Karl Broman

Karl Broman is a Professor in the Department of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, within the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. His expertise lies in applied statistics for genetics and genomics, particularly focusing on Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping. He is known for developing widely-used R packages such as R/qtl and R/qtlcharts, which provide tools for genetic data analysis and interactive visualization.

His research interests include statistical genomics, genetic dissection of complex traits in experimental organisms (e.g., mice), and computational methods for QTL mapping. He has contributed to studies on microbiome interactions, aging mechanisms, and genetic modulation of traits like lifespan and body weight. Broman is also active in promoting reproducible research practices and has authored numerous publications on statistical methodologies in genetics.

His work spans collaborations in software development, systems genetics, and genetic epidemiology, with a focus on applying statistical approaches to understand genetic architecture and functional relationships in biological systems.