School of Public Health (SPH) Professor Joseph Koopmeiners has been awarded the 2026 Distinguished McKnight University Professorship, a University of Minnesota program that recognizes outstanding faculty members who have achieved full professor status. Recipients hold the title “Distinguished McKnight University Professor” for as long as they remain employed at the University of Minnesota.

Koopmeiners, who also serves as a Mayo Professor and Head of the Division of Biostatistics & Health Data Science, was recognized for his work developing statistical solutions to complex problems in public health and biomedical research. A hallmark of his research is the direct connection between methodological innovation and real-world application across a wide range of disciplines. His work has contributed to advances in tobacco regulatory science, prostate cancer imaging, cancer research, and learning health systems, while also pushing forward the field of biostatistics.

Koopmeiners is a member of Delta Omega, the honorary society in public health, and is actively involved in several professional organizations, including the American Statistical Association, the International Biometrics Society, and the Society for Clinical Trials.