The Stony Brook Statistics faculty have a wide range of methodological interests, from probability theory to statistical decision theory to industrial statistics and applied statistical studies in foster care.

While several statistics faculty have a primary focus on theory and developing new methodology, much of the research of all statistics faculty involves applied studies. Two statistics faculty have adjunct appointments in the Biostatistics group in the Medical School, while four faculty in biomedical sciences and Sociology have adjunct appointments in Applied Mathematics. These four include Robert Sokal of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, one of the country's leading biometricians and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and Judith Tanur of the Department of Sociology, an eminent applied statistician who has held many senior editorial and committee positions in the American Statistical Association. Several statistics graduate students work on research projects in epidemiology and medicine: one recent major project involving Applied Mathematics students was an epidemiological study of eye diseases.

The statistics Master's track is the most structured track in the department, with eight required courses in theory and applied techniques. Doctoral research builds on the Master's program and focuses on specific research projects. The required Master's courses are data analysis, probability theory, estimation, regression, analysis of variance, applied linear algebra, foundations of applied mathematics, and data lab. All applied courses in statistics include data analysis projects. The capstone course in the Master's track is the data laboratory, in which each student serves as a statistical consultant, under faculty supervision, on a research project normally outside the Applied Mathematics department. Several data lab projects have led to jointly published papers.

Applied statistics is the primary interest of Professors Steven Finch, and Nancy Mendell. They have collaborated with dozens of researchers on and off campus in the last decade, in genetics, psychiatry, orthopedics, immunology, ecology, economics, energy modeling, environmental health, psychology, politics, discrimination suits, nuclear safeguards, geology, and material science. Professor Finch's main work in recent years has involved collaboration with Dave Fanshel of the Columbia University School of Social Work on studies of foster care. This work led to testimony before a congressional subcommittee. His theoretical interests include the robustness of tests.

Professor Mendell originally worked as a biostatistician specializing in statistical genetics. She has served on a national advisory panel to determine directions for immunogenetic research in areas such as immunological matching for organ transplants. Recently she has also been collaborating with faculty in political science and psychology.

FACULTY IN STATISTICS

Hongshik Ahn, Assistant Professor
Stephen Finch, Associate Professor, adjunct appointment in Preventive Medicine, applied statistics.
Roger Grimson, Associate Professor in Preventive Medicine, biostatistics.
Nancy Mendell, Associate Professor, adjunct appointment in Preventive Medicine, applied statistics, statistical genetics.
James Rohlf, Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, biometrics, numerical taxonomy.
Robert Sokal, Leading Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, biometrics, theory of systematics.
Judith Tanur, Professor in Sociology , applied statistics, survey methodology.
Henry Thode, Assistant Professor in Preventive Medicine, biostatistics.
Wei Zhu, Assistant Professor