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Biostatistician Position at UD

Biostatistician Position at UD

Presentation for The College of Health Sciences at University of Delaware for the Biostatistician position.
Given July, 9, 2013

Dr.Pohlig

July 10, 2013
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  1. RYAN T. POHLIG JULY 9, 2013 PRESENTATION FOR BIOSTATISTICIAN POSITION

    THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
  2. Outline n  Background ¡  Education ¡  Previous Research n  Philosophy

    & Approach ¡  As a statistician ¡  In life n  Role as a Biostatistician ¡  Services ¡  Policies
  3. Background Graduated December 2012 with my Ph.D. in Research Methodology

    This past spring taught the Business Statistics Sequence at West Chester University- Quantitative Business Analysis I & II (Eco251 & Eco252)
  4. Educational Background n  Undergrad University of Scranton ¡  Psychology Major

    n  University of Pittsburgh ¡  Graduate School of Education ¡  Psychology in Education Department ¡  Research Methodology Program
  5. Graduate School n  Three areas of focus ¡  Research Design

    ¡  Statistics ¡  Psychometrics n  Majored in Statistics ¡  Dissertation used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) n  Minored in Psychometrics
  6. Applied Statistics n  Interest is in applying the quantitative methods

    and statistical models ¡  My dissertation examined the performance of two methods across a number of conditions for estimating latent interaction effects ¡  Compared Power & Type I error to see how violation of assumptions affected performance n  Fortunate enough to work on a number of different research projects in a variety of fields requiring an array of analyses
  7. Social Work & Mental Health n  A series of grants

    from Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Children, Youth, and Families n  Evaluated the impact of the various health services the county provides and the impact on youth involved in the Justice System n  A number of different papers and presentations ¡  Cluster Analysis ¡  Exploratory Factor Analysis ¡  SEM (Path Analysis testing mediation) ¡  General Estimating Equation (repeated measures logistic regression) ¡  ANOVA & ANCOVA ¡  Propensity Scores Analysis [on going]
  8. Education n  Predicting risk for dropping out of High School

    ¡  Collected validity evidence showing Adolescent Development Screening Inventory (ADSI-E) is effective in predicting drop outs
  9. Nursing n  Examined relationship between Cytokine levels in Pancreatic Cancer

    patients & their quality of life ¡  Sequential Regression n  IL-6, TNF-alpha significantly positively related to quality of life n  IL-8, significantly negatively related to quality of life n  IL-10, not significantly related to quality of life
  10. Bioengineering n  Examined performance of three manual wheelchair propulsion training

    programs ¡  General Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) with a Time-Varying Covariate ¡  Complex Contrasts n  Found the two experimental methods (Multi- Media Presentation, and Real-Time feedback) were significantly better than the standard training (informational materials)
  11. Equivalence-Clinical Trials n  Ran analysis for a Clinical Trial testing

    a joint supplement for rheumatoid arthritis ¡  GLMM n  No significant difference between Placebo, Experimental Supplement, Loading Dose Supplement, Glucosamine-Chondroitin
  12. Epidemiology n  Estimated prevalence of Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome in

    young adults & in the lean ¡  Secondary analyses of a national database using Complex Survey Design (NHANES data) ¡  IFG found in 28.2% ¡  16% had MetS, not with IFG ¡  12% of lean had pre- diabetes
  13. Non-credited Research n  Advised and consulted ¡  Physical Therapy n 

    Created a test for treatment of Lower Back Pain ¡  Rehabilitation Science n  Assess efficacy of tele-rehabilitation for wheelchair seating n  Evaluated the psychometric properties of the wheelchair seating tool ¡  Bioengineering n  Evaluated a model that simulates car-crashes while factoring in BMI ¡  Higher Education n  Examining the impact of federal standards in online degree programs’ organizational culture
  14. Non-credited Research Cont. n  Currently, on a dissertation committee for

    a Kinesiology and Sport Sciences student at The University of Miami n  “Bicycle shoe insoles and their effect on EMG-indicated leg muscle activation balance in cyclists” ¡  Examining the impact of the shoes/cleats on bikers’ (pedal-cleat-foot) joints and their pedaling motion for injuries ¡  Design and analysis are not finalized
  15. Previously Helped Researchers n  Research Design and formulating Research Questions

    ¡  Mediation vs Moderation ¡  Alternative quasi-experimental designs for causality n  Propensity scores n  Regression discontinuity n  Measurement and Psychometrics ¡  Creating a survey ¡  Finding appropriate survey ¡  Evaluating psychometric properties n  Statistical Analysis ¡  Appropriate methods given variables in play ¡  Alternative Strategies for addressing issues
  16. Software n  Working knowledge of ¡  SPSS ¡  SAS ¡ 

