Karen Kafadar is a Commonwealth Professor and the Chair of Statistics at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. She received her BS in mathematics and MS in statistics at Stanford University, and her PhD in statistics from Princeton University. Her research focuses on robust methods; exploratory data analysis; characterization of uncertainty in the physical, chemical, biological and engineering sciences; and methodology for the analysis of screening trials, which includes awards from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Statistical Association (ASA), and American Society for Quality. She currently serves on the Forensic Science Standards Board and chairs the ASA’s Committee on Statistics in Forensic Science.

Kafadar started her statistics career in the Statistical Engineering Division at the National Bureau of Standards (now NIST) and served on the Committees that led to several National Academies’ Reports, including Weighing Bullet Lead Evidence (2004) and Strengthening Forensic Science: A Path Forward (2009). She supervises and coordinates the research and outreach activities at the University of Virginia, holds responsibility for subcontracted activities, and participates in the group guiding the direction of the center.