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Memoir
Fred L. Bookstein
Regents' Proceedings 116
Regents' Proceedings 116
Fred L. Bookstein, Ph.D., distinguished senior research scientist in the Institute of Gerontology, research professor in the Biophysics Research Division, research professor in biostatistics in the School of Public Health, and adjunct professor in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, retired from active faculty status on July 31, 2005.
Professor Bookstein received his B.S. degree from the University of Michigan in 1966, his M.S. degree from Harvard University in 1971, and his Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan in 1977. He joined the University of Michigan faculty as an assistant research scientist in 1977 and was promoted to associate research scientist in 1980, research scientist in 1984, distinguished research scientist in 1989, and distinguished senior research scientist in 1997. He was appointed research professor in 2003. During his tenure, Professor Bookstein had research appointments in the Center for Human Growth and Development, the Institute of Gerontology, the Department of Biostatistics, and the Reproductive Sciences Program, and he held teaching appointments in a number of departments.
Professor Bookstein, a biometer, statistical scientist, and applied mathematician, is perhaps best known as the principal creator of morphometrics, a subfield of statistics that focuses on the measurement of biological shape and shape change. The results of his work have been applied across many fields, including evolutionary and developmental biology, paleontology, computer vision, medical imaging, and cognitive neuroimaging. He has published over 300 books, chapters, articles, and videos, as well as several software programs.
Among Professor Bookstein's honors are the University's Distinguished Research Scientist Award (1989) and appointment as a fellow of the Institute for the Humanities (1992-93) and as an Honors Faculty Fellow in the Honors Program in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (2001-04). In 1998 he was named life associate fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics. He has held visiting and guest appointments at universities in the United States and abroad. The Regents now salute this accomplished faculty member by naming Fred L. Bookstein research professor emeritus and distinguished senior research scientist emeritus.