Monte Carlo Methods in Statistics

Graduate credit

This course is an introduction to Monte Carlo sampling and integration methods that arise in statistics. Course topics include: basic Monte Carlo methods (random number generators, variance reduction techniques, importance sampling and its generalizations), an introduction to Markov chains and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (Metropolis-Hastings and Gibbs samplers, data-augmentation techniques, convergence diagnostics). Optional topics include: sequential Monte Carlo, Hamiltonian Monte Carlo, advanced computational methods (approximate Bayesian computation, variational inference) for complex statistical models such as latent variable and hierarchical or nonparametric Bayesian models.