Alison Motsinger-Reif

American biostatistician

Alison Motsinger-Reif is an American biostatistician known for her work in genomics and bioinformatics. She is a prominent figure in the field of statistical genetics, focusing on the development of methods to understand the genetic basis of complex diseases. Motsinger-Reif is currently a senior investigator at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

Early life and education

Alison Motsinger-Reif was born and raised in the United States. She developed an early interest in mathematics and biology, which led her to pursue a career in biostatistics. Motsinger-Reif completed her undergraduate studies in mathematics at North Carolina State University. She then went on to earn her Ph.D. in biostatistics from the same institution, where she focused on developing statistical methods for analyzing genetic data.

Career

Alison Motsinger-Reif in 2019

Motsinger-Reif began her career as a faculty member at North Carolina State University, where she was involved in teaching and research in the Department of Statistics. Her research primarily focused on the development of novel statistical methods for the analysis of high-dimensional genetic data, particularly in the context of pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine.

In 2017, Motsinger-Reif joined the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) as a senior investigator. At NIEHS, she leads a research group that investigates the genetic and environmental factors contributing to complex diseases. Her work involves the integration of genomic, epigenomic, and environmental data to better understand disease mechanisms and improve public health outcomes.

Research contributions

Motsinger-Reif has made significant contributions to the field of statistical genetics. Her research has focused on developing methods for detecting gene-gene interactions and gene-environment interactions in complex diseases. She has also worked on improving the analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) by incorporating environmental factors and using machine learning techniques.

One of her notable contributions is the development of methods for epistasis detection, which is crucial for understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits. Her work has been instrumental in identifying genetic variants associated with diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders.

Awards and honors

Throughout her career, Motsinger-Reif has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to biostatistics and genetics. She has been recognized by professional organizations such as the American Statistical Association and the International Genetic Epidemiology Society.

Related pages

• Biostatistics
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Statistical genetics
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences