Mixed Models for Biologists: A practical crash course

Mixed models are a powerful, flexible tool that empower biologists to control for various sources of non-independence ("pseudoreplication”) without loosing (hardly any) statistical power to detect a significant pattern in their variable of interest. In this three-day course, students, who must already familiar with linear models and GLM in R, will learn how to code an implement the next natural step: mixed models. Students will learn the difference between fixed effects and random effects, will learn how to ditch clunky transformations and instead embrace the native distribution of the data, and will be forced to think critically about experimental design.
IMPORTANT: this is an advanced level stats course, so if you do not have a firm grasp of linear regressions in R and at least a working knowledge of GLMs, you will likely be quite lost and it is probably not a good idea to apply to this course. 

9:45-10 Intros & Icebreaker

Lecture: Overview of Linear Models

Lecture: Overview of GLMs

Lecture: Distributions

Lunch

PM: practical examples and working through GLM code

Lecture - overview of mixed models

11:00 Coffee Break 

11:15 - 11:45 Q & A session as needed

11:45 - 12:30 Work though First GLMM example

12:30 - 13:00 Q & A on distributions and misc. topics

LUNCH - 1 hour

Go through annotated code

14:00-15:00 Seed example + Q & A

15:15 15 min Break

15:30-16:30 - Hunting example + Q & A

16:30 5 min break

16:35-17:45 Count data example (Diogo) + Q & A

9:45-10:30 Group discussion: Student example one

10:30-11:00 Group discussion: Student example two 

define questions and set up global models on whiteboard

11:00 Coffee Break

11:15 - 13:00 Break out groups of three students: 

define questions & construct global models on paper

LUNCH - 1 hour

14:00-14:30 Short lecture: Additional considerations when modelling

14:30-17:45 Students work through their own data themselves

15:15 15 min Break

15:30-17:15 Students work through their own data themselves

17:15-17:45 Closing remarks and final questions (if necessary)

3 days - 21 hours - Schedule: 09:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 17:30

Coordination

Luke Powell | BIOPOLIS-CIBIO

Instructor (s)

Diogo Ferreira | BIOPOLIS-CIBIO

Max Tercel | BIOPOLIS-CIBIO

Raquel Ponti de la Iglesia | BIOPOLIS-CIBIO

The course will be open to a maximum number of 20 participants. 

75% of available student slots are reserved for BIODIV students.

 Priority will be given to:

• 1st year and other PhD students attending the BIODIV Doctoral Program;

• PhD students attending other courses;

• Other post-graduate students and researchers.

(A minimum number of participants is required for the course to take place)

Deadline:  15 May 2025

To apply fill the FORM

A copy of the form will be sent to the email address you provide as proof that you have successfully submitted your application. Results will be emailed to you within 8 working days of the application deadline.

65€ (students) | 100€ (other participants).

BIOPOLIS/ CIBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%. Participation is free of charge for BIODIV Students (M BGE & PhD) & CIBIO's TwinLabs 

(If applicable, payment will be made to Associação BIOPOLIS - VAT No. 516033727. Information on the payment amount and the payment deadline will be sent together with the results notification, and a proforma invoice may be issued in due time).

MORE INFORMATION

Registration fees do not include accommodation or meals. 

No ECTS credits are awarded for attending the course. Participants receive a certificate of attendance without quantitative evaluation.