ST810A - Spring 2009 - Preparation for Statistical Research

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• INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Brian Reich
  210D Patterson Hall
  reich@stat.ncsu.edu
  (919) 513 - 7686
  
• OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays, 1-3pm and by appointment.
• COURSE WEB PAGE: http://www4.stat.ncsu.edu/~reich/st810A/.
• CLASS MEETINGS: Tuesday, 3:00-4:30 pm, Broughton 4217.

Course description

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This course is meant to give students pursuing a Ph.D. in Statistics an organized introduction to the necessary skills and knowledge for a career in statistical research, starting with the first formal research activity, the dissertation.

Assignments/Grading

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The course is one credit and grading is S/U. To receive an S grade, a student must complete all six assignments (see below) on time, attend class regularly, and participate actively in class discussions. Late assignments will be accepted only if an extension has been approved by the instructor in advance. Because carrying out these assignments is critical to reinforce the course topics, completion of them is MANDATORY, and NO sitting-in or auditing will be permitted. Students MUST REGISTER for the course (for credit) in order to participate. Tentative due dates for the assignments are given below.

• Search the literature and identify the 10 most important papers in a statistical area (Due 1/27)
  
• Simulation study (Due 2/24)
  
• Final Project -- proposal (Due 3/24)
  
• Write your CV and prepare an application package for a real position announcement of interest to you (Due 4/14)
  
• Final Project -- written report (Due 4/21)
  
• Final Project -- oral presentations (Due 4/30 1-4pm)

Course outline

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The topics covered are subject to change, but the course will follow roughly this outline.

• 1/13 Latex I
  
• 1/20 Literature review
• 1/27 Latex II
  
• 2/3 Statistical computing I
  
• 2/10 Statistical computing II
  
• 2/17 Simulation studies in statistics
  
• 2/24 Written communication
  
• 3/10 Academic publication
  
• 3/17 No class, ENAR
  
• 3/24 Oral communication
  
• 3/31 Positions in academia: An overview
  
• 4/7 Job Search
  
• 4/14 Professional ethics for statisticians: Issues and advice
  
• 4/21 Project Peer reviews
  
• 4/30 Project presentations (finals week, 1-4pm)

Students with disabilities

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Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653, http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/offices/affirm_action/dss/.

Policy on academic integrity

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The University policy on academic integrity is spelled out in Appendix L of the NCSU Code of Student Conduct. For a more thorough elaboration see the NCSU Office of Student Conduct website.