Prof Speed is a statistician specializing in bioinformatics and computational biology, applying my skills in support of basic research in molecular and cell biology and genetics.
I am a statistician specializing in bioinformatics and computational biology, applying my skills in support of basic research in molecular and cell biology and genetics.
NONPARAMETRIC STATISTICS. Nonparametric statistical methods are techniques that implicitly choose statistical models from exceptionally large and highly adaptive classes. The project aims to develop innovative and practicable nonparametric methods in four areas: Statistical Smoothing, Data Mining, Mixture Methods and Robust Inference. The significance of the work lies in its novelty, the breadth of its practical motivation, and its position at the leading edge of contemporary work in statisti ....NONPARAMETRIC STATISTICS. Nonparametric statistical methods are techniques that implicitly choose statistical models from exceptionally large and highly adaptive classes. The project aims to develop innovative and practicable nonparametric methods in four areas: Statistical Smoothing, Data Mining, Mixture Methods and Robust Inference. The significance of the work lies in its novelty, the breadth of its practical motivation, and its position at the leading edge of contemporary work in statistics. Expected outcomes include new technologies for data analysis.Read moreRead less
Bayesian Statistical Inference for Implicitly defined Probability Models. Bayesian statistics has recently been used to provide solutions for a large number of hitherto intractable problems in science and technology. The success of Bayesian statistics has mainly been due to the application of so-called Markov chain Monte Carlo computational techniques. We aim to improve these algorithms, by providing fast, simple and efficient computational implementations. We will use the results to give ins ....Bayesian Statistical Inference for Implicitly defined Probability Models. Bayesian statistics has recently been used to provide solutions for a large number of hitherto intractable problems in science and technology. The success of Bayesian statistics has mainly been due to the application of so-called Markov chain Monte Carlo computational techniques. We aim to improve these algorithms, by providing fast, simple and efficient computational implementations. We will use the results to give insight by carefully quantifying and modelling uncertainty for such topics as the transmission rate of infectious diseases, the spatial distribution of plant and animal species, investigating biological theory for the genome of a virus, and changes in human fertility.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100993
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$293,520.00
Summary
Mathematics of importance: The optimal importance sampling algorithm for estimating the probability of a black swan event. Rare event simulation and modelling is critical to our understanding of high-cost hard-to-predict events such as nuclear accidents, natural disasters, and financial crises. Quantitative analysis of such high-impact events demands the accurate estimation of the probability of occurrence of such rare events. In realistic models this probability is very difficult to estimate, ....Mathematics of importance: The optimal importance sampling algorithm for estimating the probability of a black swan event. Rare event simulation and modelling is critical to our understanding of high-cost hard-to-predict events such as nuclear accidents, natural disasters, and financial crises. Quantitative analysis of such high-impact events demands the accurate estimation of the probability of occurrence of such rare events. In realistic models this probability is very difficult to estimate, because exact simple analytical formulas are not available and the existing estimation methods fail spectacularly. There is an urgent need for new efficient methodology. This project develops a new Monte Carlo method that will be able to estimate reliably and accurately rare-event probabilities. Read moreRead less
WaterLog - A mathematical model to implement recommendations of The Wentworth Group. In 2003, The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists released their 'Blueprint for a national water plan' with the primary objective to 'protect river health and the rights of all Australians to clean usable water'. Currently, there are significant water restrictions in all the Australian mainland capital cities. In January 2007, the Prime Minister of Australia, announced a bold plan to rescue the Murray-Darling ....WaterLog - A mathematical model to implement recommendations of The Wentworth Group. In 2003, The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists released their 'Blueprint for a national water plan' with the primary objective to 'protect river health and the rights of all Australians to clean usable water'. Currently, there are significant water restrictions in all the Australian mainland capital cities. In January 2007, the Prime Minister of Australia, announced a bold plan to rescue the Murray-Darling Basin. The plan incorporates political management changes, and an investment of $10Bn. Now is the time to develop improved techniques for management of water storage systems. This project will develop the fundamental mathematical principles required for this improved management.Read moreRead less
Theory and Applications of Computer-Intensive Statistical Methods. The availability of powerful computing equipment has had a dramatic impact on statistical methods and thinking. It has motivated development of novel approaches to data analysis, whose conception
and appreciation, even their application, often demand sophisticated and complex theoretical methods. In this context, the project will develop new approaches to solving non-standard statistical problems. These techniques will eithe ....Theory and Applications of Computer-Intensive Statistical Methods. The availability of powerful computing equipment has had a dramatic impact on statistical methods and thinking. It has motivated development of novel approaches to data analysis, whose conception
and appreciation, even their application, often demand sophisticated and complex theoretical methods. In this context, the project will develop new approaches to solving non-standard statistical problems. These techniques will either have direct application to solving practical problems of national or community concern, or provide a better understanding of the nature of such problems.Read moreRead less
Motor Unit Numbers Estimation (MUNE) using Bayesian statistical methodology for monitoring of progression of neuromuscular diseases. A means of objectively measuring the pathology of a neuromuscular disease involving motor unit loss, such as motor neuron disease, is much needed. This will be achieved by using newly developed electrophysiological techniques and developing new Bayesian statistical methodology to determine the number of motor units that supply a muscle. Our innovations will reliabl ....Motor Unit Numbers Estimation (MUNE) using Bayesian statistical methodology for monitoring of progression of neuromuscular diseases. A means of objectively measuring the pathology of a neuromuscular disease involving motor unit loss, such as motor neuron disease, is much needed. This will be achieved by using newly developed electrophysiological techniques and developing new Bayesian statistical methodology to determine the number of motor units that supply a muscle. Our innovations will reliably determine the number of motor units that supply a muscle in both normal subjects and in diseased patients with loss of motor nerves. This will enable the monitoring of disease progression. An outcome will be a software package that can be used with standard electrophysiology machines.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101147
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$294,336.00
Summary
Predicting extremes when events occur in bursts. This project seeks to advance knowledge in extreme value theory. Extreme value theory is essential to quantify risks in complex systems, such as the risk of network failures. Current statistical models for the occurrence of extremes assume that events happen regularly. This assumption, however, is at odds with human actions and many biological and physical events, which occur in bursts. There is a strong need to understand the effect of such ‘burs ....Predicting extremes when events occur in bursts. This project seeks to advance knowledge in extreme value theory. Extreme value theory is essential to quantify risks in complex systems, such as the risk of network failures. Current statistical models for the occurrence of extremes assume that events happen regularly. This assumption, however, is at odds with human actions and many biological and physical events, which occur in bursts. There is a strong need to understand the effect of such ‘bursty dynamics’ on the frequency and magnitude of extreme events. This project aims to develop extreme value theory for bursty events and thus lay the mathematical groundwork for the estimation and prediction of extremes in a variety of scientific contexts.Read moreRead less
Theory and application of computer-intensive, nonparametric statistical methods. The availability of increasingly powerful computing equipment continues to have a dramatic impact on statistical methods and thinking. These developments, combined with new technologies for generating data, are driving substantial changes in statistics, ranging from the types of problems being solved to the sorts of methods used to solve them. Both the problems and their solutions are of substantial national and c ....Theory and application of computer-intensive, nonparametric statistical methods. The availability of increasingly powerful computing equipment continues to have a dramatic impact on statistical methods and thinking. These developments, combined with new technologies for generating data, are driving substantial changes in statistics, ranging from the types of problems being solved to the sorts of methods used to solve them. Both the problems and their solutions are of substantial national and community benefit. They will be the subject of high-level research supported by this proposal. Read moreRead less