Master advanced Bayesian inference techniques and their practical applications in data science. This course will equip you with cutting-edge methods, including variational inference, Bayesian decision theory, and non-parametric approaches. You'll learn to quantify uncertainty in predictions, make principled decisions using loss functions, and implement flexible models that adapt complexity to data. Through hands-on projects using PyMC3 and real-world case studies, you'll develop expertise in the complete Bayesian workflow: from model specification to validation. The course emphasizes scalable alternatives to MCMC, including variational inference for large datasets, and covers advanced topics such as Dirichlet processes and Gaussian process regression.
What makes this course unique is its focus on practical implementation and decision-making under uncertainty. You'll gain skills in probabilistic programming, model evaluation, and applying Bayesian methods to diverse domains. By completing this course, you'll be equipped to tackle complex data problems with rigorous statistical methods and communicate uncertainty effectively in professional settings.
Welcome to Advanced Bayesian Methods and Applications! In this module, we will see an alternative to MCMC that is able to scale to large datasets, namely, Variational Inference (VI). VI transforms the sampling problem to an optimization one and trades off accuracy for speed. We will also learn how to implement these approaches and when we should prefer VI over MCMC.
涵盖的内容
5个视频6篇阅读材料4个作业
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5个视频•总计18分钟
Advanced Bayesian Inference and Decision Making•3分钟
Why do we need Variational Inference?•3分钟
Core of Variational Inference•5分钟
Mean-Field Approximation•3分钟
VI - vs - MCMC•4分钟
6篇阅读材料•总计55分钟
Course Overview•10分钟
Technical and Accessibility Support•5分钟
Kullback-Leibler divergence•15分钟
Multimodal learning•10分钟
Module Wrap-Up•5分钟
Recommended Learning Resources•10分钟
4个作业•总计96分钟
Let's Practice: Variational Inference•30分钟
Variational Inference•18分钟
VI flavors and benefits over MCMC•18分钟
Test Yourself: Variational Inference•30分钟
Bayesian Decision Theory & Prediction
第 2 单元•小时 后完成
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In this module, we will learn how to use the uncertainty quantified by Bayesian analysis and loss functions to make decisions in a principled way. We will also look at multi-objective decisions, where we have to balance several - possibly conflicting - objectives.
涵盖的内容
4个视频3篇阅读材料5个作业1个非评分实验室
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4个视频•总计17分钟
Bayesian Decision Theory•3分钟
The role of loss function•5分钟
Multi-objective loss functions•4分钟
Connection with Machine Learning•4分钟
3篇阅读材料•总计28分钟
Realistic Loss Functions•10分钟
Prediction as a decision problem•10分钟
Module Wrap-Up•8分钟
5个作业•总计100分钟
Let's Practice: Bayesian Decision Theory & Prediction•30分钟
Decision theory and loss functions•18分钟
Lab Check-in: A new regulation: To adopt it or not?•7分钟
Multi-objective loss functions•15分钟
Test Yourself: Bayesian Decision Theory & Prediction•30分钟
1个非评分实验室•总计60分钟
A new regulation: To adopt it or not?•60分钟
Bayesian Non-Parametric Methods
第 3 单元•小时 后完成
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In this module, we will explore the world of non-parametric Bayesian models. These models provide a lot of flexibility and allow the model complexity to grow with the data. We will see how Gaussian Process Regression and Dirichlet processes work with applications on function estimation and clustering, respectively. We will finally see that this flexibility comes with an important cost - computational complexity - which might hinder the applicability of these methods on large-scale problems/data.
涵盖的内容
4个视频3篇阅读材料5个作业2个非评分实验室
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4个视频•总计18分钟
Non-parametric models & flexibility•4分钟
Gaussian Process Regression•5分钟
Dirichlet Process Clustering•5分钟
Practical considerations & tradeoffs•4分钟
3篇阅读材料•总计43分钟
Gaussian Process Regression for temperature data •18分钟
Lab Check-in: Clustering with Dirichlet Processes and Gaussian Mixtures•5分钟
Clustering and sequential sampling•15分钟
Test Yourself: Bayesian Non-Parametric Methods•30分钟
2个非评分实验室•总计120分钟
GPR for temperature•60分钟
Clustering with Dirichlet Processes and Gaussian Mixtures•60分钟
Probabilistic Programming and Bayesian Workflow
第 4 单元•小时 后完成
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In this module, we are going to put together pieces that we have seen throughout the course and all together form what we call the Bayesian workflow. We will define probabilistic programming and focus on the use of PyMC for building Bayesian models. We will see an end-to-end example of Bayesian inference that incorporates all the necessary steps of the workflow.
涵盖的内容
5个视频2篇阅读材料5个作业1个非评分实验室
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5个视频•总计22分钟
Applied Bayesian Data Analysis Wrap-up•2分钟
Probabilistic programming•3分钟
Bayesian Workflow•5分钟
End-to-End example: Coin Bias•6分钟
Pros, Cons and Real-World Applications•6分钟
2篇阅读材料•总计23分钟
PyMC resources•20分钟
Module Wrap-Up•3分钟
5个作业•总计95分钟
Let's Practice: Probabilistic Programming and Bayesian Workflow•30分钟
Probabilistic Programming•15分钟
Lab Check-in: Bayesian Workflow•5分钟
Bayesian Workflow•15分钟
Test Yourself: Probabilistic Programming and Bayesian Workflow•30分钟
1个非评分实验室•总计60分钟
Bayesian Workflow•60分钟
Bayesian Methods in Sports Analytics and Medicine
第 5 单元•小时 后完成
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In this module, we are going to look at specific applications of Bayesian modeling and inference in two fast-evolving fields, sports analytics and medical informatics. We are going to see how we can use Bayesian models to obtain team strengths, including the uncertainty around this estimate. We will also see 2 applications in medical informatics; one for disease progression and one for predicting treatment effect.
涵盖的内容
2个视频4篇阅读材料4个作业3个非评分实验室
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2个视频•总计10分钟
Team evaluation through Bayesian regression•4分钟
Diabetes progression•5分钟
4篇阅读材料•总计62分钟
Sports Analytics Applications•12分钟
A Better Choice for Prior•25分钟
Medical Informatics Applications•20分钟
Module Wrap-Up•5分钟
4个作业•总计110分钟
Bayesian models for team evaluation•25分钟
Let's Practice: Sports Analytics and Medicine•30分钟
Lab Check-in: Predicting Chemotherapy Response in Cancer Patients•25分钟
Test Yourself: Sports Analytics and Medicine•30分钟
3个非评分实验室•总计180分钟
NFL Ratings•60分钟
Diabetes progression•60分钟
Predicting Chemotherapy Response in Cancer Patients•60分钟
Course Wrap-Up
第 6 单元•小时 后完成
单元详情
In this module, we will see a full summary of the course starting from Bayesian thinking and moving to Bayesian inference. We will then make a stop on one of the most important Bayesian modeling frameworks, namely, hierarchical models, and we will finally wrap up with the ultimate task we have in the real world, i.e., decision making.
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Is financial aid available?
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