Biostatistics Seminar: Integrative Modelling of Non-Euclidean Neuroimaging Data
Speaker: Eardi Lila, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, University of Washington
Title: Integrative Modelling of Non-Euclidean Neuroimaging Data
Abstract: In this talk, I will begin with a broad overview of multimodal neuroimaging and the non-Euclidean data structures that arise from different imaging modalities. Examples include brain connectivity data represented as positive-definite matrices and anatomical shape data represented through diffeomorphic deformations of an atlas. A central challenge is to characterize how these complex imaging phenotypes relate to other high-dimensional variables, including lifestyle, demographic, psychometric, and disease-related measures. I will introduce a class of statistical models for the integrative analysis of non-Euclidean neuroimaging data and high-dimensional covariates. Two settings will be considered. In the first, the underlying manifold structure is known and explicitly incorporated into the statistical model using tools such as tangent-space…
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: HRC 135. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Thursday, October 8, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
General Exam - Rui Wang
Presentation: Machine Learning for Causal Inference in Randomized and Observational Studies
Abstract: Modern causal inference increasingly incorporates flexible machine learning methods to improve efficiency and robustness, but valid inference requires that these methods respect the structure of the underlying study design. This dissertation develops machine-learning-assisted causal inference methods for randomized and observational studies, with an emphasis on design-based validity, weak-null hypothesis testing, and covariate balance.
The first dissertation project develops Fisher randomization tests for Neyman’s weak null hypothesis that can incorporate flexible predictions of potential outcomes. We construct a studentized augmented inverse probability weighted statistic and study its sampling and permutation distributions under a finite-population framework, with the goal of improving power while preserving asymptotic type-I error control.
Committee: Kwun Chuen Gary Chan (Chair), Patrick Heagerty,…
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Online Meeting Link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/93925969031. Campus room: HRC 375. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Monday, October 12, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
Biostatistics Seminar: Yuan Luo, PhD, FACMI, FAIMBE, FAMIA, FIAHSI, Chief Data Officer and Associate Vice President for Data, Analytics and AI Integration, UW Medicine,
Speaker: Yuan Luo, PhD, FACMI, FAIMBE, FAMIA, FIAHSI, Chief Data Officer and Associate Vice President for Data, Analytics and AI Integration, UW Medicine
Title and abstract coming soon.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: HRC 135. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Thursday, October 15, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Joint UW Biostatistics/Statistics Dinner
All Biostatistics and Statistics graduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff are invited to a joint dinner on Friday, October 16. Please RSVP by October 11!
Menu: Korean Rice Bowl with Korean-style BBQ beef or chili-vegetable & tofu stir fry (vegan & gluten free), sticky white rice (vegan & gluten free) and topping options that include kimchi, julienne carrots, cilantro, jalapenos, soy sauce, and siracha, Spinach citrus salad with lemon vinaigrette (vegan & gluten free), Assorted cookies, Assorted beverages, Please RSVP by October 11 to ensure that we have enough food for everyone and are able to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Due to space limitations we are not able to accommodate family or friends.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: 1st Floor Lobby & HRC 155. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Special Events. Target Audience: Open only to biostatistics & statistics graduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff.
Friday, October 16, 2026, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
General Exam - Min Haeng Cho
Presentation: Essays in Causal Inference
Abstract: We study several questions when estimating a causal effect in an observational study or randomized clinical trial. In the first project, we introduce a non-bipartite, template matching algorithm that strengthens an instrumental variable while maintaining fidelity to the original study cohort for an observational study. We then study randomization-based and biased randomization-based inference for partial identification bounds of the sample average treatment effect. In the second project, we formalize an existing win ratio estimand, a popular method used to evaluate composite outcomes in randomized clinical trials, under the potential outcomes framework and introduce an alternative win ratio estimand. We compare the two estimands using simulations and propose inferential methods. In the third project, we develop a joint modeling framework to simultaneously estimate the latent longitudinal biomarker trajectory and a causal estimand. We specify identification…
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Online Meeting Link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/99356085134. Campus room: HRC 370. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
UW SPH Community Open House
Interested in public health? Meet representatives from our Departments and Interdisciplinary Programs to learn about careers or academic programs that may be right for you!
