Dr Peter Baker
Dr

Peter Baker

Email: 

Background

Dr Peter Baker is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation

From 2021-2023, Peter was an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the School of Public Health, University of Queensland. For twelve years until the end of 2020, he was a Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics at the School of Public Health and a senior statistical collaborator, advisor and consultant to several research projects in the Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health.

With fourty years experience as a statistical consultant and researcher, Peter has a passion for biometrics in agricultural research and biostatistics applied to public health and medical research. He also champions reproducible research and reporting and to this end has developed R and Make software to aid the workflow of data analysts in any field. As a statistical consultant and collaborator, he has contributed to many agricultural, genetic, public health and medical research projects. His contribution has ranged from advice on standard statistical approaches to the application of novel methods to improve statistical analysis or the development of new statistical methodology to fill a gap in the knowledge.

Peter's current research interests:

  • efficient statistical computing using R, Make, Git and related software for the workflow of data analysis,
  • reproducible research and reporting using R, Markdown, Quarto and Sweave,
  • tailoring R functions and developing bespoke packages for specific statistical analyses, and
  • applied statistlcal research in novel methods for epidemiological and medial research, including
    • graphical models for multivariate data in epidemiology,
    • statistical methods for modelling trajectories of alcohol consumption in youths,
    • propensity score analysis to adjust for selection bias in observational studies, and
    • Bayesian methods for epidemiological and medical MCMC studies.

Dr Baker is an Accredited Statistician (ASTAT) with the Statistical Society of Australia (see SSAI_Accreditation)

Availability

Dr Peter Baker is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Biostatistics Crop and pasture production Health Sciences Mathematical Sciences Statistics

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Adelaide
  • Masters (Coursework), University of New South Wales
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology

Research impacts

Peter is a highly experienced statistical consultant and researcher who worked at CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics for 20 years before joining the School of Population Health at the University of Queensland. Prior to this he was employed as a statistical consultant in enviironmental monitoring at the Electricity Commision of NSW, sports science at Cumberland College of Health Sciences, and agricultural research at NSW Agriculture. During his time at CSIRO, he worked in a range of areas including agricultural research, bioinformatics and quantitative genetics. Highlights: developed novel Bayesian methods for assessing marker dosage in sugarcane and other polyploids and applied false discovery rate methods to QTL analysis and microarrays.

In addition to collaborating with a range of applied scientists to advance scientific knowledge by employing standard and cutting-edge statistical methods, several projects have had practical significance to industry including timely alerts to graziers when drops in temperature are dangerous for lambing, improved soil moisture estimation for cotton production and enhancing quantitative methods for sugarcane breeding. Recent collaborative work has informed public policy on drink safe precincts and alcohol related problems, effectiveness of mosquito nets and the effect of sunscreen to prevent skin ageing.

When it can improve research outcomes, Peter is keen to apply new statistical methods to agricultural research, epidemiology, health and medical studies in order to extract the maximum information from study data. He is also an expert in, and advocate for, reproducible research and efficient statistical computing using the R statistical and graphics system.

R Clinics and Short Courses

  • Please contact Peter if you would like a workshop or Introductory to Advanced R Course tailored to your needs.

Student Projects

  • Developing or contributing to R packages for various aspects of the workflow of data analysis projects like data wrangling, cleaning, validation and reproducible reporting,
  • Statistical and Graphical Models for crop modelling, agricultural research, and epidemiological and medical studies.

Search Professor Peter Baker’s works on UQ eSpace

75 works between 1986 and 2024
All (75) Journal Article (59) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (14) Book (1)

61 - 75 of 75 works

2010

Journal Article

Bayesian estimation of marker dosage in sugarcane and other autopolyploids

Baker, Peter, Jackson, Phillip and Aitken, Karen (2010). Bayesian estimation of marker dosage in sugarcane and other autopolyploids. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 120 (8), 1653-1672. doi: 10.1007/s00122-010-1283-z

Bayesian estimation of marker dosage in sugarcane and other autopolyploids

2009

Journal Article

A cluster randomized controlled cross-over bed net acceptability and preference trial in Solomon Islands: community participation in shaping policy for malaria elimination

Atkinson, J.A., Bobogare, A., Vallely, A., Boaz, L., Kelly, G., Basifiri, W., Forsyth, S., Baker, P., Appleyard, B., Toaliu, H. and Williams, G. (2009). A cluster randomized controlled cross-over bed net acceptability and preference trial in Solomon Islands: community participation in shaping policy for malaria elimination. Malaria Journal, 8 (298) 298, x-x. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-8-298

A cluster randomized controlled cross-over bed net acceptability and preference trial in Solomon Islands: community participation in shaping policy for malaria elimination

2005

Journal Article

A Bayesian solution to reconstructing centrally censored distributions

Baker, Peter, Mengersen, Kerrie and Davis, Gerard (2005). A Bayesian solution to reconstructing centrally censored distributions. Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Statistics, 10 (1), 61-83. doi: 10.1198/108571105X28697

A Bayesian solution to reconstructing centrally censored distributions

2004

Journal Article

Bayesian mixture modelling of species divergence

Adam, M., Mengersen, K. and Baker, P. (2004). Bayesian mixture modelling of species divergence. Online Journal of Bioinformatics, 5, 69-90.

Bayesian mixture modelling of species divergence

2000

Journal Article

Inheritance of avermectin resistance in Haemonchus contortus

Le Jambre, LF, Gill, JH, Lenane, IJ and Baker, P (2000). Inheritance of avermectin resistance in Haemonchus contortus. International Journal for Parasitology, 30 (1), 105-111. doi: 10.1016/S0020-7519(99)00172-1

Inheritance of avermectin resistance in Haemonchus contortus

1999

Book Chapter

On a Bayesian method for QTL detection within selectively genotyped half sib families.

