Independent Statistical and Epidemiological Consulting for Clinical One Health Research
STEP-CM Analytics
Insightful analyses to empower your expertise.
Get in TouchAbout Me
My name is Ben Ouyang. For the past 20 years, I have worked at the intersection of epidemiology, statistics and comparative medicine to improve human and animal lives. This cross-functional experience has taught me how to use statistics to empower the non-statistical expert. My goal is to help you understand your dataset so that you can be confident in leaning on your own expertise to make the decisions you need to make.
What We Do
Study Design
For those undertaking a new investigation and would like help with things like formulation of research objectives/questions/hypotheses, protocols, selecting what data to collect, sample size calculations and database structure.
Data cleaning, merging and formatting
Sometimes data has been collected, but it's not quite ready for analysis. Human errors in data entry can cause incongruencies that make analysis difficult. Sometimes data comes from multiple sources and they need to be merged. And other times, data is in various formats that cannot coexist without compromising the integrity of your data. These issues are often the most challenging and time-consuming part of data work. I perform the complex operations needed to get your dataset in shape for your analysis while keeping a record of each operation to ensure reproducibility and repeatability.
Click here for an example.
Understanding your data
Often the most important part of data work. I have found that statistics is most empowering for both the statistical and non-statistical expert when they have a nuanced and rich understanding of their data. I explore the data thoroughly and explain intricate phenomenon and patterns using salient visualizations that support an intuitive understanding of the final statistical model.
Click here for an example.
Statistical modeling
Using your study objective, design, and data collection methods, I conduct comparisons and build models that help explain the contributions of variables of interest to your outcomes. When study objectives are more open-ended, I conduct exploratory analyses governed by the expertise of you and your team to produce potential hypotheses to explore further. I aim for transparent and intuitive analyses that explain and illustrate the final results while concurrently elucidating the strengths, limitations, potentials for bias and possible next steps.
Proof-of-concept artificial intelligence & machine learning models
If you would like to see if your data can power predictions and classifications, I build preliminary artificial intelligence and machine learning models to help you get started. I engineer features and provide insight into their associative, predictive and causal links to the outcome.
Reporting and manuscript support
If you are planning to publish your research in a scientific journal, I provide documentation of the methods used as well as the results of the analysis. I work with your subject-matter experts to provide discussion points that are both scientifically and statistically relevant and sound
Statistical and epidemiological training for clinical research
If you need some guidance in building or applying your statistical and epidemiological tools but would ultimately like to do it yourself, consider this option. Good option for veterinary/medical interns, residents and other trainees involved in clinical research.
Credentials & Experience
- PhD-Epidemiology University of Guelph, 2021
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) University of Pennsylvania, 2014
- MSE-Applied Mathematics & Statistics Johns Hopkins University, 2007
- Areas of Expertise Biostatistics · Clinical Research · Human & Veterinary Epidemiology · Causal Inference · Real-World Data & Evidence · Hierarchical Data Modeling · Data Visualizattion
- Clients & Sectors Academic institutions, human and animal hospitals, federal health agencies, veterinary organizations, biotechnology, One Health organizations
Get in Touch
Available for project-based engagements, collaborations, and advisory work. Reach out to discuss your needs.
Emailstepcmanalytics@gmail.com
LocationOntario, Canada