- Home State: Maine
- Program & Year: PhD, third year
- More Information: Willow's Page
“I study biostatistics because it is a field where methods are motivated by important health-related research questions.”
Q&A
What motivated you to pursue a PhD in biostatistics?
When I look back at my career and academic journey so far, there is a clear throughline of what has motivated me: the desire to use problem-solving skills in ways that positively contribute to the world we live in. As an undergraduate, I identified public health as the field where I could do that. This led me to take a data scientist position at Mathematica, a policy research company. After four years of working on projects related to Medicaid and Medicare policy implementation and monitoring, I decided to pursue a PhD in biostatistics to develop a deep understanding of statistical theory and methodology, which I saw as playing a critical part of improving public health, whether that be through policy or clinical research.
Why UW Biostatistics?
There were three things that drew me to UW Biostatistics: the statistical training, the people, and the location. I knew from its reputation that UW Biostatistics offered a challenging and rigorous training in statistical theory, which was important to me because I wanted to develop a powerful toolkit for answering public health research questions.
When I visited the department, the faculty, staff, and students I interacted with were so friendly and welcoming. I also loved the amount of access to the outdoors that Seattle provides. Between the environment of the department and the city itself, I could see myself happy for the duration of the program.
How would you describe your experience as a UW Biostatistics student?
It has been equally challenging and rewarding to be a UW Biostatistics student! This program has challenged me in ways I could not have envisioned, and it has made me a stronger problem solver with a critical eye for detail.
The main focus of the first two years of the program were on the core courses, and I see my cohort as an instrumental part of my experience as a student. They have been such a supportive and inspiring crew, especially through the core courses, and I am grateful I’ve gotten to learn alongside them.
What advice would you give to a student who is considering the UW Biostatistics PhD program?
Reach out to people who have earned (or are in the process of earning) PhDs in biostatistics to learn about their experiences. Before deciding to apply to PhD programs, I spent a fair amount of time gathering information about what exactly a PhD program would entail. Speaking to current students and professionals solidly in their careers helped me understand what a PhD in biostatistics would allow me to do and determine if it was the right fit for me.
