My focus is on the statistical and computational techniques that underlie human gene-mapping (localization of genes on the human genome), gene identification, and characterization of the genetic architecture of complex clinical phenotypes.  My group has developed a novel class of quasi-Bayesian models, and much of our attention is devoted to ongoing expansion of the set of genetic features handled by the underlying likelihoods, together with evaluation of the efficacy of the models in the context of typical human data sets; the other arm of this work is the development of the high-performance computational approaches required for application of our statistical methods.  
 
I also collaborate actively on a number of clinical genetic studies.  I have several funded projects focused on the genetics of autism, including, in addition to our own basic research, two projects in which our Center serves as the data coordinating site for large, international collaborations.  Other projects in which I’ m currently involved are studying the genetics of cleft lip and palate, schizophrenia, autoimmune thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and congenital heart defects.

My focus is on the statistical and computational techniques that underlie human gene-mapping (localization of genes on the human genome), gene identification, and characterization of the genetic architecture of complex clinical phenotypes.  My group has developed a novel class of quasi-Bayesian models, and much of our attention is devoted to ongoing expansion of the set of genetic features handled by the underlying likelihoods, together with evaluation of the efficacy of the models in the context of typical human data sets; the other arm of this work is the development of the high-performance computational approaches required for application of our statistical methods.  
 
I also collaborate actively on a number of clinical genetic studies.  I have several funded projects focused on the genetics of autism, including, in addition to our own basic research, two projects in which our Center serves as the data coordinating site for large, international collaborations.  Other projects in which I'm currently involved are studying the genetics of cleft lip and palate, schizophrenia, autoimmune thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and congenital heart defects.