graduate studies in statistics at university of south carolina edsel a. peña professor and graduate...

Graduate Studies in Statisticsat University of South Carolina

Edsel A. PeñaProfessor and Graduate Director

Department of Statistics

pena@stat.sc.edu

(With Some Materials Obtained From an

American Statistical Association Powerpoint Presentation)

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Outline of Presentation• The Statistics Profession• Graduate Studies at USC• Faculty and Students• Students We Seek• Degree Programs• Job Market and Salary Information• Applying for Admission• Financial Support• Positive Aspects

The Statistics Profession

• American Heritage® Dictionary: “The mathematics of the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data, especially the analysis of population characteristics by inference from sampling.”

• Statisticians collect and analyze data, then calculate results using a specific design. They draw conclusions and make decisions in the face of uncertainty and by exploiting `order out of chaos.’

What Is Statistics?

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Population(The GOAL, but UNSEEN)

Unit X Y================1 x1 y1

2 x2 y2

3 x3 y3

… … …N xN yN

================Mean X Y

StdDev X Y

================

Unit X Y=======================1 x1 y1

2 x2 y2

3 x3 y3

… … …n xn yn

=======================Mean mX mY

StdDev sX sY

=======================

Sample(What we SEE)

Sampling process and Experiments(Probability)

SchematicsSchematics

InferentialProcess (Statistics)

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Science, Scientific Process, and Statistics(Cycle of “Life”)

QuestionProblem

ConjectureTheory?!

Set-up formalhypotheses in

terms of variablesand parameters

Do a study to gather sample data (survey,

historical, observational,designed expt.)

Analyze sample datausing statistical

methods

Results consistentwith the

hypothesis?NO

YESDr. or Prof.

Thesis!?Dissertation!

Tenure, Promotion,RecognitionWealth??!

STATISTICS

Scope and Variety of Statistics

EnvironmentAgriculture,

Ecology, Forestry,Animal Populations

GovernmentCensus, Law,

National Defense

PhysicalSciences

Astronomy,Chemistry, Physics

Areas where STATISTICS

are used

Health & Medicine

Genetics, Clinical Trials,Epidemiology,Pharmacology

BusinessEconomics, Engineering,

Marketing,Computer Science

• Collecting data on subsets of the population (samples) can give valid information about the whole population.

• Knowing what has happened in the past can help answer questions about the present and future.

• Knowledge helps plan future tests, determines resource allocation, and improves quality.

Why Study Statistics?

• Study the safety of nuclear power plants

• Evaluate the environmental impact of pollution

• Determine the effectiveness of new drugs

• Estimate the U.S. unemployment rate

• Analyze consumer demand for products

• Plan and analyze agricultural experiments

• Do mathematical research.

What Do Statisticians Do?

• Manufacturing– Build products and deliver services

that satisfy consumers and increase the corporation’s profit margin

Business and Industry

• Marketing– Design experiments for new

products, conduct focus groups and sample surveys, and perform field experiments in test markets to determine product viability

Business and Industry

• Engineering– Make a consistent product, detect

problems, minimize waste, and predict product life in electronics, chemicals, aerospace, pollution control, construction, and other industries

Business and Industry

• Statistical Computing– Work in software design and

development, testing, quality assurance, technical support, education, marketing, and sales to develop code that is both user-friendly and sufficiently complex

Business and Industry

• Epidemiology– Work on calculating cancer

incidence rates, monitor disease outbreaks, and monitor changes in health-related behaviors such as smoking and physical activity

Health and Medicine

• Public Health– Prevent disease, prolong life,

and promote health through organized community efforts, including sanitation, hygiene education, diagnoses, and preventative treatment

Health and Medicine

• Pharmacology– Work in drug discovery,

development, approval, and marketing, to ensure the validity and accuracy of findings at all stages of the process

Health and Medicine

• Genetics– Label possible indicators of

genetic abnormalities, such as birth defects and early aging, or breed desirable characteristics in plant offspring

Health and Medicine

• Education– Teach K-12 through post-graduate

students, assess teacher effectiveness, or develop statistical models to represent student learning

Learning

• Science Writing & Journalism– Work with mass media,

universities, and corporations to produce news briefs, articles, news releases, and other reports

Learning

• Government– Work in regulations for stock

trading, pollution, and drug approvals, or testify in court proceedings, congressional hearings, and lobbying arguments

Research

• Survey Methods– Collect data in the social

sciences, education, law, forestry, agriculture, biology, medicine, business, and e-commerce, and for the government

Research

• Law– Analyze data in court cases,

including DNA evidence, salary discrepancies, discrimination law suits, and disease clusters