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: 2nd Floor Mezzanine. Accessibility Contact: sphadmissions@uw.edu. Event Types: Information Sessions.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM.
For more info visit forms.cloud.microsoft. Biostatistics Seminar: Yaroslav Mukhin, PhD, Assistant Research Professor, Center for Data Science for Enterprise and Society, Cornell University
Speaker: Yaroslav Mukhin, PhD, Assistant Research Professor, Center for Data Science for Enterprise and Society, Cornell University
Title and abstract coming soon.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: HRC 135. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Thursday, October 22, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Cascades Summit for Public Health (Part 1 of 2)
The Cascades Summit for Public Health will bring together leaders and practitioners from various industries to share how they are improving health and wellbeing of their communities. This interactive event will feature four panel discussions that highlight real-world examples and practical insights. Attendees will learn how businesses and industries improve health and where public health skills can be applied. They will leave with a deeper understanding of the connections between public health and industry and how knowledge sharing and collaboration can help build healthier communities.
View Program and RSVP to Attend: https://sph.washington.edu/cascades-summit
(this is a hybrid event, details are available in the link above)
Wednesday, October 28th:
Session 1: (1:00 - 2:15 p.m.) Building healthy communities through nature, movement, and place
Session 2: (2:30 - 3:45 p.m.) Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Rural Health
Wednesday, November 4th:
Session 3: (1:00 - 2:15 p.m.) Optimizing Performance and…
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: 101. Accessibility Contact: Janice North, jlnorth@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Target Audience: UW students, faculty, staff, external partners.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit sph.washington.edu. Biostatistics Seminar
Speaker, title, and abstract coming soon.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: HRC 135. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Cascades Summit for Public Health (Part 2 of 2)
The Cascades Summit for Public Health will bring together leaders and practitioners from various industries to share how they are improving health and wellbeing of their communities. This interactive event will feature four panel discussions that highlight real-world examples and practical insights. Attendees will learn how businesses and industries improve health and where public health skills can be applied. They will leave with a deeper understanding of the connections between public health and industry and how knowledge sharing and collaboration can help build healthier communities.
View Program and RSVP to Attend: https://sph.washington.edu/cascades-summit
(this is a hybrid event, details are available in the link above)
Wednesday, October 28th:
Session 1: (1:00 - 2:15 p.m.) Building healthy communities through nature, movement, and place
Session 2: (2:30 - 3:45 p.m.) Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Rural Health
Wednesday, November 4th:
Session 3: (1:00 - 2:15 p.m.) Optimizing Performance and…
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: 101. Accessibility Contact: Janice North, jlnorth@uw.edu. Event Types: Special Events. Target Audience: UW students, faculty, staff, external partners.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit sph.washington.edu. Biostatistics Seminar: Dan Kowal, PhD, Associate Professor of Statistics and Data Science, Cornell University
Speaker: Dan Kowal, PhD, Associate Professor of Statistics and Data Science, Cornell University
Title and abstract coming soon.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: HRC 135. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Biostatistics Seminar
Speaker, title, and abstract coming soon.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: HRC 135. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Thursday, November 12, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Biostatistics Seminar: Anru Zhang, PhD, Professor & Vice Chair for Research of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Duke University
Speaker: Anru Zhang, PhD, Professor & Vice Chair for Research of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics; Associate Professor of Computer Science, Statistical Science and in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University
Title and abstract coming soon.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: HRC 135. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Thursday, November 19, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Biostatistics Seminar: Razieh Nabi, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University
Speaker: Razieh Nabi, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University
Title, and abstract coming soon.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: HRC 135. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Thursday, December 3, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Biostatistics Seminar
Speaker, title, and abstract coming soon.
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Hans Rosling Center for Population Health (HRC). Campus room: HRC 135. Accessibility Contact: Deb Nelson, nelsod6@uw.edu, 206-685-9323. Event Types: Academics.
Thursday, December 10, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.