Nationally recognized biostatistician Thomas McAndrew, who developed novel multi-model ensemble algorithms to forecast the seasonal flu and who used a consensus of expert opinions to predict the early trajectory of COVID-19, has joined Lehigh’s College of Health.
McAndrew came to Lehigh from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he was a postdoctoral fellow of biostatistics. At Lehigh, he will continue to build ensemble models for forecasting infectious disease rates—endemic, epidemic and pandemic.
“The goal is to support public health decision-making,” he said. With forecasts of infectious disease rates—the number of expected cases and deaths—public health experts can better make decisions about important next steps, he said.
McAndrew’s innovative approach received support from the MIDAS Coordination Center based at the University of Pittsburgh. MIDAS (Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study) aims to advance science to improve global preparedness against infectious disease threats. It is funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
McAndrew received his bachelor’s degree in biomathematics from University of Scranton, his master’s in biostatistics from Georgetown University and his Ph.D. in mathematical science from University of Vermont.