Baker, P., Mengersen, K. and Davis, G. (1999). On a Bayesian method for QTL detection within selectively genotyped half sib families.. Inaugural Australian Workshop on the Application of Artificial Intelligence, Optimisation and Bayesian Methods in Agriculture. (pp. 55-72) edited by Hussein A. Abbass and Michael W. Towsey. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: QUT Publications.

On a Bayesian method for QTL detection within selectively genotyped half sib families.

1998

Journal Article

The relationship between plasma testosterone concentrations and the seasonal variation in voluntary feed intake in fallow bucks (Dama dama)

Newman, RE, McConnell, SJ, Weston, RH, Reeves, M, Bernasconi, C, Baker, PJ and Wynn, PC (1998). The relationship between plasma testosterone concentrations and the seasonal variation in voluntary feed intake in fallow bucks (Dama dama). Journal of Agricultural Science, 130 (3), 357-366. doi: 10.1017/S0021859698005279

The relationship between plasma testosterone concentrations and the seasonal variation in voluntary feed intake in fallow bucks (Dama dama)

1995

Journal Article

Systemic and Mucosal Intestinal Antibody-Response of Sheep Immunized with Aromatic-Dependent Live or Killed Salmonella-Typhimurium

Mukkur, Tks, Walker, KH, Baker, P and Jones, D (1995). Systemic and Mucosal Intestinal Antibody-Response of Sheep Immunized with Aromatic-Dependent Live or Killed Salmonella-Typhimurium. Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 18 (1), 27-39. doi: 10.1016/0147-9571(93)E0012-5

Systemic and Mucosal Intestinal Antibody-Response of Sheep Immunized with Aromatic-Dependent Live or Killed Salmonella-Typhimurium

1993

Journal Article

The Timing of Birth in Grazing Merino Sheep

Alexander, G, Stevens, D, Baker, P and Bradley, LR (1993). The Timing of Birth in Grazing Merino Sheep. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 33 (5), 557-560. doi: 10.1071/EA9930557

The Timing of Birth in Grazing Merino Sheep

1993

Journal Article

The Effects of Exogeneous Melatonin and Prolactin On Wool Follicle Development in Ovine Fetal Skin-Grafts

McCloghry, CE, Hollis, DE, Foldes, A, Rintoul, AJ, Baker, P, Vaughan, JD, Maxwell, CA, Kennedy, JP and Wynn, PC (1993). The Effects of Exogeneous Melatonin and Prolactin On Wool Follicle Development in Ovine Fetal Skin-Grafts. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 44 (5), 993-1002. doi: 10.1071/AR9930993

The Effects of Exogeneous Melatonin and Prolactin On Wool Follicle Development in Ovine Fetal Skin-Grafts

1992

Journal Article

Effects of Pinealectomy On Wool Growth and Wool Follicle Density in Merino Sheep

McCloghry, E, Foldes, A, Hollis, D, Rintoul, A, Maxwell, C, Downing, J, Baker, P, Kennedy, J and Wynn, P (1992). Effects of Pinealectomy On Wool Growth and Wool Follicle Density in Merino Sheep. Journal of Pineal Research, 13 (3), 139-144. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.1992.tb00068.x

Effects of Pinealectomy On Wool Growth and Wool Follicle Density in Merino Sheep

1992

Journal Article

Effect of Immunization Against Melatonin On Seasonal Fleece Growth in Feral Goats

Foldes, A, Hoskinson, RM, Baker, P, McDonald, BJ, Maxwell, CA and Restall, BJ (1992). Effect of Immunization Against Melatonin On Seasonal Fleece Growth in Feral Goats. Journal of Pineal Research, 13 (2), 85-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.1992.tb00059.x

Effect of Immunization Against Melatonin On Seasonal Fleece Growth in Feral Goats

1992

Journal Article

Effect of Increased Production of Growth-Hormone On Body-Composition in Mice - Transgenic Versus Control

Searle, TW, Murray, JD and Baker, PJ (1992). Effect of Increased Production of Growth-Hormone On Body-Composition in Mice - Transgenic Versus Control. Journal of Endocrinology, 132 (2), 285-291. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1320285

Effect of Increased Production of Growth-Hormone On Body-Composition in Mice - Transgenic Versus Control

1990

Journal Article

Field calibration of a neutron-gamma probe in three agriculturally important soils of the Lower Macquarie Valley

McKenzie, D.C., Hucker, K. W., Morthorpe, L. J. and Baker, P. J. (1990). Field calibration of a neutron-gamma probe in three agriculturally important soils of the Lower Macquarie Valley. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 30 (1), 115-122. doi: 10.1071/EA9900115

Field calibration of a neutron-gamma probe in three agriculturally important soils of the Lower Macquarie Valley

1986

Journal Article

Vomiting by Feral Pigs After 1080 Intoxication - Nontarget Hazard and Influence of Antiemetics

Obrien, PH, Kleba, RE, Beck, JA and Baker, PJ (1986). Vomiting by Feral Pigs After 1080 Intoxication - Nontarget Hazard and Influence of Antiemetics. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 14 (4), 425-432.

Vomiting by Feral Pigs After 1080 Intoxication - Nontarget Hazard and Influence of Antiemetics

Past funding

  • 2017 - 2022
    A Pragmatic Randomised Clinical Trial of Nicotine Vaporisers added to Smoking Cessation Treatment for Priority Populations Living with Comorbidities
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    A harm reduction trial using novel nicotine replacement products among smokers who are living with HIV in Australia
    HIVFQ HIV Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Very young adolescents and substance use: Community and family vulnerabilities and healthy developmental transitions.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Advanced graphical modelling for causal inference in epidemiology
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Peter Baker is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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