SDS Seminar Series – Matt Koslovsky, Colorado State University
Oct
25
2024
Oct
25
2024
Description
The Fall 2024 SDS Seminar Series continues on October 25th from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. with Dr. Matt Koslovsky (Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics, Colorado State University). This event is in-person in the Avaya Room (POB 2.302).
Title: Sparse Dirichlet-Multinomial Models
Abstract: The Dirichlet-multinomial (DM) distribution and its variants are widely used to model multivariate count data generated by high-throughput sequencing technology in omics research, due to its ability to capture both the compositional structure of the data and overdispersion. However, an overlooked characteristic of the DM distribution is that it assigns positive probabilities to zero counts, even when the true probability of occurrence is zero. In this talk, I will introduce a novel Bayesian zero-inflated Dirichlet-multinomial (ZIDM) model for multivariate compositional count data with excess zeros, designed to improve scalability without sacrificing interpretability or imposing restrictive assumptions. I will then discuss extensions of the ZIDM model as a semiparametric mixture modeling framework that enables simultaneous clustering and automatic determination of the number of clusters in the data. The performance of the proposed methods will be evaluated through simulation and further illustrated using human microbiome data.
Other Events in This Series
Apr
3
2026
SDS Seminar Series – Leo Duan, University of Florida
TBA
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm • In Person
Speaker(s): Leo Duan
Apr
17
2026
SDS Seminar Series – Rina Foygel Barber, University of Chicago
TBA
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm • In Person
Speaker(s): Rina Foygel Barber