Meet our Students.

Nimish Adhikari

Hello, my name is Nimish and I am originally from Kathmandu. I did my undergrad at Tufts University in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, where I got the chance to work on biomedical research projects involving texture analysis and medical imaging at the Tufts Medical Center, which led me to pursue this degree. I am interested in statistical computing and spatial statistics but am open to other research areas.  I enjoy reading and writing, especially about music and food, and I want to be competent at playing at least two new instruments by the end of my program.

Jordan Ahn

Hi! My name is Jordan Ahn, and I recently completed my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering this past year at Boston University. I was first introduced to the BU biostatistics program through BU SIBS. I’m excited to gain a better understanding of Biostatistics research through the Interdisciplinary Training Grant in Biostatistics, and I hope to find my research interest in the near future. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar and practicing a martial art called kendo.

Henry Bayly

Hi, my name is Henry Bayly. I did my undergraduate work in Mathematics and Computer Science at Boston College. My interest in the intersection of Math and Medicine led me to pursue a PhD in Biostatistics. I have experience working in theoretical network analysis, infectious disease modeling, and statistical genetics. In my free time I enjoy playing basketball, cooking, and looking for various side hobbies.

 

John Cannon
I am a first-year Ph.D. student in the Biostatistics Department who is supported under the T32 Interdisciplinary Training program for Biostatisticians. I earned a BS in Economics from Brigham Young University, where I also researched the health impacts of air pollution. After graduating, I obtained additional research experience – first at the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) and then at a company providing decision support for pharmaceutical teams in early-stage drug development. Arising from these work opportunities and my experiences as a heart transplant recipient, my current research interests include the study of patient experience, clinical trial design, and the various applications of Bayesian techniques.

Jiachen Chen
Hi everyone! I am from China. I got my BS degree in Mathematics from Tianjin University and my MS degree in Biostatistics from Yale University. My research interests are mainly in statistical genetics. During my master’s study, my research focused mainly on the design and analysis of clinical trials and longitudinal studies. In my free time, I enjoy music, reading, and traveling with friends. It’s really happy for me to join BUSPH!

 

Daniel DiCorpo

Hello everyone!  I am a Massachusetts native and have actually spent my entire life in New England going to the University of Massachusetts Amherst and working at Massachusetts General Hospital after graduation.  My research experiences have included basic genetics work (bacterial & marine) as well as a clinical investigation with “big data” in breast cancer.  I am thrilled to be joining the department where so much statistical genetics work is happening.  Outside of “lab”, I enjoy biking, hiking, and beaches especially with my family and yellow Labrador Retriever who lives nearby.

Genevieve Dupuis
Hi everyone! I am a first-year student in the Biostatistics Ph.D. program, hoping to work on infectious diseases and HIV. For more than 10 years prior to joining BU, I was based in the Washington, DC area and worked in international public health and data management. I oversaw the development of data systems for national population-based surveys, researching demographics and health, HIV, and food security in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. I have a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame and an M.S. in Demography from Florida State University. In my free time, I love hiking, backpacking, cooking/baking, rock climbing, and watching too much TV (if such a thing exists!).

Michael Figueroa Muniz

My name is Michael J. Figueroa Muñiz and I am a Ph.D. student, coming from the University of Puerto Rico, where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in mathematics. My interests include education, Bayesian inference, and cats. My favorite aspect of biostatistics is collaboration, and I am excited to learn from other members of the community at BU. Academically, I am interested in the continued development and application of causal inference methods and Bayesian statistical inference. I want to learn more about computational methods like ML that can impact these areas, as well.

Julia Gallini

I’m originally from Richmond, VA. I did my bachelor’s degree at UNC Chapel Hill and my master’s degree at Emory University. In my free time I enjoy running, hanging out with friends, hiking, and watching movies.

 

 

Rachel Erhbar

I am a Ph.D. student doing my Research Assistantship with Vanessa Xanthakis working on the Framingham Heart Study.  I received my BA in Mathematics from the College of the Holy Cross, and after a few years of working as an administrative assistive at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, I received my MA in Biostatistics from BU.  After graduating, I worked for the Veterans Affairs as part of MAVERIC (Massachusetts Veteran Epidemiology Research and Information Center) as a senior data analyst.  During my time at the VA, I aided in data analysis and research for the Million Veteran Program, which involved recruiting Veterans, analyzing their survey responses, and creating a phenotype algorithm for PTSD — which is currently being used for GWAS.

Musong Gao

I am Musong Gao, finishing my undergraduate at Zhejiang University with a major in public health and my master here, and I am a first-year Ph.D. student in biostatistics at BU. I am interested in advanced methods of integrating multiple omics research with different outcomes.

