Throughout my undergraduate studies, I knew I wanted to pursue a graduate education at the intersection of mathematics and biomedical science but had trouble pinpointing an area that combined them. Luckily, during a conference at Harvard, I discovered the perfect harmonizer: biostatistics!

At Columbia, my dissertation is comprised of two efforts. The first is geared toward creating a novel seamless trial design to accelerate drug evaluation and expedite the delivery of safe and effective treatments to the community, while the second focuses on investigating the performance of group sequential and adaptive designs in various settings.

My first experience with the ASA was winning the Lester R. Curtin Award, which provided essential funding for me to participate in the 2021 Conference on Statistical Practice. This exciting event equipped me with fundamental knowledge that has fostered my research aims and career objectives. Engaging in short courses and tutorials allowed me to improve my coding and technical skills, strengthen my foundation in statistics, and continue evolving as a quantitative thinker. The conference also introduced me to different methods of successfully conveying statistical findings to scientific and nonscientific audiences.

After learning more about the ASA’s mission and all the personal and professional development opportunities the association offers, I joined in October of 2021. The ASA has helped me expand my network of government and industry statisticians, stay up-to-date on important advances in the field, and obtain many employment prospects. Through talking with other ASA affiliates in the Biopharmaceutical Section and Government Statistics Section, I have gained a stronger understanding of the multifaceted responsibilities of statisticians in the pharmaceutical arena and government health agencies.

This year, I was grateful to receive a student travel award to attend and present at the Joint Statistical Meetings and was really glad to connect with people in person (including one of my role models, Dionne Price) and absorb lots of information regarding recent innovations in the clinical trial world.

I am also happy to be presiding over my school’s ASA Student Chapter and co-chairing the Student and Young Professionals Committee of the ASA’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Outreach Group with Lydia Gibson.

Members of the Student and Young Professionals Committee collaborate with interdisciplinary statisticians and students to mitigate inequities and increase diversity in the statistical fields, gather and advertise funding mechanisms for individuals from underserved groups in data science and statistics, and encourage students and early-career professionals to advocate for their needs on campus and in the workplace. Navigating academia or starting a new job can come with unique obstacles, and it has been rewarding to provide a platform for members to voice their concerns and ask difficult questions, as well as to assist them with these challenges to drive their aspirations forward.

Following my graduate studies, I am eager to join the US Food and Drug Administration as a mathematical statistician so I can continue exploring strategies to enhance drug assessment procedures and ensure the safety and efficacy of experimental interventions are measured appropriately and efficiently.

In the future, I would like to fortify the partnership between the FDA and ASA and forge new alliances with other organizations. I also hope to become an ASA Fellow and serve as ASA president one day.

If you are interested in collaborating on research activities with me, email me or connect with me on LinkedIn.