MSB 615 - Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis in Biotechnology

Credits: (3)
This applied course introduces students to the design of experiments and analysis of data. A combination of lecture, reading and discussion will be used to cover a variety of experimental situations occurring frequently in biotechnology, including testing the fit of data to theoretical distributions, comparisons of groups, and regression analysis. Emphasis will be placed on the formulation of hypotheses, the design of experiments to test a formulated hypothesis, and the selection of appropriated statistical tests to perform. Readings from primary scientific literature will be used to illustrate the importance of experimental control as well as some of the most common errors made in choosing and performing statistical tests. Students will use computer packages to analyze sample experimental data. The course provides students a foundation to evaluate information critically to support research objectives and product claims and a better understanding of statistical design of experimental trials for biological products/ devices. Students will have the capstone assignment introduced in this course and will spend time conceptualizing their individual projects. Prerequisite(s): MSB 501 - Biostatistics, undergraduate biostatistics or statistics.