\(p,q\)-Stirling numbers and set partition statistics (Q809080)

The authors have obtained bijections on restricted growth functions and rook placements on stairstep Ferrers boards to show that \(q\)-Stirling numbers of the second kind, described by Gould, arise as generating functions for various statistics on set partitions. Two variable \(p,q\)-Stirling numbers are also described and these are the generating functions of the joint distributions of pairs of statistics.