Steve Buyske

Steve Buyske is a Professor at Rutgers University's Department of Statistics where he serves as Co-Director of both the Undergraduate Statistics Program and the Undergraduate Data Science Program. His office is located in Hill Center 578 at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Dr. Buyske earned his BA from Haverford College and holds PhDs from both Brown University and Rutgers University. His academic journey began in mathematics (differential geometry) before transitioning to statistics, where he initially focused on psychometrics, particularly item response theory and latent variable models, before moving toward statistical genetics and biostatistical collaborations.

His research spans statistical genetics, biostatistics, psychometrics, and experimental design. He is particularly noted for his work on polygenic risk scores, genome-wide association studies, and genetic research in diverse populations, with special attention to health disparities in Black American and other underrepresented groups. A native of New Jersey, he has made significant contributions to understanding genetic factors in diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity.

His recent publications show a strong focus on statistical genetics and biostatistics, particularly in polygenic risk scores, genome-wide association studies, and multi-ethnic genetic research. Much of his work addresses health disparities in diverse populations, with particular attention to Black Americans and other underrepresented groups in genetic research.

• School of Arts and Sciences Award for Distinguished Contributions to Undergraduate Education

Dr. Buyske co-directs the Rutgers University Genetics Coordinating Center (RUGCC) with Dr. Tara Matise and has been involved in major research initiatives including the PAGE Study (Population Architecture using Genomics and Epidemiology) and the Genome Sequencing Program. In 2023, they launched a research study on the genetics of breast cancer, which is accessible through the websites https://rugcc.rutgers.edu/breast_cancer/ and http://bcstudy.rugcc.org/. His teaching responsibilities include Statistics 295: Data Wrangling and Management with R, Statistics 365: Bayesian Data Analysis, and other courses in experimental design and data science.

He is actively involved with the Rutgers University Genetics Coordinating Center (RUGCC) and has leadership roles in the PAGE Study and Genome Sequencing Program, contributing significantly to large-scale genetic research initiatives with focus on diverse populations.