Dr. Eric Sobel

Biography

Eric Sobel received his PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the Department of Biomathematics in 1996, which was later renamed the Department of Computational Medicine. He currently serves as Vice Chair for Education in his department and is a research professor specializing in statistical genetics with a focus on gene-mapping algorithms. His research interests include the development and application of Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques that facilitate statistical analysis, particularly of large and complex pedigrees. Sobel has been involved in extending GWAS analysis tools with a specific emphasis on analyzing rare variants, interactions, haplotypes, and family data. His core interests lie in algorithm optimization and GPU implementations that enable the analysis of large genetic datasets on standard laptops and cloud-based computational servers. He plays a significant role in applying gene-mapping algorithms across various applications such as breast cancer, obesity, and several genetic syndromes. With over two decades of experience, he co-directs the NIH Training Program in Genomic Analysis and Interpretation and has taught workshops in computational genetics globally for the past 25 years, including annual sessions in Cambridge, UK.

Research Interests