Kathleen Kerr

Kathleen Kerr is a Professor in the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Washington School of Public Health, serving as Director of the MS Capstone Program and the Summer Institute in Statistics for Clinical and Epidemiological Research. She holds affiliations with the Dog Aging Project, Interdisciplinary Center for Exposures, Diseases, Genomics and Environment (EDG…), and STRATOS initiative. Her academic journey includes a PhD, MS, and MA in Statistics and Mathematics from UCLA, and a BA in Mathematics from Bryn Mawr College.

Her research focuses on biomarkers, clinical trials, statistical genetics, experimental design, and applications in nephrology, pathology, and cardiovascular research. Notable work includes analyzing overdiagnosis in skin cancer, pathologist diagnostic behaviors, and canine health through the Dog Aging Project. She co-authored Design and Analysis of Experiments in the Health Sciences (2012), addressing experimental design in health studies.

Her courses include BIOST 536 (Categorical Data Analysis in Epidemiology) and BIOST 590 (Biostatistical Consulting). Recent contributions include studies on melanoma overdiagnosis, electronic health record analysis of early COVID-19 in Los Angeles, and feeding frequency impacts on dog health.