Verbal autopsy (VA) is a well developed tool to collect information describing deaths outside of hospitals by conducting surveys to the relatives and caregivers of the deceased person. It is routinely-implemented in low and middle income countries, where it often lacks sufficient resources to conduct the autopsy. The main task is to estimate both individual […]
Spatially dependent data are common in environmental and climate studies, where Gaussian process models are used for prediction and uncertainty quantification. Learning their covariance structure involves both statistical and computational challenges. Likelihood-based inference may be sensitive to covariance misspecification, while repeated evaluation of prediction-oriented criteria can be computationally demanding. To study these issues, we develop […]
Understanding neuronal function requires measurements that capture both the rapid dynamics and spatial organization of neural activity. Conventional neural interfaces often prioritize either high temporal resolution through electrophysiological recording or high spatial resolution through optical imaging, while integrating these modalities within a single interface remains challenging. This work seeks to develop a transparent, flexible, and […]
Multivariate dependent discrete data routinely arise in microbiome studies. Analyzing these data presents interesting statistical challenges, such as high dimensionality, excess zeros, large heterogeneity across samples, and temporal dependence in longitudinal studies. Drawing inferences about objects of primary scientific interest—such as temporal trajectories of microbial abundance, microbial interactions, clusters of microbes similarly associated with environmental […]
Coherent wireless reception depends on accurate channel state information (CSI), yet acquiring CSI through pilot transmission consumes time–frequency resources that could otherwise carry data. This tradeoff becomes more pronounced in time-varying and frequency-selective channels and in short-packet communications, where accurate channel estimation is challenging and pilot overhead can be significant. This dissertation investigates how CSI […]