey, University of Dayton Publications Officer Council of Sections Jenny Guarino, U.S. Department Program Chair-Elect Representative of Transportation Yili Hong, Virginia Tech Cheryl Flynn, AT&T Labs Research

Health Policy Statistics Quality and Productivity Statistical Consulting Chair-Elect Chair-Elect Chair-Elect Kelly Zou, Pfizer Inc. Erin Tanenbaum, NORC at the Kim Love, K.R. Love University of Chicago Quantitative Consulting and Council of Sections Collaboration Representative Program Chair-Elect Donald Hedeker, The University Zhanpan Zhang, General Electric Publications Officer of Chicago Global Research Mary Kwasny, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medical Devices and Risk Analysis Medicine Diagnostics Chair-Elect Chair-Elect Michael Pennell, The Ohio State Executive Committee-at-Large Xiting Yang, FDA University Manisha Desai, Stanford University Program Chair-Elect Program Chair-Elect Alicia Toledano, Biostatistics Sanjib Basu, Northern Illinois Statistical Education Consulting, LLC University Chair-Elect Beth Chance, Cal Poly Council of Sections Council of Sections Representative Representative Council of Sections Greg Maislin, Biomedical Susan Simmons, The University Representative Statistical Consulting and of North Carolina at Wilmington Erin Blankenship, University of University of Pennsylvania Nebraska School of Medicine

14 amstat news july 2016 Publications Officer Statistics and the Environment Program Chair-Elect Ellen Kay Endriss, Career Center Chair-Elect Lexin Li, University of California High School and Forsyth Kathryn (Kathi) Irvine, U.S. at Berkeley Community Emergency Geological Survey Response Team Statistics in Marketing Program Chair-Elect Chair-Elect Executive Committee-at-Large Erin Schliep, University of Missouri Alan Montgomery, Carnegie Garrett Grolemund, RStudio Mellon University Rebecca Nugent, Carnegie Treasurer Mellon University Eunice Kim, Amherst College Program Chair-Elect Hui Lin, DuPont Pioneer Statistical Graphics Statistics in Defense and Chair-Elect National Security Secretary/Publications Officer John (Jay) Emerson, Yale Chair-Elect Adraine Upshaw, SAS Analytics University Arthur Fries, Institute for Defense BBVA Compass Analyses Program Chair-Elect Council of Sections Isabella Ghement, Ghement Program Chair-Elect Representative Statistical Consulting Robert Gramacy, The University Todd Sanger, Eli Lilly and Company Ltd. of Chicago Company

Secretary/Treasurer Secretary/Treasurer Statistics in Sports Charlotte Wickham, Oregon Rebecca Dickinson, Institute for Chair-Elect State University Defense Analyses Michael Schuckers, St. Lawrence University Council of Sections Publications Officer Representative Joseph Warfield, The Johns Program Chair-Elect Susan VanderPlas, Nebraska Hopkins University Applied Andrew Thomas, Minnesota Wild Public Power District Physics Laboratory Survey Research Methods Statistical Learning and Data Statistics in Epidemiology Chair-Elect Science Chair-Elect Karol Krotki, RTI International Chair-Elect Dylan Small, The Wharton School Cynthia Rudin, MIT Program Chair-Elect Program Chair-Elect Stas Kolenikov, Abt SRBI Program Chair-Elect Charles Hall, Albert Einstein R. Todd Ogden, Columbia College of Medicine Publications Officer University and New York State Tony An, SAS Institute Psychiatric Institute Council of Sections Representative Education Officer Council of Sections Diqiong Xie, FDA Rebecca Andridge, The Ohio Representative State University Benjamin Baumer, Smith College Statistics in Genomics and Genetics Treasurer Statistical Programmers and Chair-Elect Steven Pedlow, NORC at the Analysts Debashis Ghosh, Colorado University of Chicago Chair-Elect School of Public Health Melvin Munsaka, Takeda Teaching of Statistics in the Development Center North Program Chair-Elect Health Sciences America, Inc. Wenyi Wang, MD Anderson Chair-Elect, 2017 Cancer Center and Texas A&M Jeff Szychowski, University of Program Chair-Elect Alabama at Birmingham n Kuolung Hu, Amgen Statistics in Imaging Chair-Elect Nicole Lazar, University of Georgia

july 2016 amstat news 15 Proposals Wanted for REU Sites

he American Statistical Association has At least two faculty mentors are necessary for received National Science Foundation each project. Projects with an interdisciplinary com- (NSF) funding to support Research ponent are also encouraged. Each REU site must TExperience for Undergraduates (REU) sites. take place within a 10-week window, beginning Proposals are due August 15, 2016, for faculty May 15, 2017, and ending August 25, 2017. who want to conduct an ASA-coordinated REU site Funded proposals will provide stipends for the during the summer of 2017. REU students and faculty mentors. Priority will Each proposal should describe one or more proj- be given to faculty who have a strong track record ects for four students. The students should be most- as a mentor with undergraduate student research- ly chosen from other institutions (rather than from ers and/or a strong track record of independent the investigator’s own). As an integral part of their research with an eagerness to begin working with statistics research, funded proposals will engage stu- undergraduate students. dents in all stages of the data analysis cycle, includ- For more information and to download an appli- ing the following: cation, visit http://bit.ly/1Yy6AfQ. Questions may • Data verification be sent to [email protected]. Recruitment should target (but not be limited to) women, minorities, and • Data cleaning persons with disabilities. Supported students must • Data visualization be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. • Statistical modeling This material is based upon work supported by the NSF under Grant No. DMS-1560332. n • Prediction • Data mining/machine learning/ computational statistics

16 amstat news july 2016 Reproducible Research in JASA Montse Fuentes, Coordinating Editor of JASA and Editor of JASA ACS

Starting September 1, 2016, JASA ACS will require code and data as a minimum standard for reproducibility of statistical scientific research. New infra- Reproducibility of scientific structure is being established to support this initiative. Each manuscript will go through the research is our ultimate current review process managed by an associate editor (AE), who goal, and the code and data will assign to one of the reviewers the broad evaluation of the code. requirement is a first step in A new editorial role—associate editor for reproducibility (AER)— will be added to ensure we meet a that direction. standard of reproducibility. The AER will handle the review of manuscripts that have already gone through the ocietal impact through sci- review process and are accept- entific advances is predi- able for publication based on MORE ONLINE cated on discovery and new their scientific merit as judged The computer code and data To view the latest issue knowledgeS that is reliable and by the reviewers and AE, pend- used to derive the results will of JASA, visit www. robust and provides a solid tandfonline.com/ ing assessment of the code and be made available through the toc/uasa20/current#. foundation on which further data. This assessment will involve JASA website. Alternatively, code V18QeecrItE. advances can be built. the availability of code and data and/or data that are available in Unfortunately, there is evidence and a broad evaluation of the suitable public repositories with many published scientific results quality and potential for usability appropriate versioning can be will not stand the test of time, in of the code and data by others who linked to from the JASA website. part due to the lack of good scien- might seek to reproduce the work. The submission of code and tific practices for reproducibility. Christopher Paciorek, Victoria data will be a condition for accep- Our statistical profession has Stodden, and Julian Wolfson will tance. Exceptions will be made a responsibility to establish pub- be JASA’s first group of AERs. for lack of adherence of this pol- lication standards that improve Paciorek is a researcher, lec- icy for proprietary data, but code the transparency and robustness turer, and statistical computing will be required in all cases. of what we publish and to pro- consultant in the department Reproducibility of scientific mote awareness within the scien- of statistics at the University research is our ultimate goal, and tific community of the need for of California at Berkeley. the code and data requirement is rigor in our statistical research Stodden is an associate profes- a first step in that direction. We to ensure reproducibility of our sor at the University of Illinois, all have a part in promoting and scientific results. JASA is com- Urbana-Champaign, and enabling reproducibility, and we mitted to helping lead the effort Wolfson is an assistant professor seek your full support to help by presenting solutions that can at the University of Minnesota. promote the robustness of our help improve research quality All three have extensive experi- published research. n and reproducibility. ence in statistical programming.

july 2016 amstat news 17 JQAS HIGHLIGHTS Featured in June: Basketball, Hockey, Baseball, and Formula One Racing Mark E. Glickman, JQAS Editor-in-Chief

he June 2016 issue (volume 12, issue 2) of type, and weather conditions using complex vari- the Journal of Quantitative Analysis in ance functions. Using 905 Formula 1 races between Sports (JQAS) consists of four articles with 1950 and 2014, the authors address the question of Tapplications to basketball, hockey, baseball, and who is the best Formula 1 driver of all time. car racing. “Improved Component Predictions of Batting “Estimating an NBA Player’s Impact on His and Pitching Measures” by Jim Albert decomposes Team’s Chances of Winning” by Sameer Deshpande standard measures of batting and pitching perfor- and Shane Jensen is the Editor’s Choice article for mance into subcomponents, and then considers this issue and available for free download for the specification of the measures through telescoping next 12 months. The article develops an approach products of conditional probabilities. The sub- to evaluating player contributions in the NBA using components are modeled as multinomial distribu- a two-step process. They first construct a win-prob- tions within a Bayesian framework. The approach ability model for NBA games that estimates the is demonstrated on Major League Baseball data probability of a game outcome as a function of time and applies the decomposition approach to bat- remaining in the game and the current score differ- ting averages, on-base percentage, and the Fielding ence. Using the fitted probabilities from this model, Independent Pitching measure for pitching success. they evaluate player contributions to the change Finally, “Beating the Market on NHL Hockey in the fitted probabilities through Bayesian linear Games” by Samuel Buttrey develops a method for models that control for other players on the court predicting the outcome of National Hockey League and other important factors. They demonstrate (NHL) games. The goal-production process is their approach on seven years of NBA play-by-play modeled by a pair of Poisson processes, producing data and construct player impact scores that permit goals at a rate that is assumed constant for each assessments of players’ worth to their teams. manpower situation over the course of a game. The “Formula for Success: Multilevel Modeling of author constructs a betting strategy using the prob- Formula One Driver and Constructor Performance” abilities predicted on 2013–2014 validation data by Andrew Bell, James Smith, Clive Sabel, and with favorable results. Kelvyn Jones models points scored by drivers in These articles are available to all members of the Formula 1 races in a cross-classified multilevel Statistics in Sports Section and on a subscription model that partitions variance into team, team- basis from the JQAS website, which can be found at year, and driver levels to measure driver ability con- www.degruyter.com/view/j/jqas. Prospective authors ditional on team performance. The linear effects in can find the journal’s aims, scope, and manuscript the model are then allowed to vary by year, track submission instructions on site, as well. n

18 amstat news july 2016 Successful JSM Mentoring Workshop Gives Participants Much to Say

