Education

Ph.D, Mathematics , University of Montana , 1995. M.S., Statistics , Oregon State University , 1987, B.S. Natural Resources, Cornell University, 1978.

Courses Taught

Practical Big Data Analytics, Math 491

Big Data Projects, Math 491

Probability Theory, Stat 421

Statistical Inference, Stat 422

Real-time Data Analytics, Math 491

Introduction to Statistics, Stat 216

Statistical Methods I and II, Stat 451 and 452

Applied Linear Regression, Stat 542

Applied Multivariate Analysis, Stat 543

Theory of Linear Models, Math 544

Topics in Probability and Statistics, Stat 544

Graduate Seminar in Probability and Statistics Math 640

Research Interests

Predictive analytics

Projects

Currently, I am heavily involved in the University of Montana Big Data Initiative. Principally, I am developing courses, and have developed the Math Dept. Big Data Projects course, and am involved in the development of Practical Big Data Analytics and Real-time Data Analytics (with Eric Tangedahl, BMIS).

Field of Study

Big data analytics, statistical learning and prediction, bootstrap methods, generalized linear models, linear mixed models, generalized linear mixed models

Selected Publications

• Hogg, J.T., Forbes, S., Steele, B.M., Luikart, G. 2006.  Proceedings of the Royal Society B: e-Pubs Biological Sciences. Genetic rescue of an insular population of large mammals

• Steele, B.M. and J.T. Hogg. 2003. Measuring Individual Quality in Conservation and Behavior Studies. In: Festa-Bianchet, M. and Apollonio, M., Eds., Animal Behavior and Wildlife Conservation. , Island Press.

• Steele, B.M., 2001. Sampling Design and Statistical Inference for Ecological Assessment. In: Jensen, M.E., Bourgeron, P.S. and Lessard, G., Eds. A Guidebook for Integrated Ecological Assessments, New York: Springer-Verlag. 536 p.
• Steele, B.M. (2005). Maximum Posterior Probability Estimators of Map Accuracy. Remote Sensing of Environment, 99, 254-270.
• Smucker, K.M., Hutto, R.L., Steele, B.M. 2005. Changes in bird abundance after wildfire: importance of fire serverity and time since fire. Ecological Applications 15(3), 1535-1449
• Steele, B.M., Reddy, S.K., and Nemani, R.R. 2005. A Regression Strategy for Analyzing Environmental Data Generated by Spatio-Temporal Processes. Ecological Modeling, 181, 93-108.
• Steele, B.M., D.A. Patterson and R.L. Redmond. 2003. Toward Estimating Thematic Map Accuracy Without a Probability Test Sample . Ecological and Environmental Statistics. 10, 333-356.
• Steele, B.M., and R.L. Redmond. 2001. A Method of Exploiting Spatial Information for Improving Classification Rules: Application to the Construction of Polygon-Based Land Cover Maps. International Journal of Remote Sensing.22, 3143-3166. Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 .
• Steele, B.M. 2000. Combining Multiple Classifiers: An Application Using Spatial and Remotely Sensed Information for Land Cover Type Mapping. Remote Sensing of Environment.. 74, 545-556. .
• Steele, B.M. and D.A. Patterson. 2000. Ideal Bootstrap Estimation of Expected Prediction Error for k -Nearest Neighbor Classifiers: Applications for Classification and Error Assessment. Statistics and Computing, 10, 349-355.
• Steele. B.M., J.C. Winne, and R.L. Redmond. 1998. Estimation and Mapping of Local Misclassification Probabilities for Thematic Land Cover Maps, Remote Sensing and Environment, 66, 192-202.
• Luikart, G. W.B. Sherwin, B.M. Steele and F.W. Allendorf. 1998. Usefulness of Molecular Markers for Detecting Population Bottlenecks via Monitoring Genetic Change, Molecular Ecology, 7, 963-974.
• Lesica, P. and B.M. Steele. 1997. Use of Permanent Plots in Monitoring Plant Populations, Natural Areas Journal, 17, 331-340
• Steele, B.M. 1996. A Modified EM Algorithm for Estimation in Generalized Mixed Models, Biometrics, 52, 1295-1310.
• Steele, B.M. and C.E. Fiedler. 1996. Kalman Filter Analysis of Growth-Climate Relationships in Old-Growth Ponderosa Pine/Douglas Fir Stands, Radiocarbon 1996.
• Lesica, P. and B.M. Steele. 1996. A Method for Monitoring Long-Term Trends: An Example Using Rare Arctic-alpine Plants, Ecological Applications , 6, 879-887.
• Lesica, P. and B.M. Steele. 1994. Prolonged Dormancy in Vascular Plants and Implications for Monitoring Studies, Natural Areas Journal, 14, 209-212.
• Kendall, K.C. L.H. Metzgar, D.A. Patterson and B.M. Steele. 1992. Power of Sign Surveys to Monitor Population Trends, Ecological Applications , 2, 422-430.
• Holt, D.W., S.M. Melvin, and B.M. Steele 1992. Nestling Growth Rates of Short-eared Owls, Wilson Bulletin, 104, 333-338.

Publications

• Steele, B.M.: Exact bootstrap k-nearest neighbor learners. Machine Learning, 74, 3  235 - 255,  2009.

• Steele, B.M.: A modified EM algorithm for estimation in generalized mixed models. Biometrics, 52, 1295-1310, 1996.

• Steele, B.M., Patterson, D.A.: Ideal bootstrap estimation of expected prediction error for k-nearest neighbor classifiers: Applications for classification and error assessment. Statistics and Computing, 10, 349-355,  2000.