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- April 16, 2007
Dan Nettleton named new Baker Chair at Iowa State
Dan Nettleton, associate professor of statistics at Iowa State University,
has been named the Laurence H. Baker Endowed Chair in Biological Statistics.
A national leader in statistical genomics, Nettleton has developed statistical
methodologies for gene expression research used by plant and animal science
researchers. He strives to understand the relevant scientific problems and
then seeks to develop appropriate statistical methods before using those
methods to solve problems.
"Much of my current statistical research is directly motivated by the
scientific problems of plant and animal science researchers at Iowa State,"
Nettleton said. "In many cases, existing statistical methods are sufficient
for solving scientific problems, but in other cases, advances in data collection
technology have created a need for new statistical methods.
"We try to develop something better than what currently exists for
these problems."
Through collaborative research, Nettleton has had a direct impact on the
success of many plant and animal researchers at Iowa State. He currently
participates in over $13 million of sponsored research. In the past three
years, he has more than 35 refereed papers to his credit, including many
in both the top statistics and plant science journals. In 2006 alone, he
published over 20 papers.
The Laurence H. Baker Endowed Chair was established in 1999 as part of a
$10 million endowment to the Department of Statistics and the Plant Sciences
Institute. The endowment from Norma Baker, Los Angeles, honors her late
husband, Laurence H. Baker. Laurence Baker was born in Des Moines in 1933.
He received a B.S. degree in genetics and a minor in statistics from Iowa
State. Baker went on to build a successful career focused on developing
computer systems for Pioneer Hi-Bred International, the California State
University system and many other businesses and institutions. He died in
December 1982 from injuries suffered in a fall.
The chair will lead collaborative research in the biological or agricultural
sciences, including bioinformatics.
Iowa State's Department of Statistics and the Statistical Laboratory has
a rich tradition of development and application of powerful statistical
methodologies to help advance innovative research in numerous academic disciplines.
Endowed faculty positions allow Iowa State to recruit and retain world-class
leaders by providing the highest level of faculty recognition. Endowed positions
help support course development, graduate assistants, laboratory equipment,
salary enhancements, professional development and research projects. These
opportunities ultimately enhance course and curriculum development, which
improves the educational experience for students.
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Dan Nettleton
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