An ‘Oval Table’ Discussion In addition to the JSM Mentoring Workshop at JSM this year, the Committee on Applied Statisticians will host an “oval table” discussion for all organizations interested in starting a statistical mentoring program. Committee Erin Tanenbaum is a senior members will provide “Mentoring in a Box,” which provides statistician at NORC at the step-by-step instructions for organizers. Also, there will be University of Chicago. She is an open question-and-answer session, during which other the chair of the Committee mentoring program organizers will be available to answer on Applied Statisticians (CAS) and was especially motivated questions. The oval table discussion is free, but an RSVP is to write, receive funding for, requested to [email protected]. and eventually lead CAS in their four-year mentoring program starting with the 2012 Member Initiative JSM 2016 is fast approaching program at www.amstat.org/ “Developing and Piloting a and, as such, it’s time for me to meetings/jsm/2016/onlineprogram Partnership ASA Mentorship reflect on last year’s sessions. JSM for up-to-date time and location Program” since she needed 2015 was most likely the busiest information) with the Mentoring mentoring her first year conference for the Committee Award Committee. attending JSM. on Applied Statisticians to date. This year’s workshop is geared “If it hadn’t been for my Our mentoring initiative reached for mentors and mentees alike, former co-worker, Jeri Mulrow, a fevered pitch as we hosted two and the program will include I might not have returned mentoring roundtable discus- short presentations about getting because I felt like a small fleck sions, a mentoring workshop, and the most out of mentoring. In in the ginormous conference.” a mixer, as well as assisting with addition, we will have panelists Instead, Jeri encouraged the JSM mentoring program. who will share their mentoring Erin to get involved and she The committee worked tire- stories and answer your questions. happily admits this has made lessly to formulate and build The session will be held in a room JSM feel much smaller and mentoring materials specifi- with round tables, so there will be more obtainable. “I’m thrilled I cally for ASA members, and we multiple opportunities for attend- didn’t stop attending because shared what we learned with ees to interact with one another the sessions are of such high JSM attendees. Over multiple and discuss their own challenges quality and diversity. I would months, our committee met to and learning opportunities. have missed a lot if I’d stopped discuss and sometimes debate Since the format is similar to attending.” the finer points of mentoring. last year’s, I thought I’d share a Our hard work paid off, as the few comments from workshop This summer will be Mentoring Workshop was a attendees and a table leader. We Tanenbaum’s 11th consecutive huge success, so much so that hope to see you at this year’s year attending JSM.. we plan to repeat the workshop workshop, which is free and open again this year (see the online to all conference attendees.

july 2016 amstat news 19 Zachary H. Seeskin, PhD Thilaksha Tharanganie, David Banks, ASA Fellow and Candidate in Statistics at Assistant Lecturer at Monash Professor at Duke University Northwestern University University and a U.S. Census Bureau Dissertation Fellow

“Last summer, at my first JSM “This was my first time “The Mentoring Workshop at in Seattle, I found the Mentoring attending a JSM and I found it the JSM in Seattle was depress- Workshop to be one of the most a little overwhelming. I was one ing. Every young person I spoke valuable sessions I attended. As of the recipients of an Institute to was brilliant and charming and JSM is a large conference with of Mathematical Statistics Travel working on some amazing proj- more than 6,000 statisticians, it Award, which assisted me with ect. Most were tackling problems can be hard to find chances to the costs of attending JSM. I that hadn’t even been framed 10 meet new people. The Mentoring networked with peers from all years ago, using tools and con- Workshop helped to make JSM over the world. For me, a high- cepts that were almost alien to feel smaller and was a great place light of attending the JSM was me. I felt like the Neanderthals to meet others. My table included to attend the workshops, includ- in William Golding’s The both early career and experienced ing the Writing Workshop and Inheritors, or the adults in The statisticians, all friendly and eager Mentoring Workshop. The Midwich Cuckoos. At first, there to share their perspectives. The feedback I received from the didn’t seem to be anything useful session included opportunities Writing Workshop mentor, I could offer them—the mentees for casual conversation to dis- Professor David Banks from are our successors and ‘surpassers’ cuss some topics suggested by the Duke University, was invaluable. and see their way forward pretty organizers and for Q+A with a In addition, I was selected to par- clearly. But I found I could con- panel of experienced statisticians. ticipate in the JSM mentoring tribute a few small things, such I learned about how good men- and was matched with a mentor, as some insight into the oddities torship was important to many Ms. Erin Tanenbaum, who is a of our publication process or tips of the experienced statisticians at senior statistician in the statistics for work/life balance. They also our table when they were begin- and methodology department liked gossip about the old guard. ning their careers. One valuable at NORC at the University of Would I do it again? Yes. It made piece of advice was to seek men- Chicago. She encouraged me to me feel really old, but probably tors both within and outside of attend the Mentoring Workshop, keeps me younger than I could one’s organization/department, where I was able to connect otherwise manage.” as both perspectives are help- with like-minded statisticians. ful when starting a career. I I am immensely grateful for all would highly recommend the her advice and for the informa- Mentoring Workshop to gradu- tion I learned at the Mentoring ate students and early career stat- Workshop. It definitely made the isticians, and I hope to attend conference feel smaller—with again this summer.” over 6,000 statisticians attending each year, it’s always helpful to feel more connected with others when you are so far away from home. Overall, my participation in the 2015 JSM opened up doors to the wider world.”

20 amstat news july 2016 soon dean Sally C. Morton, and dean Sastry Pantula. All of them were past ASA presidents who talked about their background and experience as mentors. There was unique, but common, key take- away messages from each of these leaders in the statistical profession. For example, I enjoyed David’s perspective from the industry side, Sarah Kalicin, Senior Statistician Kelly H. Zou, PStat®, ASA Sally’s view as a successful woman at Intel Corporation Fellow, and Senior Director statistician, and Sastry’s personal and Analytic Science Lead at background growing up in Asia. Pfizer Inc. Furthermore, I enjoyed the enthusiasm of the workshop organizers—Erin R. Tanenbaum, Eric “Last year, I attended the JSM “Dr. Barry D. Nussbaum, the A. Vance, and Mark Otto—who Mentoring Workshop to support incoming president, forwarded me represented the Committee on that our association is promoting the workshop flier prior to JSM. Applied Statisticians and ensured the development of our fellow It interested me since I’ve been a lively session, including ques- statisticians. Mentoring is about a mentor through ASA plus my tions from the audience answered helping each other grow so that company, Pfizer Inc. I have been by the panelists. The responses by we all become stronger in how quite active in participating in the the three panelists were extremely we practice our profession and mentorship process, organized by helpful and witty. Overall, I found contribute effectively to our work our Global Asian Alliance (GAA) this workshop engaging and ener- organizations. While I have been within my company. In my own gizing. It was satisfying, reassuring, an advocate for mentoring within career development, a thought- and heart-warming to know that the ASA, it is always great to hear ful and caring mentor became a the journey of being an outstand- how others are using mentoring guiding light. Subsequently, I have ing statistician was bumpy and that MORE ONLINE and how to remove any barriers become a mentor. Therefore, both our statistical societies, such as the To register for the Joint for others in adopting this very as a JSM mentor and as a GAA ASA, are so supportive of fostering Statistical Meetings, effective development tool. In mentor, I was curious and hope- a future generation of statisticians. visit www.amstat.org/ the spirit of mentoring, the more ful that this workshop would shed “The key characteristics of an meetings/jsm/2016/ we share our strengths with oth- light on effective mentorship skills. effective mentor are listening and registration. ers, the stronger we become as a “The 2015 Mentoring problem-solving skills. Nowadays, profession. I highly recommend Workshop organizers included a such ‘soft skills,’ as well as techni- everyone to attend the next ASA roundtable format for face-to-face cal prowess, are crucial in business Mentoring Workshop to learn interactions, complementary to acumen and leadership qualities how you can become both a the one-on-one JSM mentorship. in the field of statistics, data sci- mentee (to learn something new) The participants at every table ences, and quantitative analytics. and a mentor (to share what you introduced themselves and paid The JSM Mentoring Workshop have learned).” attention to the attendees’ particu- would definitely enhance the pro- lar needs. Among the table, there fessional network, support system, were familiar faces, including Dr. and match-making process to help Lillian Lin, who was a recipient of facilitate mentorship needs. the Jeanne E. Griffith Mentoring “Under the big tent for statistics Award from the ASA. The car- following the 175th anniversary ing table leaders of the workshop celebration of the ASA, there are asked about the attendees’ (men- abundant opportunities to mentor tors and mentees) challenges and and be mentored. I would certain- dilemmas. Both sides enjoyed two- ly look forward to attending the way interactions through learning, JSM Mentoring Workshop again conversing, and sharing. in 2016 and beyond! The topic “My favorite part of the work- of mentorship brings me the fond shop was to listen to three dis- memory of and the deep respect tinguished panelists: David R. for influential statisticians who Morganstein, professor and very made a difference in my life.” n july 2016 amstat news 21 columns

STATtr@k Classroom to Collaboration: Tips for a Successful Transition

s students, we anticipate differences between practicing statistics in the classroom and practicing statistics in the real world. We know we will no longer have our textbooks or professors providing us with clearly phrasedA questions that we are prepared to answer. We know the data will not be as perfect or as small as those textbook examples. We know we will work with nonstatisticians, some of whom think statistics is magic. But anticipating these differences is not the same as experiencing them—the reality can be overwhelming when we start practicing statistics outside the classroom. Come along with me as I provide tips to ease the transition from student to collabora- tor based on my own experience in a collaborative research lab.

Learn to communicate. Establish good working Brittney Bailey is a biostatistics PhD In a collaborative setting, you are often working relationships. student at The Ohio with nonstatisticians to help answer their ques- State University who is interested in the tions. You may be brought onto a project at any Good communication must be maintained for the analysis of clinical trials time, from developing hypotheses and designing a duration of the project. Be clear about what you with partially clustered study to running analyses and interpreting results. expect from your collaborators and what they can designs. As a graduate Regardless of when you are brought on, the first step expect from you. Take the time to clarify anything student researcher, is discussing the project with someone else. If the you are unsure about and rephrase ideas to ensure she collaborates with field is unfamiliar to you, you should learn enough you are all on the same page. Respond to messages researchers in the Stress & Health Lab of the about it to be able to communicate with your col- in a timely manner, even if it’s just to acknowledge Wexner Medical Center. laborators. Read prior literature or study protocols receipt of the message, and provide progress updates produced by your collaborators. Google terms or if a task takes longer than expected. Be prepared for ask your collaborators to explain concepts you do meetings by reviewing the project beforehand and not understand. There may be a lot of back-and- having materials ready to present. forth as both you and your collaborators become familiar with different terms or concepts. You are also responsible for interpreting results Prepare for difficult and making sure your collaborators understand both the results and, to a certain degree, the meth- conversations. ods used to obtain the results. You may need to explain the methods or results in several ways, In some cases, you may have to deliver bad news. whether it’s by using graphics and tables, modifying Maybe the study is not feasible due to sample size your wording until they get a better understanding, limitations or the data are not salvageable due to miss- or tying more abstract ideas to real-world examples. ingness, measurement errors, or poor data collection.

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Confidence in your own ability will help you be more productive and alleviate the stress Maybe you made a mistake at some point in your analyses and the results are no longer significant. In that tends to accompany a lack of confidence. other situations, you may not be comfortable with a task due to ethical or scientific concerns. These are not easy conversations to have, especially when collaborators are under pressure to produce results. Try to have difficult conversations in person when possible, and maintain a respectful and pro- collaborators, and they will also need to be able fessional tone in all forms of communication. If you to present their results to others. Your approach will make a mistake, own up to it quickly and make often be a balance between correctness and simplicity. every effort to resolve the problem. When it comes to ethical or scientific concerns, be prepared to stand your ground. You may have to defend your Continue to learn. position, but you should not do anything you are not comfortable with. If you are not sure whether Remember that learning never ends. If you have the your concerns are valid, discuss them with a trust- benefit of working with a mentor when you begin, ed colleague or mentor before bringing them to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from your collaborators. them and get feedback on your performance. If you are not sure about a method, take the time to read about it—review old notes or textbooks, research Be patient with less-than- online, or reach out to a mentor or colleague. Stay updated on current methods by occasion- perfect data. ally browsing journals or conference proceedings. Attend conferences, workshops, and short courses Real-world data can be awful. You may spend a sig- when possible—these are great opportunities to get nificant amount of time restructuring the data file, new ideas and connect with other statisticians and renaming variables, and cleaning the data just to get potential collaborators. it in a usable format. Before doing anything, be sure to save the original data to a folder where it will never be edited. Be confident. Even with an excellent data management system, real-world data are subject to missingness, limits of Confidence goes a long way. Confidence in your detection, outliers, and other errors that make analy- own ability will help you be more productive and ses more difficult (or sometimes impossible). In many alleviate the stress that tends to accompany a lack cases, the data do not satisfy the assumptions needed of confidence. If you interact with your collabora- to perform your planned analyses. You might be tors and present your work with confidence, your tempted to transform the data or try a more com- collaborators will have more respect for you and plex method of analysis, but you must keep in mind more trust in your work. It may take time to build the goals of the collaborators and the limitations of confidence, but you should trust that the years you what they are comfortable with you doing. You spent training in statistics have prepared you well will need to be able to explain your choices to your for your collaborative role. n

