Outstanding Statistical Application Award
Peijie Hou
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Joshua M. Tebbs
University of South Carolina
Christopher R. Bilder
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Christopher S. McMahan
Clemson University
For their novel development of a statistical framework that quantifies the operating characteristics of hierarchical group testing for multiple rare diseases. The authors cleverly reformulate the pool decoding process as a time‐inhomogeneous, finite‐state Markov chain and provide analytical solutions of prediction accuracy and the expected number of tests. Their methodology is having tremendous impact on public health screening, and their paper, “Hierarchical Group Testing for Multiple Infections,” was published in Biometrics in 2017.
About the Award
The Outstanding Statistical Application Award was established in 1986 to recognize the authors of papers that demonstrate an outstanding application of statistics in any substantive field. Award recipients are presented with an engraved award and $1,000 that is divided evenly among the winners. The award is given annually if an eligible and worthy work is nominated.
Selection Criteria
The Outstanding Statistical Application Award is bestowed upon a distinguished individual or individuals based on the following criteria:
- The impact of the statistical application in addressing a significant problem in a substantive field
- The ingenuity and or novelty of the statistical treatment of the problem
Eligible work includes papers, monographs, reports, and other substantive evidence appearing within two years of the presentation of the award. All nominated work must have been subject to external peer review and, preferably, formal refereeing.
Award Recipient Responsibilities
The award recipient(s) are responsible for providing a current photograph and general information, along with permission to reprint the work in ASA promotional materials.
Nominations
Nominations are due by March 1, and the award is presented at the Joint Statistical Meetings in August the same year.
Nominations should include a letter that carefully describes the paper’s significance, particularly its impact on the substantive field, along with a copy of the nominated work. Nominations should be sent to awards@amstat.org or mailed to the American Statistical Association, attention Awards Nominations, 732 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Questions
Please contact the committee chair.