Biostatistics & Microbiome Methods

Yiqian Zhang

Ph.D. Student in Biostatistics

Aspiring Biostatistician with a strong foundation in Mathematics and Statistics. Specializing in microbiome data analysis, compositional data transformation, and network dynamics. Experienced in developing novel statistical frameworks and computational models.

  • The Ohio State University
  • Microbiome Data Analysis
  • Compositional Data Methods
  • Statistical Computing

Latest News

April 27, 2026

Student Poster Presentation Award at 2026 Annual Joint Biostatistics Symposium

I am honored to receive the Student Poster Presentation Award at the 2026 Annual Joint Biostatistics Symposium for my research. It is a great privilege to have my work recognized by the community!

March 17, 2026

RAB Poster Award Winner at 2026 ENAR

I am thrilled to announce that I am the RAB Poster Award Winner at the 2026 ENAR Spring Meeting for my poster titled "DeSHAPE-α: Deconvolution of Quantile Structures of Heterogeneity, Asymmetry, and Pattern to Advance Microbial α-Diversity Analysis".

Poster for DeSHAPE alpha microbial diversity analysis
March 15, 2026

ENAR 2026 Spring Meeting Presentation

I will be presenting my latest research at the ENAR 2026 Spring Meeting. Please stop by during the Sunday evening Opening Mixer and Poster Session on March 15. I welcome the opportunity to discuss my work and potential collaborations! Feel free to get in touch beforehand.

Educational Experience

The Ohio State University

Aug 2025 - May 2030

Ph.D. in Biostatistics

  • Honors & Awards: University Fellowship, ENGIE-Axium Incentive Recruitment Scholarship Award, Gary G. Koch and Family Graduate Student Travel Award.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Sep 2021 - May 2025

B.S. in Statistics and Double Major in Mathematics (Applied Mathematics Concentration)

GPA: 3.91/4.00

  • Honors & Awards: Highest Distinction in Statistics; High Distinction in Mathematics
  • Dean's List: Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
  • Hoover Mathematical Scholar Award

Publications

Z. Zhu, Y. Zhang, W. Li, M. Greenacre, S. Saha, Y. Shi, and L. Zhang. "Mathematical Foundations of Beta Diversity: Why Common Metrics Fail in Microbiome Analysis." Journal of Statistical Theory and Applications, vol. 25, issue 1, pp. 9.

Z. Zhu, Y. Zhang, S. Lin, and L. Zhang. "DeSHAPE: Decomposing Ecological Structure through Heterogeneity, Asymmetry and Pattern Evaluation of α-Diversity." Bioinformatics.

2026 Submitted

Z. Zhu, Y. Zhang, R. Liu, W. Li, Z. Huang, X. Chen, Y. Duan, and L. Zhang*. "Koinetic: A Graph-based Distance as a New Ecological Metric for Microbial Community Differential Analysis." Briefings in Bioinformatics.

2025 Under Revision

Y. Zhang, J. Schluter, L. Zhang, X. Cao, R. R. Jenq, H. Feng, J. Haines, and L. Zhang. "Review and Revamp of Compositional Data Transformation: A New Framework Combining Proportion Conversion and Contrast Transformation." Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, vol. 23, pp. 4088-4107.

Research Experience

Comprehensive Review and Methodological Advancement in Beta Diversity Measures

Case Western Reserve University

Advisor(s): Dr. Zihan Zhu

Sep 2024 - Sep 2025
Project Focus

Conducted a comprehensive review of dissimilarity measures and their mathematical properties, such as conditional negative definiteness, and evaluated their empirical performance across diverse real-world datasets.

Methodology

Systematically evaluated existing dissimilarity measures to determine which ones truly satisfy conditional negative definiteness. Employed PCoA, PERMANOVA, miRKat and rigorous simulation frameworks for thorough method validation.

Innovation

First systematically reviewed the mathematical properties of dissimilarity measures and evaluated their consequence in downstream analysis. Proposed remedial strategies for dissimilarity measures without ideal mathematical properties.

Outcome

Currently preparing a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal aimed at providing practitioners with methodological insights and enhanced tools for beta diversity analysis.

Microbiome Analysis for Alzheimer's Disease Pilot Study

Case Western Reserve University

Advisor(s): Prof. Liangliang Zhang and Prof. Lijun Zhang

May 2024 - Oct 2024

View Project →

Project Focus

Investigated the role of the microbiome in Alzheimer's Disease-like phenotypes as part of the Jax.IU.Pitt Microbiome Pilot Study to identify microbiome-related factors contributing to Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease.