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MASTER’S NOTEBOOK Applied Statisticians: Get the MOST Out of JSM

am delighted to rejoin the ASA Committee on If you prefer more of partying opportunity, don’t Applied Statisticians (CAS) as a recently appoint- miss the JSM Opening Mixer (enjoy the desserts) ed member. I am also excited to be part of a new, on Sunday night and the JSM Dance Party Tuesday concentratedI effort by the committee to develop night. Also, take the time to enjoy a drink or bite awareness and promote careers in applied statistics. to eat during a reception while learning about the Amit Bhattacharyya is an applied statistician Many of my fellow statisticians are actively reg- host’s contributions to statistics and applications. who has worked in istering for the yearly pilgrimage to JSM, the Joint The Committee on Applied Statistics’ Social Mixer the pharmaceutical Statistical Meetings. This year, the event will be held will take place August 1 at 5 p.m. in the Hilton, industry for the last 23 in the windy city of Chicago from July 30 to August Room 4L. years—most recently, 4. I am calling on you to engage in thoughtful dis- Volunteering for sections, chapters, committees, as the senior director at GlaxoSmithKline. cussions about various uses of statistical principles initiatives, and other opportunities is one of the best Bhattacharyya has also and applications. ways to contribute to our profession. In doing so, I been active with the ASA Appropriately, the theme for JSM 2016 is “The have met new people and acquired roles in the orga- and other international Extraordinary Power of Statistics.” JSM is a great nization while having a lot of fun each year at JSM. statistical professional venue for networking and learning; it’s also where With more than 700 technical sessions in addi- associations. He earned I have met most of my professional colleagues over tion to short courses and business meetings, it is his PhD in statistics from the University of the decades. Attend your sections’ receptions, as daunting to decide which sessions to attend. The Maryland. well as any reception or business meeting listed place to start is the JSM online program (www. in the program that is not closed. These meetings amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2016/onlineprogram), where are a good opportunity to meet others working on a number of events containing an asterisk (*) imply similar challenges. that the paper, panel, or poster is on an applied topic (keep in mind that “applied” is a relative term). Wearing the hat of an applied statistician, I typi- cally go to the Advanced Search option and look for sessions sponsored by sections familiar to me. Being JSM a biopharmaceutical statistician, that is the section I look up first. CAS also co-sponsors a handful of DANCE sessions. And many CAS committee members this year are associated with the Statistical Consulting PARTY Section, so I will search by that section, too. In addition to sessions, there are plenty of continuing education courses to enhance your devel- Snacks, a cash bar, opment in a new area. These are additional-fee and a DJ events worth considering, as they add value to the JSM experience. If you’d like to learn about a new upcoming area, look for introductory overview lec- Tuesday, August 2 tures, which are usually delivered at a basic level. 9:30 p.m.-12:00 a.m. For sharing ideas or meeting new people work- H-Continental Ballroom ing on similar areas of interest, try out an A.M. (with breakfast) or P.M. (with lunch) roundtable.

I look forward to seeing you in Chicago!

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JSM 2016 Applied Events Recommended by CAS Members

Date Location Day Time Topic SHORT COURSES 07/30/2016 CC-W473 Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Effective Collaboration, Part I (ADDED FEE) 07/31/2016 CC-W473 Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Effective Collaboration, Part II (ADDED FEE) Preparing Statisticians for Leadership: 07/31/2016 CC-W473 Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. How to See the Big Picture and Have More Influence, Part II (ADDED FEE) APPLIED SESSIONS 07/31/2016 CC-W183b Sunday 4:00 p.m. – 5:50 p.m. Making the Most of R Tools 07/31/2016 CC-W176a Sunday 4:00 p.m. – 5:50 p.m. Administrative Records and Data Disclosure The Extraordinary Power of Statistical 08/01/2016 CC-W183c Monday 2:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Collaboration

08/01/2016 CC-W183b Monday 10:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Benefit-Risk Evaluation in Medicine A Roadmap for Promoting Statistical 08/02/2016 CC-W183a Tuesday 8:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Collaboration Consulting, Collaboration, Communication, 08/02/2016 CC-W179b Tuesday 10:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. and Impact Extraordinary Power of Remote 08/03/2016 CC-W176c Wednesday 8:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Collaboration and Team Science Global Challenges and Collaboration in 08/03/2016 CC-W183a Wednesday 10:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Biopharmaceutical Statistics Collaboration Among Academia, Industry, 08/03/2016 CC-W196c Wednesday 2:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. and Government and the Role of ASA 08/04/2016 CC-W176c Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. My Life as a Statistical Consultant Outside the Closed Door: Industry 08/04/2016 CC-W183a Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Statisticians Discuss the DMC Process COMMITTEE OF APPLIED STATISTICIANS SPECIAL EVENTS 08/01/2016 H-4L Monday 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Social Mixer Mentoring Workshop for New and Seasoned 08/02/2016 Tuesday 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Mentors and Mentees Note: View the online program for up-to-date times and locations.

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The Makings of a Survey Methodologist— and a Survey Methodology Conference QDET2 Chair Talks About Her Experiences in the Field ovember will mark the second International Conference on Questionnaire Design, Development, Evaluation, and Testing N(QDET2). We invited the chair of the conference, Amanda Wilmot, to discuss her experience in survey research and share what she hopes participants will learn from attending QDET. For information about the QDET2 conference, visit ww2.amstat.org/meetings/qdet2.

Tell us about your research background. My working life has provided me with a series of opportunities that have led me in directions I could not have foreseen. I began my survey research career at the U.K. Office for National Statistics (ONS) in London, joining their Social Survey Division (SSD) after leaving university. It was in SSD that I learned about survey research from renowned experts in the field and went on to manage large-scale surveys in the U.K., including the National Travel Survey, Family Resources Survey, and the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of adults. When I first started Amanda Wilmot is a senior study work, we were still using mainframe computers and director at Westat with 30 years of a response rate of anything less than 80% was con- professional experience in survey sidered poor! The world of survey research has cer- research. She is part of Westat’s tainly become much more complicated since then, Instrument Design, Evaluation, and chasing ever-declining response rates and finding new and innovative ways to motivate the time- Analysis (IDEA) Services group. During strapped public to take part. her career, Amanda has managed large- In 2002, I was given the opportunity to attend scale government surveys covering the first-ever Conference on Questionnaire a range of social policy issues and Development, Evaluation, and Testing (QDET) specialized in the development of data in Charleston, South Carolina, chaired by Jennifer collection instruments. She currently Rothgeb from the U.S. Census Bureau. This was chairs the organizing committee for a real turning point in my life. I had always had a the 2016 International Conference on particular interest and flare for the front-end survey Questionnaire Design, Development, data-collection phase, and attending the conference Testing, and Evaluation (QDET2), which meant I was able to learn from and network with others from around the world with the same inter- will take place in Miami, Florida, in est. I could never have known that, more than 10 November of this year. years later, I would be asked to take Jennifer’s role and

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chair the organizing committee for the second QDET What interested you about your current posi- conference, which will take place in November of this tion at Westat? year in Miami, Florida. It was the chance to work with a group of like- Soon after the 2002 conference, I was given minded and highly skilled individuals specializing another opportunity by ONS to head up a team of in questionnaire design and pretesting who really quantitative and qualitative methodologists specializ- care about data quality. We get to work on a range ing in the development of data collection instruments of different topics and apply cutting-edge method- for social surveys. Through the use of various survey ologies, so life is never boring. It is a very stimulat- pretesting methods, I was able to experience and ing environment in which I feel privileged to be a understand the true meaning of language and how part of. it evolves from the survey respondent’s perspective. It was during this time that I led the team in developing What is QDET2, and what do you hope partici- a harmonized question on sexual identity that could pants will gain from attending the conference? be used on social surveys and for equality-monitoring purposes. At that time, [it was] something that had QDET2 will be the first international conference not been undertaken on quite that scale. of its kind in 14 years specifically devoted to sur- When the ONS moved its headquarters from vey questionnaire design and the methods used for London to South Wales, another opportunity arose questionnaire development, evaluation, and test- for me to pursue my growing interest in cross- ing. The vision from the start was to bring together national questionnaire design. I took a position at questionnaire design specialists from across the the University of Leicester working with my long- world (from both the public and private sectors) time mentor, professor Howard Meltzer, to develop to discuss methodology and new developments in the European Health and Social Integration Survey pretesting and evaluation of survey questionnaires. questionnaire. Professor Meltzer was an adviser to The conference aims to set the benchmark for best the UN [United Nations], WHO [World Health practices in the field, as well as provide a forum for Organization], OECD [Organisation for Economic discussing areas for future research. Participants will Co-operation and Development], and EC hear from industry thought leaders, learn about [European Commission] committees on disability real-world case studies from survey agencies, and, issues. It was his wish to see Europe measure disabil- of course, have the opportunity to network with ity from the perspective of the barriers to social inte- international peers and colleagues. gration as reported by the respondent, rather than using the classic medical model in which disabil- What are some of the challenges you have faced ity is simply the consequence of a health problem. organizing the conference? Sadly, professor Meltzer passed away in 2013, but it Obviously, a conference of this scale is going to be a was my great privilege to be able to help support the lot of work and require a huge time commitment— survey through its implementation in 28 European I probably underestimated that aspect. But we have countries. In fact, I will be presenting on that work a strong group of volunteers on the various com- at QDET2. mittees taking responsibility for different aspects Moving to the United States was another amaz- of the conference, including the program, publica- ing opportunity for me to work with some of the tions, and training committees—and not forgetting world’s leading survey methodologists, and this the all-important events committee! A big help to was when I truly learned the meaning of the phrase me at the start was being able to talk with Jennifer “two nations divided by a common language.” In Rothgeb and learn from her experiences organizing the U.S., pavement is apparently something you the first QDET. Jennifer will be joining us at the drive on, not walk on! A trolley is something to con- conference and will speak about what came out of vey passengers, not to move groceries around the the 2002 QDET. I would also like to mention that grocery store. And I should have asked for potted our ASA conference planner, Naomi Friedman, has plants in the local garden center and not pot plants, been amazing in guiding us throughout the process. which is the British-English term!

