Introductory Biostatistics for Biologists

10 &11 April 2025

Dr. Romain-Daniel Gosselin, CHUV

The objective of this workshop is to highlight the systematic and universal nature of the vast majority of statistical flaws and their solutions. The course aims to explain the importance of biostatistics for science reproducibility/reliability and teach good practices.

Provisional program

Content

The lectures are tailored to biologists and concentrating on logic thinking behind biostatistics. Particular emphasis is placed on experimental design, analysis and presentation. The sessions are organized as discussions about concepts of biostatistics, summarized by a recap summary at the end of each hour. As a parallel support of the discussions, the students will have access to a structured online resource (eBook) that covers all concepts from the lecture. In addition, the lecture will include illustration examples where attendees can apply their newfound skills.

The discussions are strongly guided by the teacher through an overarching thread of topics that cover:

• General introduction to biostatistics, inference, good understanding of p-values and testing, statistical design, power, independence of variables, randomization

• Selection of statistical tests; Parametric vs. non-parametric tests, regression and correlation, multiple comparisons: ANOVA and beyond, introduction to linear models, repeated measures, the problems of p-values

• Graphical display, error(-bars), scatter plots and box plots: the dos and don'ts, which information to disclose?

Hand on workshop & 'consulting' session.

The last afternoon is dedicated to common discussion on biostatistical questions and problematics related to students' research projects. Questions will be sent to the teacher some weeks before the course through a form.

UNIL

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