 

 

 

Sophia Gunn

Hi everyone! I was born and raised in New York City and recently graduated from Carleton College in Minnesota with a BA in Math/Statistics.  As much as I loved the Midwest, I am happy to return to the East Coast and very excited to be at BU!  Outside of class, I enjoy cooking and spending time outdoors.

 

 

Siwen He

I received my BS in Computer Science from Beijing Forestry University and MS in Biostatistics from Georgetown University. Before I joined Boston University, I have worked in the pharmaceutical industry on various therapeutic clinical trials from phase I to phase IV, as well as the real world. I have also contributed as a co-author of several manuscripts, posters, and book chapters by providing statistical analysis to reveal the information hidden behind the observed data.  I am interested in learning interdisciplinary knowledge to tackle practical problems. During my leisure time, I enjoy playing board games with friends, and I am also a big fan of outdoor activities, including rock climbing, snowboarding, snorkeling, badminton, etc.

Quixi Huang

I enjoy traveling and meeting new people and cultures. I earned my BS in pre-medicine from Penn State University and my MA in biostatistics from BU. Being the only child in my family, I grew up in Beijing, China. My research interests lie primarily in refining or developing new methodologies for survival analysis. I’d also love to read, cook, and practice yoga outside of school.

 

Daniel Kojis

My name is Dan Kojis and I’m a Ph.D. student. In 2020, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where I studied Statistics and Political Science. Excited to be here!

 

 

Patrick Koval
I am a second year PhD student from Chelsea, MI. I graduated from College of the Holy Cross in May of 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics. My areas of interest include repeated measures and time series in their application to the study of psychiatric disorders. In my free time I enjoy listening to podcasts and attending concerts.

Evelyn Lauren

Hello everyone! I was born and raised in Indonesia. I recently graduated from the University of Utah with BS degrees in Mathematics and Economics. While at Utah, I was a research assistant in the Department of Orthopaedics where my work included applying data science methods on large national health surveys. I’m interested in addressing biostatistical problems related to large datasets. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, photography, and the arts.

Yi Li
Hi everyone, I am Yi Li. I completed my MA program in our department, so I am happy to continue my study here. My current research is on statistical genetics and metabolomics, and I will continue to work on them. In addition, I love movies and musicals.

 

 

Jingyi Lin

My name is Jingyi Lin, and I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biostatistics.  My research interests include clinical trial design, as well as statistical computation.  Before BU, I obtained my BS in Computational Mathematics from Xiamen University and my Master’s degree in Biostatistics from Duke University.  In my spare time, I enjoy swimming and scuba diving.

 

Xue Liu

I am originally from Beijing, China. I earned my MPH in biostatistics from BU. My research focusing on mitochondrial DNA CN, cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer’s disease. In my spare time, I enjoy fishing, hiking and cooking.

 

 

 

Sophia Lu

My name is Sophia; I’m excited to start the PhD program in biostatistics at Boston University! I pursued my bachelor’s degree in Health Science and master’s degree in biostatistics here at BU. I previously worked on data management and various projects involving longitudinal data at BU School of Medicine, so I have an interest in working with observational studies in the future. Outside of class and research, I enjoy working out, spending time with friends, and trying new cafes in Boston!

Samantha Malatesta

I am originally from the south coast of Massachusetts. I recently earned my BS in Statistics from NC State University. During my time at NC State, I conducted research with the EPA to investigate alternative air quality sensors to measure air pollution. I also attended the SIBS program at the University of Colorado Denver where she researched the efficacy of a hypertension drug. My research interests include spatial statistics and clinical trials.

 

Brooke McGinley
I am a first-year Biostatistics Ph.D. student. I completed my undergraduate at Rowan University earning a BS in Mathematics and a BA in Computing & Informatics. I participated in the 2020 Taste of Boston University Summer Institute for Biostatistics (SIBS), where I was first introduced to some of BU’s Biostatistics Faculty. Following the completion of this program, I knew BU was my top choice to pursue a Ph.D. I am currently on the Training Grant where I hope to narrow down my research interests.

 

Patricia Miller

I grew up in Rochester, New York, where I earned a BS in Applied Mathematics from the Rochester Institute of Technology.  Following my undergraduate studies, I taught middle school math for a few years before returning to graduate school and earning an MS in Applied Statistics from the University of Southern Maine.  While in graduate school I worked as an institutional researcher for Southern Maine Community College, where I was also an adjunct instructor in Mathematics and Statistics.  For the past six years, I have been working as a biostatistician at Boston Children’s Hospital in the department of orthopedic surgery.  When I’m not stuck in front of a computer screen I’m usually doing something fall-related with my family.

