Rigorous Statistical Methods for Rigorous Microbiome Science

Abstract

High-throughput sequencing has facilitated discovery in microbiome science, but distinguishing true discoveries from spurious signals can be challenging. The Statistical Diversity Lab develops rigorous statistical methods and statistical software for the analysis of microbiome and biodiversity data. High-throughput sequencing has facilitated discovery in microbiome science, but distinguishing true discoveries from spurious signals can be challenging. The Statistical Diversity Lab develops rigorous statistical methods and statistical software for the analysis of microbiome and biodiversity data. Developing statistical methods that produce valid P values requires thoughtful modeling and careful validation, but careful statistical analysis reduces the risk of false discoveries and increases scientific understanding.