CBB 240/STA 270

Statistical Methods for Structural Bioinformatics,
Biophysics, and Cheminformatics

Spring 2008

Tues/Thur 4:25-5:40
025 Old Chem Bldg

Instructor: Scott Schmidler
E-mail: schmidler@stat.duke.edu
Phone: 684-8064
Office: 223D Old Chemistry
Office hours: By appointment


Course Description:

Introduction to methods of statistical inference and stochastic modeling arising in computational biology, emphasizing techniques relevant to applications in structural biology and biophysical chemistry. Topics include: Applications will be drawn from a wide range of modeling and data analysis challenges arising in structural bioinformatics, biophysics, and cheminformatics. To include: modeling ion channels, evolutionary rate models, stochastic chemical kinetics, theory and output analysis for molecular simulations, random-walk p-values in Blast, biomarker identification and classification of proteomics spectra, analysis of AFM force spectroscopy curves, QSAR and 3D QSAR, statistical potentials for protein structure prediction and molecular docking.

Course will involve homework assignments as well as hands-on data analysis using statistical software. Students will also complete a substantial project and are encouraged to select topics related to their dissertation research or interests with instructor guidance.

Prerequisites: Sta 213 or equivalent; Linear algebra. All auditors require consent of instructor and will be required to enroll as an auditor.