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What part of the conference are you most What does the future hold for questionnaire excited about? designers? That is a difficult question to answer because we You will need to come to the conference to find out! already have an incredible line-up of invited and contributed presentations, preconference short- Do you have an example of a ‘bad’ survey question? courses given by leading experts in the field, and, Not so much a ‘bad’ survey question, but an exam- of course, not one—but two—keynote speeches to ple of how language and meaning evolves. I have reflect the overall aims of the conference. Gordon always been interested in social history. Census MORE ONLINE To read the 2015 Willis from the National Institutes of Health and forms are really interesting in this regard. The dis- interview with Mario the guru of cognitive testing will kick off day one ability question from the 1901 U.K. Census form, Callegaro and Gordon with his keynote titled “Questionnaire Design, for example, still collected information about Willis, visit http:// Development, Evaluation, and Testing: Where whether anyone in the household was a lunatic, magazine.amstat. in the World Are We?” And Mario Callegaro, imbecile, or feebleminded—probably a question we org/blog/2015/09/01/ surveyresearch. from Google UK and a leading expert in web would want to cognitively test these days! survey methodology, will follow on day two with “Questionnaire Design, Development, Evaluation, What advice can you give to someone who and Testing: What’s the Future Look Like?” There would like to pursue a career in questionnaire will also be a conference book published by Wiley design as a survey methodologist? showcasing the best papers. We have tried to vary the learning experience for conference attendees, as You really need to have a passionate interest in people well. The program is interspersed with workshops, and their use of language. I would suggest that if you demonstrations, and roundtable discussions. So, are interested in specializing in the design and devel- on reflection, the biggest reason to be excited is the opment of survey data collection instruments, then potential for facilitating knowledge exchange at the a good grounding in survey methods and experience international level. of applying them in a real-world context is crucial. n

28 amstat news july 2016 Registration Form

nternational Conference on uestionnaire November 9–13, 2016 • Hyatt Regency Miami —Miami, FL esign evelopment Evaluation and esting www.amstat.org/meetings/qdet2 INSTRUCTIONS 1. Print or type all information and retain a copy for your records. 2. Use a separate form for each registrant. Forms received 3. Mail form with payment to QDET2 Registration, 732 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. without payment Fax form (credit card payment only) to (703) 684-2037. will not be processed 4. Registration form must be received by August 15, 2016, to be processed at the reduced rate. Purchase orders will not be accepted. No exceptions. ASA Federal ID #53-0204661

ATTENDEE INFORMATION Name ______ASA ID # (if known) ______Preferred Name for Badge (if other than fi rst name) ______Organization ______Address ______City ______State/Province ______ZIP/Postal Code ______Country (non-U.S.) ______Phone ______Email ______

Short Courses MEAL FUNCTIONS Wednesday, November 9 Lunch is included with your registration Thursday through Saturday. $150 each by August 15 ($125 for students); Please select one of the following menu options: ❏ Regular ❏ Vegetarian/Vegan ❏ Kosher $175 each after August 15 ($125 for students) ❏ Breakfast Roundtable Discussions, Sunday, November 13, 9:00-10:30 a.m. ($20) $______9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ❏ SC1: An Introduction to Question Design and Evaluation 101, Jack Fowler (Center for Survey REGISTRATION FEES (required) Research, University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA) By August 15 After August 15 BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE ASA Member $585 $685 $______❏ SC2: Current Developments in Cognitive Inter- Nonmember* $675 $775 $______viewing of Survey Questions, Gordon Willis (National Student $190 $190 $______Institutes of Health, USA) BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE ❏ SC3: Smart Phones, Smart Questionnaires? * Includes free optional fi rst-year ASA membership; SHORT COURSE FEES: $______The Challenges of Delivering Surveys via Mobile not available to renewing or recently lapsed members. MEAL FUNCTION FEE: $______Device, Michael Link (AbtSRBI) INTERMEDIATE/ ❏ Yes, please include my new membership. TOTAL FEES: $______ADVANCED

2:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m. ❏ SC4: Writing and Pretesting Cross-Cultural PAYMENT Questionnaires, Ana Villar (City University London, ❏ Check/money order payable to the American Statistical Association (in U.S. dollars on U.S. bank) UK) BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE Credit Card ❏ American Express ❏ Discover ❏ MasterCard ❏ VISA ❏ SC5: Quantitative Methods for Testing Questions, Daniel Oberski (Tilburg University, The Netherlands) Card Number ______INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED Expiration Date ______Security Code ______❏ SC6: Usability Testing for Survey Research: How-To and Best Practices, Emily Geisen (RTI International); Name of Cardholder ______Jen Romano-Bergstrom (Facebook) BEGINNER/ INTERMEDIATE Authorizing Signature ______TOTAL SHORT COURSE CHARGES: $______

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CANCELLATION POLICY List the name and phone number of the person we should contact (remains confi dential). All cancellations must be submitted in writing. Name ______Telephone Number ______Email: [email protected]; Fax: (703) 684-2037; ❏ Please update my ASA customer contact information with this contact information. Mail: QDET2 Registration, 732 North Washington St., ❏ Please exclude my name from the conference attendee roster that will appear on the conference website. Alexandria, VA 22314. For cancellations received prior to October 25, 2016, the conference fee will be This meeting is ADA accessible. refunded less a 20% cancellation fee per item ❏ Please check here if you need special services due to a disability or have food allergies/restrictions and attach cancelled. For cancellations received after October 25, a statement regarding your needs. 2016, no refunds will be issued. meetings

JSM 2017 PROGRAM COMMITTEE

2017 JSM Program Chair Leadership Support Council, ASA Nonparametric Statistics Statistics in Defense and Regina Liu Katherine Halvorsen Section, ASA National Security Section, ASA Rutgers University [email protected] Sonja Greven Jane Pinelis [email protected] Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Johns Hopkins University Applied Associate Chair, ASA Muenchen Physics Lab Aurore Delaigle International Biometric Society [email protected] [email protected] (ENAR) University of Melbourne Dionne Price [email protected] Physical and Engineering Statistics in Epidemiology U.S. Food and Drug Sciences Section, ASA Section, ASA Associate Chair, ASA Administration Byran Smucker Scarlett Bellamy Min-ge Xie [email protected] Miami University University of Pennsylvania Rutgers University [email protected] [email protected] International Biometric Society [email protected] (WNAR) Quality and Productivity Statistics in Imaging Section, Invited and Contributed Posters Ken Rice Section, ASA ASA Jessi Cisewski University of Washington Anne Hansen Ying Guo Yale University [email protected] Intel Corporation Emory University [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Institute of Mathematical Bayesian Statistical Science Statistics (Invited) Risk Analysis Section, ASA Statistics in Marketing Section, Section, ASA Tony Cai Yishi Wang ASA Tanzy Love University of Pennsylvania The University of North Carolina Jeff Dotson University of Rochester [email protected] [email protected] Brigham Young University [email protected] [email protected] Institute of Mathematical Section for Statistical Biometrics Section, ASA Statistics (Contributed) Programmers and Analysts, ASA Statistics in Sports Section, ASA Wenguang Sun Barbara Engelhardt Michael Messner Stephanie Kovalchik USC Marshall School of Business Princeton University U.S. Environmental [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Protection Agency [email protected] Survey Research Methods Statistical Society of Canada (SSC) Biopharmaceutical Section, ASA Section, ASA Wesley Yung Jennifer L.S. Gauvin Social Statistics Section, ASA Thomas Krenzke Statistics Canada Novartis Pharmaceutical Melissa Scopilliti Westat [email protected] Corporation U.S. Census Bureau [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] International Chinese Statistical Teaching of Statistics in the Association (ICSA) Business and Economic Statistical Computing Health Sciences Section, ASA Yi Li Statistics Section, ASA Section, ASA Wenyaw Chan University of Michigan Kevin Moore Eric Laber The University of Texas, Houston [email protected] Federal Reserve Board North Carolina State University [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] International Indian Statistical Association (IISA) Government Statistics Statistical Consulting ASA Meetings Veera Baladandayuthapani Section, ASA Section, ASA Department Contacts MD Anderson Cancer Center Michael Hawes Harry Dean Johnson Kathleen Wert [email protected] U.S. Department of Education Washington State University [email protected] [email protected] Director of Meetings Korean International Statistical [email protected] Society (KISS) Health Policy Statistics Statistical Education Section, ASA Naomi Friedman Hyokyoung Grace Hong Section, ASA Dalene Stangl Ruth Etzioni Meeting Planner Michigan State University Duke University Fred Hutchinson Cancer [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Research Center Christina Link International Society of [email protected] Statistical Graphics Section, ASA Meeting Planner Bayesian Analysis (ISBA) Kenneth Edward Shirley Medical Devices and [email protected] Shane Jensen AT&T Labs Diagnostics Section, ASA University of Pennsylvania [email protected] Amanda Conageski Norberto Pantoja-Galicia [email protected] Meeting Planner U.S. Food and Drug Statistical Learning and Data [email protected] International Statistical Administration Science Section, ASA Institute (ISI) norberto.pantoja-galicia@ Genevera Allen Jing Zhang fda.hhs.gov Rice University University of Missouri [email protected] [email protected] Mental Health Statistics Section, ASA Statistics and the Environment Council of Chapters, ASA Booil Jo Section, ASA Anthony Babinec Stanford University Elizabeth Mannshardt AB Analytics [email protected] North Carolina State University [email protected] [email protected]

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JSM 2017 Invited Session Proposals Sought Regina Liu, JSM 2017 Program Chair

panelists providing commentary, are willing to sponsor your pro- discussion, and engaging debate posal. If you are a member of an on a particular topic of contem- ASA section or another sponsor- porary interest; and invited post- ing society, going through the ers consist of up to 20 electronic corresponding representative is posters presented during the often a good way to proceed. Opening Mixer. They may accept the session The ideal session involves outright for one of their allo- fresh, important work that many cated spots, or they may enter JSM attendees will find interest- it into a general competition in ing. Many of the most stimu- which selection is decided by Regina Liu lating sessions present diverse a consensus vote of the entire viewpoints and strategies on a program committee. In either common topic or problem, with case, only sessions submitted speakers coming from different via the online system will be institutions or practices. considered. Decisions about the An invited session proposal invited program will be made by he 2017 Joint Statistical should include a session title, the end of September. It is help- Meetings (JSM) will take general description of the session, ful to contact program commit- place in Baltimore, list of participants, and tentative tee members well ahead of the TMaryland, from July 29 to presentation titles (can be modi- September deadline. August 3, 2017. The theme for fied later). The invited session If you have ideas for invited 2017 is “Statistics: It’s Essential,” submission period is July 14 to papers or panels, but are unsure as announced by 2017 ASA September 6. When planning an which sponsor to choose, you President Barry Nussbaum. This invited session, please note that may contact me at rliu@stat. theme emphasizes the opportu- JSM has strict guidelines for par- rutgers.edu. I am happy to help nity presented by the JSM pro- ticipation. Make sure none of the steer your proposal to appropri- gram to highlight and promote potential speakers is committed ate program committee mem- the importance and achievement to multiple invited proposals. bers for consideration. of our discipline and to illustrate The session proposals must I would also appreciate receiv- how fundamental statistics is to be submitted via the JSM online ing good suggestions for topics or all aspects of scientific endeavors, system, indicating type of ses- speakers for introductory overview societal advancements, and even sion and proposed sponsor. lectures (IOLs), which are high- the seemingly mundane daily life. Starting from JSM 2017, the quality introductions to timely The program committee is invited session proposal form and important statistical topics of soliciting proposals for invited allows each proposal to select interest to broad JSM attendees. sessions to showcase some of up to three sponsors in ranked Note that IOL speakers can also the most innovative, impact- order. This is to ensure a worthy present an invited or contributed ful, and cutting-edge work in proposal is considered by other paper, panel, or poster. our profession. Invited sessions sponsors if it is not selected by On behalf of all program com- include invited papers, panels, its designated primary sponsor. mittee members, I thank you in and posters. Invited paper ses- Before submitting your propos- advance for your participation sions consist of 2–6 speakers and al, you are encouraged to con- and efforts in making JSM 2017 discussants reporting new discov- tact members of the program a great success. I look forward to erers or advances in a common committee representing your seeing you around the beautiful topic; invited panels include 3–6 chosen sponsors to see if they Baltimore Inner Harbor n

july 2016 amstat news 31 meetings 20th Biopharmaceutical Workshop to Focus on Making Better Decisions Freda Cooner and Ed Luo, Workshop Co-Chairs Thurgood Marshall North Thurgood Marshall South Thurgood Marshall East Thurgood Marshall West Lincoln 5 Lincoln 6