Sarah Milligan

My name is Sarah Milligan, I received my BA in Mathematics with concentrations in Pure Mathematics and Statistics from Bridgewater State University. I have been at BU since 2021 and recently received my Masters in Biostatistics. Currently, I am working towards my PhD in Biostatistics. I work with the Veterans Health Association in Clinical Trials. I enjoy crafting, going for walks, and spending quality time with family and friends. I am excited to remain part of the BUSPH community and continue to build long lasting relationships with peers and faculty!

Stephanie Pan

I am originally from Las Vegas but relocated to DC to complete my BS in Statistics at American University. Then I went on to complete my MS in Biostatistics at Columbia University. Afterwards I worked for a few years as a biostatistician at the Mt Sinai Icahn School of Medicine in cardiothoracic clinical trials and observational studies with obstetric/pediatric researchers. In my free time, I enjoy watching comedy stand-ups, playing tennis, and reading Agatha Christie novels.

 

Lucrezia Maria Piglia

I am a first-year biostatistics PhD student. I was born in Italy and studied all over Europe and the US. I obtained my Bachelor’s in statistics and mathematics, and my Master’s in data science. The focus of my later work has been on clinical trials, specifically applied to the development of therapies to treat COVID-19 patients. I love music, hiking and cooking.

 

Adlin Pinheiro

I first discovered my passion for public health when I was an undergraduate at Boston University. I later graduated from the M.A. program in biostatistics at BUSPH in 2019 and then worked as a biostatistician for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. I am happy to be back at BUSPH to continue my education. In my free time, I like to be outside as much as possible and enjoy biking, hiking, and running, as well as the occasional Netflix binge.

Emma Risner
My name is Emma Risner, and I am originally from Jacksonville, FL. I am a first year Biostatistics PhD student under the NIH Interdisciplinary Training Program for Biostatisticians. I earned my BA in Mathematics from the University of Florida in 2020. I later earned my MS in Biostatistics from New York University in 2023, where I have been a research analyst primarily working with longitudinal study designs using NIH All of Us data. I completed my master’s thesis on a comparison of extensions of the Cox Proportional Hazard model for recurrent events. I am interested in applications of survival analysis and clinical trial design. In my free time I enjoy cooking, playing board games, and hanging out with my two cats!

Lia Rotti
I grew up in Danville, VT, and recently graduated with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Tufts University. My previous research background is in simulating treatment for pancreatic cancer and solid organ transplants using computational ODE models. I am excited to begin the Biostatistics Ph.D. program at BU this fall. In my free time, I enjoy walking around Boston with my identical twin sister, and I’m trying to find new active hobbies after finishing up my collegiate track and field career.

 

Luke Rusowicz- Orazem 

I was born in New York City, raised in Connecticut, and have lived in Boston for nearly a decade. I earned my BS in Economics at Northeastern University. I worked in Interventional Cardiology research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Longwood for 3 years. My personal interests include Tennis, Weightlifting, Music, and taking very long walks with my better half.

Jason Rutberg
I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biostatistics. I was born in Boston but grew up in Maine. I earned a B.S. degree in Applied Mathematics & Statistics and Economics from Johns Hopkins University. I participated in Boston University’s Summer Institute in Biostatistics (SIBS) in 2021. I am supported by the Interdisciplinary Training Program for my first two years. I am primarily interested in infectious disease modeling and clinical trials. Being from New England, I follow all of Boston’s sports teams, especially football and hockey. I enjoy walking, traveling, and trying new restaurants.

Lindsay Salvati

My name is Lindsay Salvati and I’m originally from Trumbull, CT. I am a second-year PhD student here at BU. Previously, I received my BA in mathematics with a concentration in statistics from Connecticut College in 2022 where I also minored in psychology and linguistics. I am on the T32 Interdisciplinary Training grant, and in the fall semester, I will complete a research rotation on clinical trials at the VA. In my free time, I enjoy working out and playing soccer.

Matthew Scott
Greetings! I am an incoming Ph.D. Biostatistics student who will be working in the lab of Dr. Alexa Beiser. I completed my undergraduate degree in mathematics at the University of Delaware in 2017. For the last four years, I have been working as a Data Analyst with the informatics group of the Harvard Aging Brain Study. Outside of my professional life, I am involved with the Boston Strikers, a local LGBTQ+ soccer organization. I am excited to meet everyone within the program and be a part of the BU community!

Anne Shapiro

I graduated from Carleton College in 2018 and spent the past two years doing public policy research at the University of Chicago. My academic interests include infectious disease modeling and the development of frameworks for analyzing social determinates of health. In my free time, I love to hike and cook, and I’ve gotten very into knitting during COVID.

