Frederick Mosteller

Mosteller Frederick

American statistician

Frederick Mosteller

Born	December 24, 1916
Birth place	Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States
Died	July 23, 2006
Place of death	Falls Church, Virginia, United States
Nationality	American
Known for	Statistical theory, Biostatistics, Educational statistics
Awards	Wilks Memorial Award, Samuel S. Wilks Award

Frederick Mosteller (December 24, 1916 – July 23, 2006) was an influential American statistician who made significant contributions to the fields of statistics, biostatistics, and educational statistics. He was a founding member of the Harvard University Department of Statistics and served as its first chair.

Early Life and Education

Mosteller was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia. He completed his undergraduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned a degree in mathematics. He then pursued graduate studies at Princeton University, where he earned his Ph.D. under the supervision of Samuel S. Wilks.

Career

Mosteller joined the faculty at Harvard University in 1946, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the Department of Statistics. He was known for his work in statistical theory, biostatistics, and educational statistics. His research often focused on practical applications of statistics to real-world problems.

Contributions to Statistics

Mosteller made numerous contributions to the field of statistics, including work on meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials, and statistical education. He was a pioneer in the use of statistical methods in medicine and public health.

Educational Statistics

Mosteller was deeply involved in the study of educational statistics, particularly in the analysis of educational experiments and the evaluation of educational programs. His work in this area helped to improve the quality and reliability of educational research.

Awards and Honors

Mosteller received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Wilks Memorial Award and the Samuel S. Wilks Award. He was also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Personal Life

Mosteller was married and had three children. He passed away on July 23, 2006, in Falls Church, Virginia.

Legacy

Frederick Mosteller's contributions to the field of statistics have had a lasting impact on both the academic community and practical applications in various fields. His work continues to influence modern statistical practices and education.

See Also

• Statistics
• Biostatistics
• Educational statistics
• Harvard University Department of Statistics
• Samuel S. Wilks