his year marks the 20th anniversary of the ASA Welcome (8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.) Biopharmaceutical Section Regulatory-Industry Thursday, Sept. 29: Plenary Session 1 Plenary 1 Statistics Workshop, formerly known as the ASA (8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.) TBiopharmaceutical Section FDA/Industry Statistics Thursday, Sept. 29: Plenary Session 2 Plenary 2 Workshop. The workshop, sponsored by the ASA (10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) Biopharmaceutical Section in cooperation with the FDA Statistical Association (FDASA), has grown steadily in popu- Roundtable Lunches Madison A & B; Wilson A, B, & C; larity, attracting more than 800 participants in recent years. (11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Tyler; Taylor; Truman; Taft; McKinley; The workshop will take place September 28–30 at the and Marriott Balcony B Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. The theme is “Statistical Innovation: Better Decisions Through Thursday, Sept. 29: Parallel Session 1 Bayesian Design: Using Adaptive Design: An Adaptive Other: Standards for Evidence Bioequivalence, Generics, and Benefit-Risk: Emerging Topics Safety: Statistics Methodology Better Methods.” Besides the 42 parallel invited sessions, (1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.) Historical Information in Clinical Design Case Study—Detailed of Effectiveness: Evaluating Biosimilars: Statistical Issues in Benefit-Risk Assessment for Safety Monitoring and this year’s program includes eight half-day short courses, two Trials: How Much Can We Gain? Review and Discussion Compelling Single-Trial in Clinical Endpoint Studies of Confirmatory Safety in Clinical plenary sessions, 48 roundtable discussions, and 21 post- Evidence Versus Benefits of Bioequivalence Development ers. Also, there will be a mixer on September 29. Housing Replication and registration are open at www.amstat.org/meetings/ Thursday, Sept. 29: Parallel Session 2 Bayesian Design: Bayesian Adaptive Design: Futility Modeling and Simulation: Bioequivalence, Generics, and Medical Devices: Current Early Phase/Pre-Clinical biopharmworkshop/2016. (2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) Approaches in Quantitative- Assessments in Late-Phase Best Practice in Modeling and Biosimilars: Statistical Issues Practice and Challenges in Trials: Robust Decision Based Decision Making for Drug Drug Development: Statistical, Simulation: What Should It Be in Establishing Therapeutic Utilizing Existing Data in Pre- Making in Early-Stage Clinical and Devices Development Operational, and Regulatory and How Will It Change What Clinical Bioequivalence Market Evaluation of Medical Development The following short courses will be offered on September 28: Perspectives We Do? Devices Introduction to Clinical Trial Optimization to Enable Thursday, Sept. 29: Parallel Session 3 Subgroup Analysis: Multiple Tests: Multiple Modeling and Simulation: CMC 2 FDA Guidance on Veterinary: Statistical Issues Early Phase/Pre-Clinical Trials: Better Decision Making (4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) Personalized Medicine: How Endpoint Evaluation for Moving Pharmacometrics and Statistical Approaches for and Challenges in Regulatory ICH E14 and Concentration- Instructor(s): Alex Dmitrienko, Quintiles Bayesian Subgroup Analysis Medical Devices: Analyses, Statistics Beyond a Marriage Evaluation of Analytical Animal Drug Studies Response Modeling Bayesian Biopharmaceutical Applications Using SAS Plays Its Role Labeling, and Claims of Convenience: Improving Similarity Discipline Synergy and Drug Instructor(s): Fang Chen, SAS Institute; Guanghan Development Decision Making Liu, Merck 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mixer to Immediately Follow An Overview of Methods to Assess Data Integrity in Clinical Trials Instructor(s): Richard Zink, SAS Institute; Marc Friday, Sept. 30: Parallel Session 4 Study Design and Analysis: Dose Selection: MCP- Study Endpoints/Patient- Oncology: Immune-Related Diagnostics: Agreement and CMC 3 Setting Acceptance (8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.) Protocol Deviation and Mod: Recent Advances in Reported Outcomes: Advance Clinical Endpoints for Cancer Precision Studies Criteria for Assay Transfer Buyse, IDDI; Paul Schuette, FDA Prescreening Bias Handling in Methodology and Application the Use of Patient-Reported Immunotherapy: Are They Statistical Methods and Software for Multivariate the Clinical Trial of Personalized Outcome Measures (PROMs) in Ready for Prime Time? Meta-Analysis Medicine Regulatory Decision Making Instructor(s): Haitao Chu, University of Friday, Sept. 30: Poster Session - Atrium Minnesota; Yong Chen, University of Pennsylvania (9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) Writing Clinical Trial Simulators Friday, Sept. 30: Parallel Session 5 Subgroup Analysis: New Therapeutic Area-Specific Study Endpoints/Patient- Oncology: Design and Analysis Diagnostics: Statistical Computation and Data (10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) Perspectives and Approaches in Topic: Considerations in Reported Outcomes: of Cancer Immunotherapy Considerations in Evaluating Standards: Statistical Software Instructor(s): Scott Berry and Anna McGlothin, Precision Medicine Pediatric Trial Designs and Developing PRO Instruments Trials Diagnostic Devices Needed for and Computation for Berry Consultants Analysis in Clinical Trials: Issues, Precision Medicine Regulatory Applications Use of Biomarkers for Surrogacy and Personalized Considerations, and Solutions Treatment Selection Instructor(s): Tianxi Cai, Harvard School of Public Friday, Sept. 30: Parallel Session 6 Study Design and Analysis: Therapeutic Area-Specific Missing Data: Sensitivity Oncology: Challenges Diagnostics: Advances in Risks Big Data: Sharing Patient-Level Health; Layla Parast, RAND Corporation (1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.) Moving Beyond the Hazard Topic: Regulatory Pathways Analyses Under the Spirit of and Opportunities for Prediction and Prognostic Clinical Trial Data in the Era of Ratio Paradigm in the Design and Case Studies in Orphan the ICH E9 Addendum Acceleration in Oncology Biomarker with Time-to-Event Big Data: Current State and Structured Benefit-Risk Evaluation and Emergent Issues and Analysis of Clinical Trials Drug Development Drug Development: Patient Data: Power Calculation, Meta- Future Possibilities Instructor(s): Weili He, Merck; Qi Jiang, Amgen; with Time-to-Event Endpoints Enrichment, Dose-Finding, Analysis, and Recurrent Time- John Scott, FDA/CBER Combination Therapy, and to-Event Models Design and Statistical Analysis of Biosimilars Regulatory Acceleration Friday, Sept. 30: Parallel Session 7 CMC 1 Method Validation on Therapeutic Area-Specific Missing Data: Clinical Trials Biomarkers: Statistical Diagnostics: NGS Era: Genomic Meta-Analysis: Data Integration Instructor(s): Shein-Chung Chow, Duke (2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) the Revised ICH Guidance Topic: Development in with Missing Data, Estimands Considerations for Evidentiary Diagnostics in Precision in Pharmaceutical Research: n University Evaluating Cardiovascular Risk: Selection, and Analysis Standards in Biomarker Medicine Methods and Applications Pre- and Post-Marketing Methods Qualification

32 amstat news july 2016 Thurgood Marshall North Thurgood Marshall South Thurgood Marshall East Thurgood Marshall West Lincoln 5 Lincoln 6

Welcome (8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.) Thursday, Sept. 29: Plenary Session 1 Plenary 1 (8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.) Thursday, Sept. 29: Plenary Session 2 Plenary 2 (10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)

Roundtable Lunches Madison A & B; Wilson A, B, & C; (11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Tyler; Taylor; Truman; Taft; McKinley; and Marriott Balcony B

Thursday, Sept. 29: Parallel Session 1 Bayesian Design: Using Adaptive Design: An Adaptive Other: Standards for Evidence Bioequivalence, Generics, and Benefit-Risk: Emerging Topics Safety: Statistics Methodology (1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.) Historical Information in Clinical Design Case Study—Detailed of Effectiveness: Evaluating Biosimilars: Statistical Issues in Benefit-Risk Assessment for Safety Monitoring and Trials: How Much Can We Gain? Review and Discussion Compelling Single-Trial in Clinical Endpoint Studies of Confirmatory Safety in Clinical Evidence Versus Benefits of Bioequivalence Development Replication Thursday, Sept. 29: Parallel Session 2 Bayesian Design: Bayesian Adaptive Design: Futility Modeling and Simulation: Bioequivalence, Generics, and Medical Devices: Current Early Phase/Pre-Clinical (2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) Approaches in Quantitative- Assessments in Late-Phase Best Practice in Modeling and Biosimilars: Statistical Issues Practice and Challenges in Trials: Robust Decision Based Decision Making for Drug Drug Development: Statistical, Simulation: What Should It Be in Establishing Therapeutic Utilizing Existing Data in Pre- Making in Early-Stage Clinical and Devices Development Operational, and Regulatory and How Will It Change What Clinical Bioequivalence Market Evaluation of Medical Development Perspectives We Do? Devices Thursday, Sept. 29: Parallel Session 3 Subgroup Analysis: Multiple Tests: Multiple Modeling and Simulation: CMC 2 FDA Guidance on Veterinary: Statistical Issues Early Phase/Pre-Clinical Trials: (4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) Personalized Medicine: How Endpoint Evaluation for Moving Pharmacometrics and Statistical Approaches for and Challenges in Regulatory ICH E14 and Concentration- Bayesian Subgroup Analysis Medical Devices: Analyses, Statistics Beyond a Marriage Evaluation of Analytical Animal Drug Studies Response Modeling Plays Its Role Labeling, and Claims of Convenience: Improving Similarity Discipline Synergy and Drug Development Decision Making 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mixer to Immediately Follow

Friday, Sept. 30: Parallel Session 4 Study Design and Analysis: Dose Selection: MCP- Study Endpoints/Patient- Oncology: Immune-Related Diagnostics: Agreement and CMC 3 Setting Acceptance (8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.) Protocol Deviation and Mod: Recent Advances in Reported Outcomes: Advance Clinical Endpoints for Cancer Precision Studies Criteria for Assay Transfer Prescreening Bias Handling in Methodology and Application the Use of Patient-Reported Immunotherapy: Are They the Clinical Trial of Personalized Outcome Measures (PROMs) in Ready for Prime Time? Medicine Regulatory Decision Making Friday, Sept. 30: Poster Session - Atrium (9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) Friday, Sept. 30: Parallel Session 5 Subgroup Analysis: New Therapeutic Area-Specific Study Endpoints/Patient- Oncology: Design and Analysis Diagnostics: Statistical Computation and Data (10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) Perspectives and Approaches in Topic: Considerations in Reported Outcomes: of Cancer Immunotherapy Considerations in Evaluating Standards: Statistical Software Precision Medicine Pediatric Trial Designs and Developing PRO Instruments Trials Diagnostic Devices Needed for and Computation for Analysis in Clinical Trials: Issues, Precision Medicine Regulatory Applications Considerations, and Solutions

Friday, Sept. 30: Parallel Session 6 Study Design and Analysis: Therapeutic Area-Specific Missing Data: Sensitivity Oncology: Challenges Diagnostics: Advances in Risks Big Data: Sharing Patient-Level (1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.) Moving Beyond the Hazard Topic: Regulatory Pathways Analyses Under the Spirit of and Opportunities for Prediction and Prognostic Clinical Trial Data in the Era of Ratio Paradigm in the Design and Case Studies in Orphan the ICH E9 Addendum Acceleration in Oncology Biomarker with Time-to-Event Big Data: Current State and and Analysis of Clinical Trials Drug Development Drug Development: Patient Data: Power Calculation, Meta- Future Possibilities with Time-to-Event Endpoints Enrichment, Dose-Finding, Analysis, and Recurrent Time- Combination Therapy, and to-Event Models Regulatory Acceleration Friday, Sept. 30: Parallel Session 7 CMC 1 Method Validation on Therapeutic Area-Specific Missing Data: Clinical Trials Biomarkers: Statistical Diagnostics: NGS Era: Genomic Meta-Analysis: Data Integration (2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) the Revised ICH Guidance Topic: Development in with Missing Data, Estimands Considerations for Evidentiary Diagnostics in Precision in Pharmaceutical Research: Evaluating Cardiovascular Risk: Selection, and Analysis Standards in Biomarker Medicine Methods and Applications Pre- and Post-Marketing Methods Qualification

