Algebraic Statistics talk: Jane Coons

Speaker: Jane Coons (NC State University, USA, https://janeivycoons.wordpress.ncsu.edu/)

Title: Quasi-Independence Models with Rational Maximum Likelihood Estimator

Abstract: We will discuss the geometry and combinatorics of likelihood inference for quasi-independence models, which are log-linear statistical models that we can view as toric varieties. Let X and Y be discrete random variables. Quasi-independence describes a situation in which some states of X and Y cannot occur together, but X and Y are otherwise independent. In joint work with Seth Sullivant, we characterize which quasi-independence models have rational maximum likelihood estimator based on combinatorial features of the bipartite graph associated to the model. In these cases, we give an explicit formula for the maximum likelihood estimate based on clique structures in this graph.

The talk is over zoom. If you would like to participate and have not received the link, contact the organiser.