May marks graduation season and provides an opportunity to show gratitude for those who have guided and motivated us throughout our respective journeys. Whether they were educators from our formative years, university professors, or experienced professionals in our fields, mentors wield significant influence on our paths. Here, invited by the ASA GivesBack Team, members express their appreciation through “thank you notes” to those who profoundly affected them.
Xinge Jessie Jeng
Submitted by Yifei Hu
I want to express my deepest gratitude to my PhD adviser, Xinge Jeng, for her excellent guidance, enormous patience, and generous support during my PhD studies. I still remember the afternoon in 2018 when I knocked on the door of SAS 5264 for the first time and got the warmest welcome from her, which was the start of my statistical journey. She mentored me for four years and provided constructive suggestions at every research stage.
She is always helpful, patient, and responsible for my PhD studies. I still remember early 2020, when it was close to the start date of my PhD written exam. I received two emails from her. In the first email, she mentioned she needed to rush to the hospital as her little one decided it was time to greet the world. Then, in the second one, which was sent at midnight, she made a very detailed schedule for my written exam and sent me all the required emails. I realized she worked through the night to ensure everything was in place. Also, during the COVID period, remote working added difficulties to lab meetings. But she never stopped our meeting and worked with me to resolve all issues that occurred during this period.
She is truly passionate about statistical research and has lots of brilliant ideas for mentoring students. At the beginning of the four-year journey, I found it hard to start a project and propose new ideas. She spent a long time on paper reading, discussing, and replicating results with me. After knowing more information about the cutting-edge of this field, I was able to write some simple and promising topics.
I want to use this chance to say thanks to my adviser. Without her continuous support and encouragement, I could not achieve what I have done so far.
Matthew J. Hayat
Submitted by Rameela Raman
I was introduced to Matt through the ASA’s Section on Statistics and Data Science Education Mentoring Program, where early-career statisticians are matched with a mentor. Matt and I had an amazing intersection of common experiences—being a collaborative statistician, our experience working on delirium studies, working with our school of nursing, and serving on our respective institutions’ IRB [institutional review board]. I feel so grateful to have met Matt because he showed me by example what a good mentor should be. He has a great listening ear, has been supportive while not being shy about letting me know when I got things wrong, and has always been open to sharing his stories and struggles.
Being primarily a collaborative statistician, I’d always wondered if there was a place for me in academia, and Matt modeled for me how collaborative biostatisticians play a unique and crucial role. We ended up publishing a paper together, and though this is great academic currency, it was the process, our amazing weekly discussions, and people he connected me with that I believe still contribute to my career in a positive and long-lasting way. Although our formal mentoring relationship ended many years back, Matt has always been just a text or email away and someone I can always reach out to for good advice.
(Tony) Jianguo Sun
Submitted by Xiyuan Gao
As an international student embarking on my PhD journey in the United States, I found a guiding light in my adviser, Tony. From the very beginning, his unwavering support was a beacon during times of stress and uncertainty.
I appreciate Tony’s approach to mentorship, which was nurturing and empowering. He recognized the unique challenges I faced, coming to a new country alone and navigating the demanding world of statistics. His assistance in course-related stress was invaluable, but it was his inspiration and guidance in research that truly shaped my academic experience. I remember a defining moment when I was overwhelmed with a complex statistical model. Tony didn’t just provide the answers; instead, he sat with me for hours, guiding my thinking process, turning a moment of despair into one of profound learning. His approach to mentorship encouraged me to explore and grow independently, instilling a sense of self-trust and confidence.
One of the most significant lessons Tony imparted was the importance of building knowledge gradually and the eventual success that comes with patience and perseverance. His words, “Build knowledge firmly and grow strong; with time, you’ll fly where you belong,” not only guided me through my PhD but also became a guiding principle in my life.
Reflecting on my journey, I realize how Tony’s mentorship was not just about imparting knowledge or academic guidance; it was a holistic approach, cultivating both personal growth and professional development. His influence has been a fundamental part of my journey, shaping me into the individual I am today. As I stand on the brink of my professional career, I carry with me not just a degree, but a heart full of gratitude for a mentor and a wealth of wisdom.
Dungang Liu
Submitted by Zhaohu (Jonathan) Fan
I want to extend a big thank you to my PhD dissertation adviser, Dungang Liu, for his patience, guidance, and invaluable lessons throughout my statistical journey. He’s truly the best mentor one could hope for. Together, we tackled a complex statistical problem in our project: effectively assessing partial association for mixed data types. By adjusting for covariates, we developed a method to unify the randomness across different outcomes—binary, ordinal, or continuous. Our findings will soon be published in the Annals of Applied Statistics, a testament to our hard work and innovation. He is the best adviser I could ask for.
