Michael Epstein

Michael Epstein is a Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at Emory University. His research focuses on developing statistical methods for human gene mapping of complex traits, with applications to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, epilepsy, and schizophrenia. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Michigan and a B.S. from Duke University.

Epstein’s work bridges methodological innovation and applied genetics, addressing challenges in genetic epidemiology. His applied research targets neuropsychiatric disorders and congenital anomalies, leveraging techniques like transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS), eQTL analysis, and polygenic risk scoring. He teaches BIOS 770 (Statistical Genetics) and collaborates on large consortia initiatives (e.g., BCAC/OCAC).

Key areas of expertise include statistical modeling of gene-by-environment interactions, rare variant analysis in family trios, and multi-ancestry genomic studies. His methodological contributions include frameworks like CADET, SCAMPI, and TIGAR for analyzing complex genetic datasets.