Successes and challenges of reproducibility as an applied statistician

Date: Wednesday, Apr 15 2026
Time: 13:10 to 13:40

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Speaker

Dr. Neil Wright, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Oxford, UK

Neil Wright is a senior statistician in Oxford Population Health at the University of Oxford. His work focuses on applying statistical methods to large-scale population health research, with particular interests in cardiovascular epidemiology and the use of multi-omics data. He leads the planning and implementation of analyses for a range of observational and genetic studies in collaboration with other scientists. He also provides statistical support, develops code and resources, contributes to teaching, and supervises postgraduate taught and research students.

Abstract

Practices to improve reproducibility and transparency have become central to the work of statisticians and others conducting statistical analyses. These practices are increasingly encouraged or required by academic publishers and funders as part of broader open science initiatives. Adopting best practices requires both technical knowledge and skills, as well as the ability to navigate practical challenges. These range from the personal challenges of integrating activities into daily work, to interpersonal challenges of collaborating with others, to those arising from the culture of a workplace, research or business area, or industry. In this talk, I will discuss several approaches to reproducibility that I attempt to integrate into my work. Drawing on experience in leading and implementing statistical analyses, collaborating with others, providing statistical support, and teaching, I will reflect on the successes and challenges of different practices. I will also offer some practical suggestions and ‘survival tips’ for statisticians aiming to adopt and promote reproducible practices in their work.

Category: Events