UT Biostatistics, Data Science Department Celebrates 55 Years

Samiran Ghosh, Professor and Vice Chair, University of Texas School of Public Health

The department of biostatistics and data science in The University of Texas School of Public Health marked its 55th anniversary November 15–16, 2024. Since its founding in 1969, faculty have pioneered advances in biomedical research and real-world applications, underscored by the department’s ranking among the top five largest PhD programs in biostatistics nationwide. Since the school’s inception, more than 600 biostatistics and data science students have graduated.

“Our faculty and students’ commitment to excellence in research, education, and service has been the driving force behind our success. From humble beginnings, we have evolved into a vibrant and diverse academic community, united by a common goal: to push the boundaries of biostatistics, improve public health, and advance scientific knowledge,” said Hulin Wu, department chair and The Betty Wheless Trotter Professor.

To celebrate this milestone, the department hosted a conference that brought together speakers from academia, government, and industry to share and foster new findings in the field. The conference, which focused on the new era of data-driven sciences, attracted more than 150 researchers, alumni, faculty, and students.

Over the course of the two-day event, participants attended keynote speeches, invited sessions, research poster sessions, and career panels. They explored and discussed emerging challenges, methods, and applications in biostatistics and data science, particularly in health care. At the conclusion of the conference, two distinguished alumni and three students were recognized for their outstanding contributions and highlighted work.

Distinguished Alumni Awards 

• Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, Acting Director at the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology
• Susan Halabi, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at Duke University 

Winning Student Posters 

• 1st place – Xinran Huang 
• Tied for 2nd place – Wenting Liu and Xiaona Li

The department of biostatistics and data science remains steadfast in its mission to educate future public health leaders. By continuing to address complex health care challenges and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, the department stays at the forefront of biostatistics and data science education and research.