Social Statistics

• Consulting– Work on a temporary basis

on a variety of projects including quality improvement, pharmaceuticals, ecology, and engineering

Social Statistics

• Agriculture– Study chemical pesticides,

hydrogeology, veterinary sciences, genetics, and crop management in order to ensure optimal yield

Natural Resources

• Ecology– Address questions about the

earth’s natural environment, including animal populations, agricultural protections, and fertilizer and pesticide safety

Natural Resources

Graduate Studies at USC

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Department of Statistics at USC

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About the Department

• Formed in 1985

• 13.5 faculty (12 with PhDs)

• 31 full-time students; 28 part-time

• Degree Programs: PhD, MS, MIS, CAS

• Statistical Consulting Center

• Center for Reliability and Quality Sciences

• International Conference last May

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Faculty Characteristics

• 5 Full Professors

• 3 Associate Professors

• 3 Assistant Professors

• 3 Instructors/Lecturers

• 5 are Elected Fellows of the ASA

• Recipients of teaching and research awards

• Active researchers; in editorial boards

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Faculty Research Interests

• Reliability and Quality Sciences

• Biostatistics and Survival Analysis

• Nonparametrics

• Environmetrics

• Mathematical Statistics and Probability

• Psychometrics

• Bioinformatics

Preparation and Qualities We Seek of Students

Education

• College

– Major in statistics, mathematics, applied mathematics, or a closely related field (i.e. epidemiology, engineering)

• Post-Graduate

– Many career fields require a Master’s degree or PhD in a specialized statistical field

Skills

• Quantitative Skills

– Statistics, Mathematics, Science

• Problem Solving Skills

– Analysis, Teamwork

• Communication Skills

– Verbal, Written

• Computer Programming Languages

• Foundation in Field of Application

Opportunities

• Diversity

– Pure Research

– Interdisciplinary Teams

• Advancement

– Experience, education, and communication skills

lead to professional advancement

• Versatility

– Challenging and Exciting Fields of Application

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Degree Programs at USC• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

– Takes 4-5 years (if admitted without MS)– Training in statistical theory, methods, applied

statistics, computing, and consulting– Suited for academic jobs, industry, research,

and teaching– Suited for those who are good in mathematics,

data analysis, and loves computers– Requires dissertation work

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PhD Program Timetable• First Year: core theory and applied courses• Preliminary examination• Second Year: additional PhD core theory,

applied courses, and computing courses• Comprehensive examination• Dissertation Proposal and Work (1-2 years)

– Original research; leads to published work

• PhD; then a nice job!

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Masters Degree Programs

• Master of Science (MS)– Takes 1.5 to 2 years– Training suitable for industry job, teaching, or

for pursuing a doctorate

• Master of Industrial Statistics (MIS)– For those who are currently working in industry– Distance-ed courses available all over SC

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MS Program Timetable

• First three semesters: core theory, applied, and computing courses

• Last two semesters: master’s thesis work– Thesis work: lots of variety (applied, theory,

computer-intensive)

• Master’s thesis defense

• A nice job, or go into a PhD program

Statistics Job MarketSome Characteristics

2002 - 2003 Salary Report of Academic Statisticians

The complete Salary Report can be downloaded at www.amstat.org/profession.

2001 Salary Report of Biostatistics

The complete Salary Report can be downloaded at www.amstat.org/profession.

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About Our Graduates

• Graduates 2-4 PhD’s every year

• Several MS and MIS graduates every year

• Excellent job placement: industry, academia, or MS grads proceed to get PhD

• Graduates have indicated satisfaction with the training they received from USC

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Applying for Admission• Online: http://www.gradschool.sc.edu

• One application for admission and financial support (assistantships and fellowships)

• GRE, Letters of Recommendation (at least 2), Transcripts, Statement of Purpose (optional)

• Deadline: preferably before March 1st

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Assistantships

• About 8-12 new positions every Fall• Full-time: 20 hours per week of work• Teaching assistantships• Research assistantships (NSF, NIH, others)• About 31 full-time students have assistantship

support• Nine-Month Stipend: at least $13000• Summer support usually available as well

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GA Responsibilities

• Teaching Assistant: assists in basic statistics courses during first year, and then handles their own courses

• Research Assistant: performs own research or assists faculty in their research

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Fellowships

• Graduate School

• College of Science and Mathematics

• Department

• External sources

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Some Positive Points of USC

• A small department, but active faculty.

• Great camaraderie and friendship among students and faculty.

• Excellent training in both theory, methods, applications, and computing.

• Excellent job placement after graduation.

• And, of course, GREAT CLIMATE!

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For More Information

E-Mail: pena@stat.sc.edu

Website: http://www.stat.sc.edu/