Hometown
Cupertino, California
Program/Degree
Master of Biostatistics
What inspired you to pursue this degree?
Before coming to Duke, I was an undergraduate student at UC Davis double majoring in both Statistics and Neurobiology. There, I became deeply interested in quantitative/statistical methods and their meaningful application in health and medicine, which led me to discover biostatistics as a field and career path. Now, companies and organizations that hire biostatisticians typically look for those with a master's in statistics/biostatistics. Knowing this, I pursued a graduate education in this area and was fortunate to be accepted to the Master's in Biostatistics program at Duke.
Why did you choose Duke?
The Duke University School of Medicine is a nationally recognized medical enterprise known for leading cutting-edge medical research. I knew that there would be no shortage of research opportunities for a prospective biostatistician.
How do you hope to make an impact with your career?
I would like to be a quantitative lead in high-impact biomedical research, both in the study's design and its analysis. Furthermore, I would like to develop novel statistical methodology that addresses prevalent challenges in biomedical research.
What was the most important thing you learned at Duke?
Beyond learning theoretical foundations and developing a comprehensive toolkit of biostatistical methods, I learned how to think like a researcher and how to collaborate effectively — especially in a field characterized by team science. My time at Duke also constantly reinforced the value of initiative and compassion in all things.