Shaobo Li
Submitted by Zhaohu (Jonathan) Fan
I’m incredibly thankful for Dr. Li. His guidance and insights have been a huge part of my statistical journey. We worked on a cool project about assessing mixed data types, which taught me so much, thanks to his patience and wisdom. Almost three years of hard work, lots of discussions and challenges, but it’s all been worth it. Our work is soon to be published in the Annals of Applied Statistics! Dr. Li is the best mentor and adviser anyone could ask for.
Bhramar Mukherjee
Submitted by Arinjita Bhattacharyya
I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude for the exceptional guidance and support of Bhramar Mukherjee (Bhramar di) throughout my journey as a statistician in the field, starting as a rookie summer intern at the Big Data Summer Institute in the department of biostatistics at the University of Michigan. Her expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence have made an incredible impact on my academic and professional growth, and I am inspired by her in many ways.
Her ability to simplify complex concepts and present them in such a clear and concise manner has greatly enhanced my understanding and abilities. Her passion for our field is truly contagious, and it has inspired me to strive for excellence in my own work. Her scholarly articles, awards, and accolades speak volumes about her incredible work that has expanded the field of statistics.
I am immensely grateful for the opportunities she has provided me with to collaborate on research projects at UMich and look forward to working with her further. Her mentorship has not only broadened my knowledge but has also instilled in me a sense of confidence and purpose in my chosen field. Moreover, her kindness, approachability, and willingness to always go above and beyond to assist her students are qualities that truly set her apart.
She was very kind to me when I joined her as an intern and protected me during my journey as an international student there. In many of her interviews, she has spoken about how she managed her PhD journey with her young child and sat for the PhD qualifier almost 10 days after giving birth, and I find this commendable. Her personal as well as professional journey has had a deep impact on me. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the privilege of being mentored by someone as knowledgeable, accomplished, and dedicated as her. I am overwhelmed to have shared the same stage with her for an invited talk recently in India. My joy knew no bounds. I thank Bhramar di from the bottom of my heart for giving me an outstanding opportunity that became the stepping stone of my journey in the US.
Shangyuan Ye
Submitted by Shauna Rakshe
I met Dr. Ye in the first year of my biostatistics master’s program at Oregon Health & Science University, when I took his applied statistics class. He stood out among the biostats faculty for his willingness to answer questions beyond the scope of class. (My classmates and I would attend ASA-sponsored seminars and then ask Dr. Ye to clarify anything we hadn’t understood.) He always gave good-natured and helpful answers and pointed us to additional readings and resources—even after the class ended.
Now, after graduation, I am lucky to work in the same university biostats core as Dr. Ye, and I’m very grateful for his continued mentorship! Whenever a project comes along needing some method that I haven’t used before, he coaches me patiently through the method and the theory behind it, helps me find any background material I need to figure things out, and un-sticks me when I get stuck. Although it would undoubtably be easier for him to do the more complex projects himself, he always makes it clear that he’s willing to coach me, despite the extra time and effort involved. I was also curious about statistics methodology research, and he has invested considerable time and effort in involving me in his own research project.
Dr. Ye’s dedication to teaching is obvious from how hard he works to help me (and others) succeed and grow as statisticians, and he has a remarkable ability to make everyone feel like a valued member of the team, no matter what level they’re starting at. Thank you, Dr. Ye!
Ana-Maria Staicu, Luo Xiao, Justin Post, William Rand, Len Stefanski, and Dennis Boos
Submitted by Xiaoxia Champon
As a returning student who paused my PhD journey due to family obligations, I faced additional challenges—particularly in catching up on research and programming. Nevertheless, the tremendous support of my entire committee made my graduate school experience significantly more fulfilling. I am deeply grateful for each and every one of them.
Foremost among them is Dr. Staicu, whose patience and wealth of advising experience guided me from a point of zero research exposure to gradually growing at my own pace. Her consistent encouragement and positive outlook propelled me forward.
Similarly, Dr. Xiao’s insights and advice, particularly on my second project, played a crucial role in advancing my PhD journey. His wisdom, often condensed into just a few words, has left a lasting impact on my trajectory.
Dr. Justin Post’s belief in my abilities and unconditional support, even during the most challenging times, have been a tremendous source of strength and motivation.
Dr. Rand always went out of his way to accommodate all my needs in research and team building. He created opportunities for me to leverage my strengths and develop my full potential as a leader with compassion and as a researcher with independence. He sets the best example as a mentor.
I am deeply grateful to Dr. Stefanski and Dr. Boos for their humility and willingness to support the growth of a young researcher voluntarily, without seeking any credit. Despite their eminence as renowned statisticians, they are always approachable, and I never hesitate to discuss statistics or life in general with them. Their grace and kindness have taught me that being a good person is more important than anything.
The invaluable contributions from my committee members have been instrumental in shaping my academic and personal growth. I am truly fortunate to have had such exceptional mentors by my side, and I will carry the lessons they imparted with me. As I start the next chapter of my journey, I am committed to following their path and helping others.
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