    R ¡  Mplus ¡  EQS ¡  MS office (Excel) n  Learn new ones for convenience of the researcher ¡  Currently learning Stata for the propensity score analysis
  17. Goal for each project n  Establish a study design that

    will answer the Research Question n  Find and use the most appropriate analysis n  Researcher should be able to explain their research and communicate their results ¡  Conceptually understand what the method and model do ¡  Interpret the results
  18. Ethical Research n  Ethics ¡  In design ¡  During implementation

    and while carrying out the research project n  Ethical treatment of data ¡  Check assumptions ¡  Document and disclose all manipulations ¡  Proper adjustment (Post-hoc, use of covariates) and interpretation of statistics ¡  Changing of Research Questions
  19. Flexibility n  Adaptability ¡  Constraints may be applied: financial, review

    boards, time ¡  Accommodate reviewers’ opinions n  Opportunities for learning experiences ¡  Learn to work with individuals ¡  Iterative: learn from experiences and apply that going forward n  Novel Research ¡  Unique research might call for unique solutions ¡  Might have to learn a new method ¡  Or might have to instruct the researcher on a method new to them
  20. Personal Philosophy n  Attitude ¡  Positive “can do” attitude ¡ 

    Integrity ¡  Respect for others ¡  Focus on the long term n  Balance immediate needs with long term n  Solicit ideas from experts and have multi- discipline interaction ¡  Often times perspectives from a related or a foreign field can bring insight
  21. Work Philosophy n  Team oriented ¡  Balance individual strengths and

    weaknesses n  Methodical ¡  Prefer to think about and research answers before asserting ideas n  Work-Flow ¡  Actively manage time on the various projects ¡  Immediacy: prioritize based on need ¡  Forecasting upcoming and potential projects
  22. Authorship n  Authorship policy ¡  APA guidelines: "formulating the problem

    or hypothesis, structuring the experimental design, organizing and conducting the statistical analysis, interpreting the results, or writing a major portion of the paper" ¡  Authorship earned in a project by contributing directly to the work or in the writing process ¡  I do not require authorship to help with your research
  23. Research n  When thinking about this position I asked a

    number of people who I had previously worked with and in the Health Sciences, what they would want in a Biostatistician (n = 11) n  Results were fairly consistent centering around four areas
  24. Results n  Willingness to bring expertise ¡  “[T]here are advanced

    methods that I don't use/consider because I'm not familiar with them.” ¡  “Important knowing how to ‘frame’ the methods in a way that is appropriate for the research subject matter.”
  25. Results cont. n  Consistency ¡  “Be consistent, the biostatistician changes

    the analysis every time you meet with her and is very frustrating.” ¡  “I met with a person, and then 2 hours later they emailed me telling that the analyses were all wrong.”
  26. Results cont. n  Get in early and stay engaged ¡ 

    “[W]ork with the same statistician throughout so they become familiar with the plans we are trying to propose.” ¡  “Helpful to have a statistician's help in the proposal writing phase... Being able to see the big picture and forecast any issues” ¡  “It would be really helpful for grant submissions since we rarely have access to a statistician for proposals and then we get hammered with that methodology or propose things we can't actually do.”
  27. Results Cont. n  Accessibility ¡  Use of technology- Skype, Online

    chat, Conference calls ¡  Availability during non-traditional hours including weekends and nights n  Either in person on the phone, or via email n  “It's amazing that you're nearly instantly reachable. I can't say the same of many professors.”
  28. At University of Delaware n  Would like to contact those

    who I would be working with, and find out what they envision the position’s function would be n  Going to adapt to working with different researchers and keep their expectations in mind n  Evaluation and Feedback
  29. Biostatistician Role n  Providing support for researchers ¡  Study design

    and methodology ¡  Write analysis plans for grants ¡  Review documents for publications ¡  Power and sample size calculations ¡  Selecting and evaluating instruments and surveys ¡  Data management and cleaning ¡  Statistical analysis ¡  Result reporting ¡  Tables and figure creation
  30. Accessibility n  Open Door policy ¡  Researchers can seek help

    when needed n  Hold open “office hours” on a day ¡  Allow faculty and students to come by n  Discuss methodology n  Ask statistical advice n  Aid data management n  Help with analysis or results interpretation
  31. Educational Training n  Presentations and Workshops ¡  New or “Hot”

    methods ¡  Find commonalities in the research and present on those methods and analyses ¡  Software usage n  Lectures and seminars in Biostatistics, Psychometrics, Research Methodology and Ethics ¡  Reach out to other departments that offer similar courses or training
  32. Community n  Establish relationships within and outside the University ¡ 

    Help facilitate research and funding n  Institutional Review Board n  Research Advisory Boards and Councils ¡  Broaden the base of co-researchers n  Promote Multidiscipline research n  Businesses n  Active in Scholarly Committees ¡  Dissertation and Thesis Committees
  33. Resources n  Continue to build my network of specialists n 

    Outside resources ¡  I have no problem getting help from others ¡  Tapping resources for ideas and their knowledge n  I am willing to help find answers for people n  Even if it is not for the statistics n  Can call on experts in ¡  Statistics ¡  Measurement (Psychometrics) ¡  Econometrics ¡  Biomechanics ¡  Sports Medicine ¡  Rehabilitation Science & Technology ¡  Education ¡  Social Work & Mental Health ¡  Online assessments/Surveys