Together with Vamsi Mootha, he coordinates the Broad Institute’s Metabolism Program. Joel’s research focuses on applying laboratory and computational methods to study the genetics of human polygenic traits — diseases and quantitative phenotypes that are influenced by multiple genetic and non-genetic factors. His lab has a major focus on anthropometric measures of obesity and stature (a model complex trait). Other diseases and traits under study include asthma, diabetic nephropathy, sickle cell disease, and timing of puberty. Joel and his colleagues are also interested in the impact of human evolutionary history on polygenic traits and diseases.