july 2016 amstat news 33 people news

John Abowd Honored with 2016 Julius Shiskin Award disclosure avoidance techniques that developed the Longitudinal that have enabled statistical Employer-Household Dynamics Robert P. Parker, Julius Shiskin agencies to produce and release (LEHD) program, which pro- Award Selection Committee Chair detailed tabulations and micro‐ vides public-use data by integrat- data that both preserve the sta- ing demographic and economic tistical properties of the original surveys and administrative data. data and their confidentiality. During the course of developing After earning a PhD in economics the LEHD with Julia Lane and from The University of Chicago, John Haltiwanger, it became Abowd worked on measurement clear that to make the detailed issues in labor economics and data from this program available estimating gross labor force flows. to the public, it would be neces- Abowd A 1989 Econometrica article (with sary to develop new methods of David Card) focused on identify- statistical disclosure avoidance, John M. Abowd, Edmund ing statistical models for dynamic because the existing methods Ezra Day Professor at Cornell wage processes and investigated were not adequate. University and associate director the covariance structure of chang- Abowd led the development for research and methodology es in earnings and hours. of these new methods, the first and chief scientist at the U.S. Subsequently, Abowd used of which was dynamic noise- Census Bureau, has been selected linked data on employers and infusion. This method intro- to receive the 2016 Julius Shiskin employees in several European duced noise at the microdata Memorial Award for Economic countries to research the joint role level and used the noise-infused Statistics. The award recognizes of workers and firms in determin- microdata to create aggregate original and unusually important ing labor market outcomes. In statistics that did not distort contributions in the develop- conjunction with various collabo- critical properties of the underly- ment of economic statistics or in rators, he developed innovative ing data, like trends, while still the use of statistics in interpret- new econometric methods to protecting confidentiality. The ing the economy. analyze these linked employer- second method was the applica- Abowd is recognized for employee data. His most notable tion of synthetic data techniques. designing and implementing dis- contribution in this area was Although this was not a new closure avoidance techniques that the model developed in a 1999 concept, Abowd was one of the enable federal statistical agencies Econometrica article (with Francis first to put the idea into practice to greatly expand the availability Kramarz and David Margolis) as described in a 2001 paper of their data while preserving that used a matched sample of (with Simon Woodcock). He respondents’ confidentiality and French employees and employers further stimulated research in for his leadership at Cornell in to decompose compensation into this area as a founding editor of providing access to these data over components related to employee the online Journal of Privacy and the internet. He is also recognized characteristics, firm heterogene- Confidentiality and as a major for developing econometric and ity, and residual variation. Its contributor to the literature on statistical techniques to conduct econometric approach laid the privacy and confidentiality. labor market analysis. groundwork for a large body Abowd’s methods have been Abowd is the 44th recipi- of subsequent research using adopted by many Census Bureau ent of the award and will be employee-employer linked data programs—initially the Quarterly honored at events hosted by to understand topics such as the Workforce Indicators and the three award sponsors: the role of human capital in wage OnTheMap, and more recently Washington Statistical Society, the determination, measurement and Job‐to‐Job Flows, County National Association for Business interpretation of wage differen- Business Patterns, the Survey Economics, and the ASA Business tials, and dynamics of employ- of Business Owners, Statistics and Economics Statistics Section. ment and wages. on Businesses, Non‐Employer Abowd’s most important In 1998, following his work Statistics, the Survey of Income contribution to economic statis- with French linked data, Abowd and Program Participation, tics was his pioneering efforts to joined the team of senior research and the Economic Census of design and implement statistical fellows at the Census Bureau Outlying Areas. As a result, the

34 amstat news july 2016 people news

amount of detailed industry and Research Council. He served successfully improving the quality geographic detail accessible to as a member of the Committee and productivity of products and researchers and policy analysts on National Statistics Panel on organizational performance using has substantially increased—by Measuring Business Formation, statistical concepts and methods almost double in the case of Non‐ Dynamics, and Performance over a period of 20 or more years. Employer Statistics. and Panel on Access to Research Hare is a consulting statisti- Abowd began teaching and Data. He also served as a mem- cian emphasizing business process conducting research at Cornell ber and chair of the technical improvement in R&D, manu- in 1987 and is now the Edmund advisory board for the National facturing, and other strategic Ezra Day Professor of Economics, Longitudinal Surveys of the functions. His former positions professor of information sci- Bureau of Labor Statistics. include having served as the direc- ence, and professor of statistics Abowd is a fellow of the tor of applied statistics at Kraft at Cornell University. Other Society of Labor Economists, Foods, chief of statistical engi- contributions came primarily ASA, and Econometric Society, as neering at the National Institute through the establishment and well as an elected member of the of Standards and Technology, leadership of several institutions International Statistical Institute. director of technical services and at Cornell. He and his colleague, He currently serves on the manager of statistical applications Lars Vilhuber, created and led American Economic Association’s at T.J. Lipton (a Unilever com- the Cornell Virtual Research Committee on Economic pany), statistics group leader at Data Center, which provides Statistics and the executive com- Hunt-Wesson Foods, and visiting access to synthetic data over the mittee of the Conference on professor at Rutgers University. internet. Additionally, he is the Research in Income and Wealth. Hare holds MS and PhD director of the Cornell Labor In addition, he has served as degrees from Rutgers University Dynamics Institute, which creates chair of the ASA’s Business and and an AB in mathematics from and provides access to data on Economic Statistics Section. n The Colorado College. He is a the dynamics of labor markets, fellow of ASA and former chair meeting the needs of users while of Q&P. He is also a fellow of maintaining confidentiality. He the American Society for Quality also served as the director of the (ASQ) and a former chair of Cornell Institute for Social and the ASQ Statistics Division. Economic Research (CISER) The ASQ has awarded him the from 1999 to 2007. CISER pro- William G. Hunter and Ellis R. vides Cornell social scientists with Ott awards for excellence in computing systems and software Hare quality management. Kraft Foods presented him with support, data access, and related The Quality and Productivity the Technology Leadership consulting services and includes (Q&P) Section is pleased to the Cornell Federal Statistical Award for career accomplish- announce Lynne B. Hare as Research Data Center, which ments. He writes a column for the 2016 recipient of the Gerald provides researchers access to Quality Progress Magazine and J. Hahn Q&P Achievement confidential microdata files from has numerous publications in Award. The award will be pre- the Census Bureau, National technical journals. sented at the 2016 Fall Technical Center for Health Statistics, and The seven-person award Conference in Minneapolis, Agency for Healthcare Research committee, chaired by J.D. Minnesota, taking place October and Quality. Williams, is accepting nomina- 6 and 7. As winner of the award, While at Cornell, Abowd also tions for its 2017 award. More Hare will deliver the Q&P- worked at the National Bureau of information and a link to nomi- sponsored plenary address. Economic Research and several nation instructions can be This award recognizes an research organizations in France found at http://bit.ly/24QS8zt. individual who has demonstrat- and Germany, as well as with the The deadline for submitting ed outstanding and sustained French national statistical office. nominations is February 28, achievement and leadership in He made other important con- 2017. n developing, promoting, and tributions through the National

july 2016 amstat news 35 people news

In Memory of Connie M. Borror Christine Anderson-Cook, Los Alamos National Laboratory; Roger Berger, Arizona State University; Sarah Burke, Arizona State University; and Douglas Montgomery, Arizona State University

through the development to ASQ Chemical and Process its theory, principles, and tech- Industries Division, the Institute niques.” She was also elected a of Industrial Engineers, and the fellow of ASQ in 2009 and was ASQ and ASA Fall Technical a fellow and chartered statistician Conference. She served as edi- for the Royal Statistical Society. tor of Quality Engineering from Connie was a professor in the 2011 to 2013 and sat on its school of mathematical and editorial board from 1999 to natural sciences at the west cam- 2011. She also served on the pus of Arizona State University editorial boards of the Journal (ASU). She was named an ASU of Quality Technology, Quality Foundation Professor in June and Reliability Engineering 2015. She earned her PhD in International, Quality Technology industrial engineering from ASU and Quantitative Management, in 1998. International Journal of Statistics Borror Connie authored more than and Management Systems and The American Statistical 80 peer-reviewed papers in sta- Journal of Probability and Association community, along tistical, engineering, and other Statistical Science. with her many colleagues and quality journals; was the author Those of us who knew Connie friends, mourn the loss of Connie of two books; and edited a sub- know that her impact is so much M. Borror. Connie lost her brave stantial revision of The Certified more than her list of techni- battle with cancer before reach- Quality Engineering Handbook, cal contributions and recogni- ing her 50th birthday. She was 3rd edition. She made numerous tions. She was generous with her elected a fellow of the American contributions to design of experi- time and served as a role model Statistical Association in 2011. ments, quality control, response for statisticians, engineers, and Connie was as an associate edi- surface methodology, robust women. She frequently encour- tor of the Journal of the American parameter design, measurement aged those she advised to con- Statistical Association from 2008 systems, and reliability. tinue their education. She was to 2011. She served as chair In addition to her research an exceptional teacher with a tal- of the Section on Quality and contributions, she was exceed- ent for communicating difficult Productivity (Q&P) in 2008, ingly generous with service to concepts to people with different and was instrumental in initi- the profession. She served as backgrounds, and her humility ating the Q&P webinar series. co-adviser to nine PhD students made her approachable. She had She was a member of the and mentored numerous under- a unique way of making learn- Toxicology Subcommittee for the graduate and graduate students ing about statistics and quality Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis at ASU. Connie’s enthusiasm, fun, and she taught extensively Scientific Area Committee at the energy, and passion for teaching at ASU and in numerous short National Institute of Standards and learning were undeniable. courses to industry and govern- and Technology from 2014 to She never thought about herself ment. Her loss leaves a hole in 2016. In 2016, she was the first first; the progress and growth of the many lives of those she inter- female recipient of the American her students was always her top acted with, as she was fun-loving Society for Quality (ASQ) priority. Her students have all and inspiring and an extraordi- Shewhart Medal “who demon- gone on to promising careers in nary mentor, a generous collabo- strated outstanding technical academia and industry. rator, an expert in many areas, a leadership in the field of mod- Connie also held leader- fan of film noir, and an animal ern quality control, especially ship roles within ASQ, the lover extraordinaire.

36 amstat news july 2016 section • chapter • committee news

Detroit, Ann Arbor Chapters Give Special Awards at Science Fair Karry Roberts, Detroit Chapter

Photo by Huiyong (Thomas) Zheng, Ann Arbor Chapter From Left: Xianggui (Harvey) Qu, Lance Heilbrun, Bern DeBacker, Nathan Soderborg, Alfred Hero, Ruth Cassidy, Julie Keros, Barry DeCicco, Karry Roberts, Frank Murdock, and Huiyong (Thomas) Zheng

embers of the Detroit and Ann Arbor Effect of Topical Fluoride Application on chapters met as a special awards judging Enamel Decay team at the Southeast Michigan Science Skyline High School, Ann Arbor FairM on March 11 to seek out excellent applications of statistics. Zap Zone Laser Tag: Fair Fun? The team included 11 members from academic, Ann Arbor Open School, Ann Arbor medical, and industrial fields. They reviewed all the posters and gave special awards certificates to Soapy Water, Coke, or Sriracha: Which One encourage the use of statistics in both the middle- Cleans Pennies the Best? and high-school categories. Forsythe Middle School, Ann Arbor Many students had creative ideas for their science projects, and the team found great graphs and Testing Sugar in Soft Drinks analyses interpreting their data and explanations of Clague Middle School, Ann Arbor the sources of variation in their experiments. At increasing levels of statistical application, the Award of excellence winners received judging team gave 48 certificates of recognition, 12 a statistical book signed by all 11 judges; certificates of merit, and six awards of excellence. award of excellence and merit win- The posters honored with the award of excellence ners received a copy of Significance are the following: magazine; and all award winners received a certificate. The Role of Basil in Protecting Human Cells from The Southeast Michigan Science Harmful Bacteria Fair region includes schools from Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor Livingston, Washtenaw, Monroe, The Effects of Catalyst Amount, Catalyst Hillsdale, and Lenawee coun- Concentration, and Temperature in the Briggs- ties and is affiliated with the Intel Rauscher Oscillating Reaction International Science and Engineering Fair. Entries Huron High School, Ann Arbor included 259 posters. n