Methodology

Utilized QIIME 2 for microbiome data analysis, including quality control, taxonomic classification, and diversity analysis. Implemented advanced data transformation techniques to improve differential testing accuracy.

Analysis

Conducted alpha and beta diversity analyses, creating interactive visualizations to present microbial community structures. Used statistical methods to evaluate changes in diversity metrics and the impact of metadata features.

Review and Revamp of Microbiome Compositional Data Transformation

Case Western Reserve University

Advisor(s): Prof. Liangliang Zhang

Nov 2023 - Dec 2024
Overview

Conducted a systematic review on compositional data transformations focusing on strengths and limitations of existing techniques in microbiome data analysis.

Innovation

Developed a novel framework combining proportion conversion with contrast transformations, the CCT Framework, to enhance data handling in high zero-inflation microbiome datasets.

Methods Proposed

Proposed two new transformation methods, Centered Arcsine Contrast and Additive Arcsine Contrast, demonstrating improved performance in stabilizing variance and mitigating outlier influence.

Dual-Group Framework

Proposed a dual-group conversion framework for proportional data, specifically beneficial for two-sample testing, enhancing the power to detect differential abundance.

Build Computational Models of MDD and Bipolar Disorder

Carle Health / UIUC

Advisor(s): Dr. Brandon Brown and Prof. Xinzhu Yu

Jan 2024 - Aug 2024
Modeling

Created computational models that mimic mood fluctuations, specifically simulating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD).

Techniques

Utilized Markov chain and Hidden Markov Models to portray mood states (normal, depressive, manic) and transitions influenced by internal/external factors.

Analysis

Conducted in-depth statistical examination to assess prevalence and trends, mirroring actual epidemiological data.

Develop Network Dynamics Analysis Using Preferential Attachment Models

UIUC

Advisor(s): Prof. Yuguo Chen and Prof. Yuexi Wang

Jan 2024 - May 2024
Development

Developed and simulated Preferential Attachment models to study network evolution, focusing on the "rich-get-richer" dynamic.

Implementation

Implemented simulations in Python using NetworkX for network generation and Matplotlib for visualization.

Inference

Applied Bayesian inference and Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods to estimate model parameters.

Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC)

UIUC

Advisor(s): Prof. Christopher P. L. Barkan

Oct 2023 - Aug 2024
Optimization

Developed and implemented a Python script to automate the weekly Tank Car Report, enhancing team efficiency by 96%.

Data Analysis

Utilized Python for data management and analysis of the 25GB+ "CarList2022" dataset integrated with the "FRA" dataset.

Analyze War Data in Ukraine

UIUC

Advisor(s): Prof. Richard B. Sowers

May 2023 - Jul 2023

View Project →

Pipeline

Created a data analysis pipeline in Jupyter Notebooks (Python, pandas, folium, MongoDB) to process and visualize Armed Conflict Location and Event Data.

Visualization

Constructed choropleth maps, heatmaps, and time series animations to identify patterns and spatial-temporal dynamics.

Teaching Experience

Applied Bayesian Analysis (STAT 431)

Teaching Assistant Jan 2025 - May 2025
UIUC

Statistical Modeling I (STAT 425)

Teaching Assistant Aug 2024 - May 2025
UIUC

Statistics Programming Methods (STAT 385)

Teaching Assistant Aug 2024 - Dec 2024
UIUC

College Algebra (MATH 112)

Teaching Assistant Aug 2023 - May 2025
UIUC

Calculus & Calculus I (MATH 220 & 221)

Tutor Aug 2023 - Dec 2023
UIUC

Service

Peer Reviewer

2024 - 2025

Heliyon (Cell Press)

  • Completed four manuscript reviews in biostatistics/microbiome methods.

Treasurer

Aug 2025 - Present

Statistics & Biostatistics Graduate Student Association (BSGSA), OSU

  • Manage organization finances, reimbursements, and event budgets; serve as banking liaison; coordinate student programming.

Proficiencies

Languages

English (Advanced) Mandarin Chinese (Native)

Technical Skills

PythonRSQLJavaC++SAS TableauDESeq2Kraken 2QIIME 2Git DockerMongoDBHPCLaTeX

Professional Competence

Machine LearningData MiningData VisualizationLinear Algebra CalculusProbabilityStatisticsWeb ScrapingGIS Database Management