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  • Oct
    15

    Appl Math: Trevor GrandPre on "Model-free Inference from Time-series Data"

    McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

    11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

    EVENT DETAILS

    Title: Model-free Inference from Time-series Data

    Speaker: Trevor GrandPre, Princeton University

    Abstract: Drawing inferences from experimental data often involves imposing models, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions. Theory sometimes points to quantities that are significant independent of the underlying mechanisms, but making accurate model-free estimates of these quantities can be hard because finite data generates systematic errors. I present two cases where we develop new methods to address and correct these errors: (1) extracting long-term population growth from single-cell lineage data and (2) estimating the evidence for the arrow of time in patterns of neural activity. For population growth, key observables are the number of divisions and generation times along a lineage for a fixed time. Simple growth rate estimators suffer from finite-time bias at short times. This bias scales inversely with time and can be corrected. At longer times, rare events introduce a linearization bias, causing an abrupt phase transition explained by a simple model of disordered systems. Our approach yields accurate estimates provided the lineage counts and lengths stay below the critical point, allowing inference of how mutations and physiological variations impact fitness. In the case of neural activity, the relevant observables are the moments of activity and the waiting times between these moments. Estimating the irreversibility—quantified by the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the distribution of forward and backward trajectories—faces similar biases. Finding the systematic dependence of these biases on sample size allows for accurate estimates, including detecting systems that obey detailed balance, and opens a path to exploring how the brain represents the arrow of time. Generally, this new understanding of how model-free estimators rely on a complex order of limits of the amount of data and the length of each sample may allow quantitative understanding of other relevant processes such as gene regulation, cell-cycle dynamics, and signal transduction.

    Zoom: https://northwestern.zoom.us/j/92938364014

    Special Note: This colloquium is co-sponsored by the Chemical and Biological Engineering department in McCormick

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    more less

    TIME Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

    LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

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    CONTACT Ted Shaeffer    ted.shaeffer@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  • Jan
    6

    Winter classes begin

    University Academic Calendar

    All Day

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Monday, January 6, 2025

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    CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

  • Jan
    14

    Appl Math: Luis Amaral on "Science Is an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet and I Am Not Dieting"

    McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

    11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

    LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

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    CONTACT Ted Shaeffer    ted.shaeffer@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  • Jan
    21

    Appl Math: Jane Kondev on "Title TBA"

    McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

    11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

    LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

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    CONTACT Ted Shaeffer    ted.shaeffer@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  • Feb
    4

    Appl Math: Pedro Saenz on "Walking Droplets & Galloping Bubbles"

    McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

    11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

    LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

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    CONTACT Ted Shaeffer    ted.shaeffer@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  • Feb
    25

    Appl Math: Jim Stone on "Title TBA"

    McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

    11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

    LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

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    CONTACT Ted Shaeffer    ted.shaeffer@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  • Mar
    11

    Appl Math: Vaseem Shaik on "Active Particles in Inhomogeneous Environments"

    McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

    11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

    LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

    ADD TO CALENDAR

    CONTACT Ted Shaeffer    ted.shaeffer@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

  • Apr
    8

    Appl Math: Brennan Sprinkle on "Title TBA"

    McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)

    11:15 AM M416, Technological Institute

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

    LOCATION M416, Technological Institute    map it

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    CONTACT Ted Shaeffer    ted.shaeffer@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick-Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)