july 2016 amstat news 37 section • chapter • committee news

sectionnews Biometrics Monday, August 1 Edited by Sheng Luo, Biometrics Section Publications 7:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Officer Roundtable on Developments in the Analysis of Cognitive Interview Data with Gordon Willis from It’s time to start thinking about invited sessions for the National Cancer Institute next year’s Joint Statistical Meetings, which will be 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. held July 29 to August 3 in Baltimore, Maryland. Speed Session with Five GSS Data Challenge Anyone who is interested in organizing an invited Candidates session or who has ideas for one should contact the 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. section’s 2017 program chair, Barbara Englehardt, Roundtable on Writing for Scientific Publication with at [email protected]. Ingegerd Jansson from Statistics Sweden A typical invited session consists of three 2:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. 30-minute talks followed by a 10-minute invited Invited Session on Advances in Statistical Methods for discussion and 10 minutes of floor discussion. Dissemination and Analysis of Official Statistics However, other formats are possible. The 2016 program is a good source for examples. Tuesday, August 2 The most mature ideas will have an advantage 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in competing for the limited number of slots, so it’s Topic-Contributed Session with Nine GSS Data best to have your ideas in final form by the middle of Challenge Candidates June. The Biometrics Section will have at least four 10:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. invited sessions, but we will be able to compete for Invited Session on Quality of Alternative Sources for additional slots if we generate enough good ideas. Social, Economic, and Health Data It’s also time to submit ideas for short courses to our 2016–2017 continuing education chair, Wednesday, August 3 Rosemarie Mick, at [email protected]. 8:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. For more information about the section’s role GSS/SSS/SRMS Student Paper Award Presentations in JSM 2016, visit http://magazine.amstat.org/blog/ (5 winners) category/membernews/amstatsections/biometrics. n 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. Roundtable on Prospects for Using Commercial Data for Federal Statistics with Zachary Seeskin from Government Statistics NORC at the University of Chicago The JSM Program Committee has been working 2:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. hard for the past year, putting together an outstand- Invited Session on Computing for Nonlinear Methods ing set of sessions. Be sure to mark your calendars with Large Data Sets and plan to attend the GSS General Membership Business Meeting that will take place August 2 from Volunteers Offer Career Advice to AP Statistics Students 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We will be meeting at the Hilton in the Astoria room. Please join us! Session For the seventh consecutive year, the San Francisco highlights we want to point out include the following: Bay Area Chapter was invited by AP Statistics teacher Ron Weiss to send volunteer statisticians Sunday, July 31 to give a 50-minute lecture on careers in statistics 2:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. to AP Statistics students at Menlo Atherton High Invited Session on Survey Costs and Survey Designs: School this year. Trade-Offs and Advances

38 amstat news july 2016 section • chapter • committee news

The chapter sent four volunteers, more than Synthesis of Information from Longitudinal any previous year. The volunteers—Debbie Trajectories and Failure Data for Reliability McCullough of Genomic Health; Ayona Chaterjee Prediction, organized by Sanjib Basu of Northern of California State University, East Bay; Norman Illinois University Matloff of the University of California, Davis; and Chris Barker, a consultant—gave lectures to one or Pragmatic Computer Model Calibration in the two separate AP Statistics classes. Modern Big-Simulation/Big Data World, orga- Also new this year, a chapter volunteer was invit- nized by Robert B. Gramacy of The University of ed to hear AP student’s presentations of statistics Chicago projects at Castilleja, a private school for girls in Palo Alto; Barker attended. n Topic-Contributed Sessions Statistical Methods for Remote Sensing, organized Physical and Engineering Sciences by Amy Braverman of Jet Propulsion Laboratory Contributed by James Wendelberger, Los Alamos National Laboratory and SPES Chair-Elect; Ananda Estimating the Properties of Physical Time Sen, University of Michigan and SPES JSM Chair; and Series by Leveraging the Power of Spectral Matthew Pratola, The Ohio State University and SPES Analysis, organized by Aaron Springford of Queen’s Education Chair University at Kingston Making plans to attend JSM in Chicago? Don’t miss the SPES/Q&P mixer Tuesday at the Hilton in Williford A at 5:30 p.m. Also, consider donat- SPES to Sponsor FTC 2016 Short Course ing door prizes for the SPES JSM mixer. You can SPES will sponsor a short course at the Fall register your donation at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ Technical Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, XVCSY23. in October. The course is titled “Methods for The SPES program for JSM 2016 will feature Designing and Analyzing Mixture Experiments” five invited sessions, two topic-contributed sessions, and will be presented by Greg Piepel of the Pacific four contributed sessions, and one contributed Northwest National Laboratory. poster session. There are also a number of sessions that are jointly sponsored with the Quality and Course Abstract Productivity Section. Following are our invited and Mixture experiments involve changing the propor- topic-contributed sessions: tions of the components of a mixture that make up a product and then observing the resulting changes Invited Sessions in the product’s characteristics. The proportions of Statistical Aspects of Computer Experiments, the components in the mix cannot be varied inde- organized by Qiong Zhang of Virginia pendently (as in factorial experiments) because they Commonwealth University must sum to 1.0 for each run in the experiment. Mixture experiments are useful in many product Optimal Experimental Design for Physical development areas, including foods and drinks, plas- Models, organized by Antony Overstall of the tics, alloys, ceramics and glass, gasoline blending, fer- University of Glasgow tilizers, textile fibers, concrete, and drugs. This short course will provide an overview of Online Experimentation: What Is It, Why Use various approaches and methods used in designing It, and How to Do It Well?, organized by Xinwei mixture experiments and analyzing the resulting data. Ding of Virginia Tech Designs for simplex-shaped and irregular-shaped

july 2016 amstat news 39 calendar of events

regions (the latter resulting from placing additional Presenter Biography constraints on the component proportions), various Greg Piepel is a laboratory fellow in the Applied types of mixture models that can be fitted to mix- Statistics and Computational Analysis group at ture data, graphical techniques for interpreting com- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He works ponent effects, and graphical and analytic methods as an applied statistician on multidisciplinary research for developing mixtures with optimum properties projects in the physical and engineering sciences and will be covered. Including process variables and/or has applied mixture experiment techniques to a wide a total amount variable in mixture experiments will variety of problems (e.g., glass, ceramics, cement, be discussed. Numerous examples will be used to stainless steel, aluminum production, drugs) over the illustrate these topics. past 37 years. He has also been an active researcher The course is designed for anyone (statistician in the mixture experiment field, with more than 150 or nonstatistician) wanting to know about statisti- publications and technical reports in the areas of cal methods for designing mixture experiments and mixture experiments, experimental design, and oth- analyzing the resulting data. Prerequisites are an ers. He is the developer since 1989 of MIXSOFT, a understanding of elementary statistics concepts and software toolkit for the design and analysis of mixture previous exposure to experimental design and least experiments. Finally, Piepel is a fellow of the ASA and squares regression. American Society for Quality (ASQ) and has held several positions with the Physical and Engineering Sciences Section and ASQ. n

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40 amstat news july 2016 calendar of events

The following events are the latest additions to the ASA’s online calendar of events. Announcements 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

11–13—International July August Conference on Anatomy and Physiology, Birmingham, 25–29—3rd Summer Institute 5–8—SIAM Conference on United Kingdom in Statistics for Clinical Uncertainty Quantification For information, visit Research, Seattle, Washington (UQ16), Lausanne, Switzerland anatomy-physiology. For details, visit www.biostat. For more information, visit http:// conferenceseries.com or contact washington.edu/suminst/siscr/ bit.ly/1lJnNnu or contact Frank Eva Simons, 2360 Corporate Circle, register or contact Andrea Hitlin, Kunkle, 3600 Market St., 6th Floor, Suite 400, Henderson NV 89074- 4333 Brooklyn Ave. N.E., Seattle, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267) 350- 7722; (888) 843-8169; WA 98105; [email protected]. 6388; [email protected]. anatomy-physiology@ conferenceseries.com. »25–29—Second International 7–10—Ordered Data and their Conference on Survey Methods Applications in Reliability 13–20—Assimilating Long- in Multinational, Multiregional, and Survival Analysis: An Term Data into Ecosystem and Multicultural Contexts, International Conference in Models, Land O’Lakes, Chicago, Illinois Honour of N. Balakrishnan for Wisconsin For more information, visit www. His 60th Birthday (ODRS 2016), For more information, visit www. csdiworkshop.org or contact Hamilton, Ontario, Canada paleonproject.org or contact Jody Beth-Ellen Pennell, Insitute for For details, visit odrs.math. Peters, 294 Galvin, Notre Dame, IN Social Research, 426 Thompson, mcmaster.ca or contact William 46556; (574) 631-2175; peters.63@ Ann Arbor, MI 48106; bpennell@ Volterman, 215 Carnegie Hall, nd.edu. umich.edu. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244; (315) 443-1460; odrs@math. 17–19—Small Area Estimation »*30—ASA Traveling Course: mcmaster.ca. Conference 2016, Maastricht, “R Programming: From the The Netherlands Classroom to the Real World” »11–12—Symposium on For details, visit www.sae2016.nl by Jay Emerson, Milwaukee, Statistical and Computational or contact Bart Buelens, CBS-weg Wisconsin Methods for Pharmacogenetic 11, Heerlen, International 6401 For details, visit community.amstat. Epidemiology of Cancer, New CZ, Netherlands; +31455706000; org/wisconsinchapter/events/events York, New York [email protected]. or contact Elizabeth Smith, 8701 For details, visit odin.mdacc.tmc. Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, edu/~ryu/2016StatSymp or contact 18–21—The 2016 International WI 53226; (414) 955-4139; elsmith@ Jaya Satagopan, 485 Lexington Indian Statistical Association mcw.edu. Ave., New York, NY 10017; (646) Conference: Statistical and 888-8234; [email protected]. Data Sciences - A Key to *30–8/4—2016 Joint Statistical Healthy People, Planet, and Meetings, Chicago, Illinois Prosperity, Corvallis, Oregon For details, contact ASA Meetings, For information, visit iisaconfer- 732 North Washington St., ence.org or contact Subrata Kundu, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 684- 801 22nd St. NW, Washington, DC 1221; [email protected]. 20052; [email protected].

july 2016 amstat news 41 calendar of events

22–23—5th International 14–16—6th International *28–30—2016 ASA Conference on Computational Conference and Exhibition on Biopharmaceutical Section Systems Biology, Philadelphia, Nutrition, San Antonio, Texas Regulatory-Industry Statistics Pennsylvania For more information, visit Workshop, Washington, DC For more information, visit www. www.nutritionalconference.com or For more information, visit www. systemsbiology.conferenceseries. contact Angelina Grace, 611 NW amstat.org/meetings/biopharm- com or contact Mark Twain, Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78216; workshop/2016 or contact ASA 2360 Corporate Circle, Suite 400, (650) 268-9744; nutrition@ Meetings, 732 N. Washington St., Henderson NV 89074-7722; (888) insightconferences.com. Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 684- 843-8169, systemsbiology@ 1221; [email protected]. omicsgroup.com. 14–15—International Conference on Histochemistry *30–10/2—AISC 2016 - September and Cytochemistry, Phoenix, International Conference on Arizona Advances in Interdisciplinary Statistics and Combinatorics, 5–8—RSS 2016 International For more information, visit Greensboro, North Carolina Conference, Manchester, http://histochemistry. For more information, visit www. United Kingdom conferenceseries.com or contact uncg.edu/mat/aisc/2016/index.html For details, visit www.rss.org.uk/ Anna Gloria, Phoenix Airport or contact Sat Gupta, Department conference2016 or contact Tessa Marriott, 1101 N. 44th St., Phoenix, of Math/Stats, 317 College Ave., Pearson, 12 Errol St., London, AZ 85008; (650) 268-9744; Petty Building, Greensboro, NC International EC1Y 8LX, United histochemistry@ 27412; (336) 554-4608; sngupta@ Kingdom, 02076143947; insightconferences.com. uncg.edu. [email protected]. »30–10/2—Workshop on Higher-Order Asymptotics and Post-Selection Inference, St. Louis, Missouri For more information, visit www. Biopharmaceutical Conference math.wustl.edu/~kuffner/ WHOA-PSI.html or contact Todd Planned for October Kuffner, 1 Brookings Dr., Campus Box 1146, St. Louis, MO 63131; kuff- The Biopharmaceutical Applied Statistics Symposium (BASS [email protected]. XXIII) will be held October 24–28 at the Radisson Hotel in Rockville, Maryland. This conference will feature at least 16 one-hour tutorials on October diverse topics pertinent to the research, clinical development, and regulation of pharmaceuticals by speakers from academia, *6–7—Fall Technical the pharmaceutical industry, and the U.S. Food and Drug Conference, Minneapolis, Administration (FDA). Minnesota Also, three parallel, two-day short courses will be presented For details, visit asq.org/ in addition to the keynote address, a reception dinner, and the conferences/fall-technical or contact FDA/industry/academia session. Shari Kraber, 2021 E. Hennepin Ave., BASS is a nonprofit entity established to raise funding to sup- #480, Minneapolis, MN 55413; (612) 746-2035, [email protected]. port graduate studies in biostatistics. For more information, visit www.bassconference.org or contact the BASS registrar, Andreas Sashegyi, at [email protected].

