Linear mixed models in R
22 May 2023
General context
This course is the perfect follow-up to the Basic statistics in R course for people who are doing experiments with multiple grouping variables, dependent groups and/or mixed designs. Where the Basic statistics in R course ends with a brief description of the use of lm() and lme() for comparing groups, these topics form the starting point for this course.
Linear mixed models have rapidly gained popularity in the last 20 years. They became the most used tool in research, particularly in life sciences. Yet, they are often not well understood and misused.
This short course will provide the background of the models but will be as applied as possible with examples and R-code.
The items that we foresee to cover:
- The linear model: its virtues and its limits
- Observations in live science studies are seldom independent
* Case studies to illustrate these dependencies
- Mixed models are developed to handle this structure and dependencies
- How can we deal with these dependencies and put it to our advantage?
- How do we solve mixed models in R?
* Like frequentists : nlme, lme4
* Like Bayesians: brms, Rinla
- How to interpret the output of a mixed model, statistically and practically
- When things are not normal: brief introduction to Generalized linear mixed models
If you have no experience with R, you should follow the Basic statistics in R training first. .
Trainers
Joris De Wolf
Joris De Wolf has a long track record in biostatistics. He worked at Crop-Design, later BASF, as team leader of the biostatistics group. He was involved in the experimental design and start-up of the high-throughput phenotyping system TraitMill, design of the databases and streamlining of statistical analyses. Furthermore, he was responsible for the field testing pipeline and statistics on transgenic yield improvement. In 2016, he joined GSK vaccines. Currently he works full time as a biostatistics consultant.
Practical info
22 May 2023
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
22 May 2023
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take bus 49, 50 or 70 to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.
22 May 2023
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
There is only one entrance to Technologiepark. At the entrance, please take a ticket and have it validated at the reception desk of the FSVM building. Parking will only be allowed in regular parking spots (for instance in front of the building) and in the new parking tower. Parking alongside the roads or in other places where there is no regular parking is prohibited and after initial warnings, fines will be issued (€ 50).