Brian S. Yandell

Brian S. Yandell is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, affiliated with the Department of Statistics, Department of Horticulture, and the Department of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics. He holds leadership roles in the American Family Insurance Data Science Institute as Founding Director and contributed to the Data Science Hub. His research focuses on biometry, statistical genomics, and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis, with significant contributions to gene mapping methodologies and software development (e.g., R/qtlbim). Yandell has over 40 years of academic experience, including chairing the Statistics Department and pioneering data science initiatives. He earned his PhD in Biostatistics from UC Berkeley (1981) and conducted postdoctoral work in Scotland. His administrative roles include advancing interdisciplinary data science programs, such as the Masters in Statistics Option Data Science and the Visiting International Student Program.

Education:
- PhD Biostatistics, UC Berkeley (1981)
- MA Statistics, UC Berkeley (1978)
- BSc Mathematics, Caltech (1974)

Research Interests:
Yandell’s work spans statistical genetics, QTL analysis, and causal networks in systems biology. Notable contributions include methodologies for Bayesian model selection in QTL studies and software tools for genomic data analysis. His collaborations have led to key discoveries in diabetes genetics, such as the Sorcs1 gene, and advancements in understanding genetic architectures of complex traits.

Grants & Awards:
- Led multi-million dollar grants, including NIH-funded projects on genetic architecture and NSF proposals.
- Played pivotal roles in securing funding for the Data Science Institute and managing pandemic response initiatives.

Labs & Teams:
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (Discovery Fellow)
- Plant Breeding & Plant Genetics Program
- Co-founded the Data Science Institute and contributed to the Data Science Hub.