42 amstat news july 2016 calendar of events

»6–7—Workshop on New 19–21—International 14–16—6th International Developments in Econometrics Conference on Machine Conference and Exhibition and Time Series, Madrid, Spain Learning and Data Analysis on Metabolomics, Orlando, For more information, visit uc3m. 2016, San Francisco, California Florida es/ifibid/workshop or contact For more information, visit For more information, visit www. Natalia Gutierrez-Colomer, Ronda www.iaeng.org/WCECS2016/ metabolomicsconference.com/ de Toledo 1, Madrid, International ICMLDA2016.html or contact america or contact Isaac Samuel, 28005, Spain; +34 916248514; IAENG Secretariat, Unit 1, 1/F, Double Tree by Hilton Hotel [email protected]. 37-39 Hung To Road, Hong Kong, Orlando Airport, 5555 Hazeltine China; (852) 3169-3427; wcecs@ National Drive, Orlando, FL 32812; »12–14—Latent Variables 2016 iaeng.org. (702) 508-5200; metabolomics@ Conference, Columbia, South conferenceseries.net. Carolina 20–22—Women in Statistics For more information, visit www. and Data Science Conference, »25–26—International stat.sc.edu/latent-variables-2016 or Charlotte, North Carolina Conference on Analysis of contact John Grego, 1523 Greene For more information, visit www. Repeated Measures Data, St., Room 216A, Columbia, SC amstat.org/meetings/wsds/2016 Dhaka, Bangladesh 29208; (803) 777-5070; grego@stat. or contact ASA Meetings, 732 N. For details, visit astheqepewu.edu. sc.edu. Washington St., Alexandria, VA bd/conference_info.php or contact 22314; (703) 684-1221; meetings@ Ataharul Islam, Department of 14–16—International amstat.org. Applied Statistics, HEQEP, CP-3293, Conference on Statistical Dhaka, International 1219, Distributions and Applications »24–28—Conference on Bangladesh, 8801732973022; (ICOSDA 2016), Niagara Falls, Applied Statistics in Defense, [email protected]. Canada Washington, DC For details, visit people.cst.cmich. For details, visit www.casd2016. edu/lee1c/icosda2016 or contact org or contact Alyson Wilson, 2311 December Felix Famoye, Department of Stinson Dr., Campus Box 8203, *4–9—72nd Annual Deming Mathematics, Mt. Pleasant, MI Washington, DC 27695; agwilso2@ Conference on Applied 48859; (989) 774-5497; felix. ncsu.edu. Statistics, Atlantic City, New [email protected]. Jersey For more information, visit www. »*17–19—3rd IEEE November demingconference.com or contact International Conference on »4—Seasonal Adjustment Walter Young, 16 Harrow Circle, Data Science and Advanced Practitioners Workshop, Wayne, NJ 19087-3852; (415) 819- Analytics (DSAA’2016), Washington, DC 8884; [email protected]. Montréal, Québec, Canada For more information, visit http:// For details, visit www.ualberta. bit.ly/1U7WD5V or contact Wendy 6–8—The 15th Conference of ca/~dsaa16 or contact DSAA 2016, Martinez, 2 Massachusetts Ave., International Association for 1050 de la Gauchetiere West, NE, Washington, DC 20212; (202) Official Statistics (IAOS), Abu Montréal, International H3B 4C9, 691-7400; [email protected]. Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Canada; [email protected]. For details, visit www.iaos2016.ae 9–13—International or contact Kris Olarte, 9F Dubai »19–21—International Conference on Questionnaire World Trade Centre Building, Conference on Computational Design, Development, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Biology 2016 (ICCB’16), San Evaluation, and Testing International 124752, United Arab Francisco, California (QDET2), Miami, Florida Emirates; +971 4 311 6359; kris. For more information, visit www. For more information, visit www. [email protected]. iaeng.org/WCECS2016/ICCB2016. amstat.org/meetings/qdet2 or html or contact IAENG Secretariat, contact ASA Meetings, 732 N. Unit 1, 1/F, 37-39 Hung To Road, Washington St., Alexandria, VA Hong Kong, China; (852) 3169- 22314; (703) 684-1221; meetings@ 3427; [email protected]. amstat.org.

july 2016 amstat news 43 calendar of events

15–17—Conference on 2017 37-39 Hung To Road, Hong Kong, Experimental Designs China; [email protected]. and Analysis (CEDA) 2016, January Taipei, Taiwan 24–26—International *23–25—2017 American For details, visit www3.stat. Conference on Computational Statistical Association sinica.edu.tw/ceda2016 or Mathematics & Statistics Conference on Statistical contact Frederick Kin Hing (ICCMS-2017), Banasthali, Practice, Jacksonville, Florida Phoa, 128 Academia Road Rajasthan, India For more information, contact ASA Section 2, Nangang District, For information, visit www. Meetings, 732 N. Washington St., Taipei, International 115; (886) iccms2017bu.in or contact Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 684- 2-6614-5645; fredphoa@stat. Shalini Chandra, Department of 1221; [email protected]. sinica.edu.tw. Mathematics and Statistics, Tonk, Bansathali, International 304022, »21–23—Platinum Jubilee India; [email protected]. March International Conference on Applications of Statistics »15–17—International (PJICAS), Kolkata, India February MultiConference of Engineers For more information, visit and Computer Scientists, Hong »22–24—The World stat.caluniv.in/platinum or Kong, China Symposium on Civil contact Asis Chattopadhyay, For more information, visit www. Engineering 2017 (WSCE’17), 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, iaeng.org/IMECS2017/index.html Hong Kong, China Kolkata, International 700019, or contact IAENG Secretariat, Unit For information, visit www.iaeng. INDIA; +91-9831985850; 1, 1/F, 37-39 Hung To Road, Hong org/WSCE/WSCE2017 or contact [email protected]. Kong, China; (852) 3169-3427; IAENG Secretariat, Unit 1, 1/F, [email protected]. n

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44 amstat news july 2016 professional opportunities

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 to when the ad is to be published (e.g., May 20 for the July issue). Ads will be published in the next available issue following receipt. Alabama Listings are shown alphabetically by state, followed by international list- ■ The Department of Biostatistics, ings. Vacancy listings may include the institutional name and address or be School of Public Health at the identified by number, as desired. University of Alabama at Birmingham Professional Opportunities vacancies also will be published on the ASA’s (UAB) invites applications for a website (www.amstat.org). Vacancy listings will appear on the website for tenure track/tenured faculty the entire calendar month. Ads may not be placed for publication in the member at the assistant/associate/ magazine only; all ads will be published both electronically and in print. professor rank (rank and tenure status Rates: $320 for nonprofit organizations (with proof of nonprofit status), commensurate with qualifications). $475 for all others. Member discounts are not given. For display and online This is a 12-month, full-time posi- advertising rates, go to www.amstat.org/ads. tion. Faculty will be expected and given Listings will be invoiced following publication. All payments should be the opportunity to develop their own made to the American Statistical Association. All material should be sent independent line of research. Email: to Amstat News, 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314- [email protected] or call 205.934.4905 1943; fax (703) 684-2036; email [email protected]. for more information. EOE. Employers are expected to acknowledge all responses resulting from District of Columbia publication of their ads. Personnel advertising is accepted with the understanding that the advertiser does not discriminate among applicants on ■ Assistant/associate research professor. the basis of race, sex, religion, age, color, national origin, handicap, or sex- Basic Duties: Co-investigator on exist- ual orientation. ing multi-center study providing direc- Also, look for job ads on the ASA website at www.amstat.org/jobweb. tion in design, conduct, analysis, and publication of results; grant administration; advising students and teaching. Basic Qualifications: Applicants must have doctorate in statistics/biostatistics, or epidemiology with strong credentials in statistical methodology. Review of applications begins on November 5, to a disability is needed to apply for Washington 2016 and is ongoing until the posi- this position please call (352) 392-2477 ■ Two-year post-doctoral position is filled. For application instruc- or The Florida Relay System at (800) tion in biostatistics available at the tions go to: www.bsc.gwu.edu. George 955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent University of Washington in Seattle, Washington University is an EOE/AA. upon eligibility to work in the U.S. WA. Expected to work at the National Searches are conducted in accordance Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Florida with Florida’s Sunshine Law. (NACC). PhD in statistics, biostatistics. Strong theoretical, computational, ■ Clinical assistant, associate or full Massachusetts professor. UF is recruiting a non-ten- communication skills, and interest in ■ ure-track clinical assistant, associate or Associate director of biostatistics dementia research are highly desired. To full professor level within the depart- position. The biostatistics center at the apply, submit CV, copies of transcripts, ment of biostatistics, administered Mass General Hospital seeks to fill a published papers (maximum of three), by college of medicine and college position (at associate professor) with and three letters of reference to: Maggie of public health and health profes- leadership responsibilities, including Dean, NACC Research Administrator, sions. Qualifications include PhD in potentially that of director. Applicants [email protected]. University of biostatistics or related quantitative dis- should have a doctoral degree in a sta- Washington is an EOE. n cipline, expertise in managing online tistical science, and should demonstrate graduate programs, and demonstrated the potential for the leadership of coor- excellence in teaching and mentoring. dinating centers and an independent Application review ongoing, apply research program. Send CV and state- at http://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/cw/en-us/ ment of career interests to chintlian@ job/497173. The University of Florida mgh.harvard.edu. EOE. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Institution. If an accommodation due

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july 2016 amstat news 47 SOCIAL CHATTER What our followers are saying online FOLLOW US

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In June, we asked our followers to share with us some signs they know they're a statistics major. Here is what a few of our members shared on the ASA's Facebook page:

TELL US This month, we Himel Mallick If you are a statistician, you Ankit Agarwal When someone says that they are asking our are probably not making a fashion statement are 100% sure about something and you are followers to tell while referring to the terms 'modeling' and like "Really? It doesn't seem to be certain." us what they 'figures.' would be if Aniqa Tasnim Hossain You always use words, they weren't a statistician or James Howard You answer yes or no ques- such as probability, significantly, causation, data scientist. We tions with "Probably" or "Probably not." association, hypothesis, convergence. hope you'll send us your answers! Tim Young You know kurtosis is not a medi- Dan Gaichas You watch "Family Feud" Be sure to tag because of what the surveys say. @AmstatNews. cal condition.

Brandon Sherman You almost have an Tim Young You wonder why it's called a "bat- aneurysm every time someone says, "That's ting average," when it's not an average in any ridiculous! How can 2,000 people be repre- sense of the word. sentative of anything in a study?!" Izzy Kamrath You think of π (pi) as a mean Yogesh Parthasarathy When folks use aver- and not 3.14. age as a method of denoting and we be like: Screw averages. They don't represent Vishes Goel "Normal" is not so normal, after all. anything.

48 amstat news july 2016