 

Zeyuan Song

I am originally from China and went to Zhejiang University for my BS in Biology. I worked as a research assistant for one year in a pathology lab at University of Alabama at Birmingham, where I was intrigued by the power of applying bioinformatics and biostatistics methods on deciphering disease mechanisms. Thereafter I obtained my MS in Applied Biostatistics at BU and continued my research career here. Aside from academics, I love reading, cooking and watching movies, especially horror and fiction movies.

Yang Song

I am Yang Song. After graduating from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in Dec 2013 with an MS in Statistics, I went on to work for six and a half years at a CRO. In that time, I was been involved in 20+ manuscript publications, mainly in cardiovascular research, but there were many occasions where I found it difficult to convince statistical reviewers about the analysis results. Therefore, a strong feeling of deep and systematic learning of Biostatistics emerged, especially when my title changed to statistician 3 years ago. So, I begin to lead statistical analysis in the clinical trials and manuscript analysis, and one of responsibilities in my role was to communicate the statistical analysis with physicians and statisticians internally and externally extensively. But without a solid background in Biostatistics, I found myself struggling. Fortunately, BU Biostatistics department gives me the opportunity to learn advanced statistical methods.

Naznin Sultana
I am from Dhaka, Bangladesh. I have my master’s in Biostatistics from Boston University. Now, I am thrilled to begin my Ph.D. in Biostatistics there. I also have several years of working experience in different areas. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and hanging out with them.

 

Xianbang Sun

I come from China. I earned my M.S. degree from University of Washington. I like to play basketball and watch NBA games. Also I’m learning guitar.

 

 

 

Fatima Tuz-Zahra
I completed my MS. Statistics program at San Diego State University (SDSU) in 2018. In January 2019, I began working as a statistician at UC San Diego Health, Department of Family Medicine, and Public Health on multiple grant-funded studies. I was part of a wonderful multi-disciplinary collaborative research team; I learned a lot from them. I am excited to start my Ph.D. and meet the people at BU. Outside of work, I love cooking and spending time outdoors.

Ruiqi Wang

Hi everyone! I was born in China and earned my BS in applied mathematics at Xiamen university.  After graduation, I came to Washington DC and earned my MS in Biostatistics at Georgetown University.  Prior to joining Boston University, I worked as an intern at the Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics at Georgetown University doing research on Clip-seq data.  In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, cooking, and playing video games!

 

Jianing Wang

I am a doctoral student in Biostatistics, working with Dr. Benjamin Linas and Dr. Laura White at Boston Medical Center. My research investigates the statistical and mathematical methods to calibrate compartmental simulation models and improve the performance of model fitting. Specifically, I am working with a research team under the mentorship of Dr. White on Bayesian calibration for researching effective strategies to prevent the opioid death model. Prior to the study in Biostatistics, I was working in the research unit of infectious disease at Boston Medical Center as a statistical analyst, where I was focusing on investigating the comparative- and cost-effectiveness of interventions to identify and treat HIV, HCV, and Opioid Use Disorder, employing methods of statistics and epidemiology.

Xutao Wang

Originally from China, I received my BS in Biology and Statistics from the University of Toronto and MS in Computational Biology from Harvard University. My research interests fall in the field of ensemble learning and developing novel prediction methods for heterogenous genomic data. In my free time, I enjoy playing board games and hiking.

 

Xuzhi Wang

I was born in Shandong, China. I earned my Master’s degree in Applied Math and Statistics at Johns Hopkins University and my Bachelor’s degree in Statistics at Shanghai University of International Business and Economics. In my spare time, I like reading, exercising and watching movies. I’m very happy to join BU Department of Biostatistics to continue my study and research.

 

Yuxuan Wang

Hi! My name is Yuxuan Wang, I am a Ph.D. student in Biostatistics. I earned a BS in Biology from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and recently my MS in Biostatistics from Yale University. My research interest is statistical genetics and I am also a #rstat enthusiast. While earning my master’s degree, I worked on a large-scale GWAS to detect sex differences in genetic contributions to smoking initiation. My personal interests include cooking and tennis. I am very excited to start a new journey at BU Biostat!

Ningyuan Wang
Hi everyone! I grew up in Northern China but spent the last five years in the Midwest of the US. I did my undergraduate in Wisconsin majoring in English and Statistics. Then, I moved to Michigan and obtained my MS in Applied Statistics. I am interested in developing and applying statistical methods in public health. In my spare time, I love music, books, and nature. I am glad to join the department and can’t wait to see you in person.

 

Qingyan Xiang

I am from China. I got my BS degree in Zhejiang University major in Food Science.  Then I earned my MS degree in Statistics at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  I am really into music.  I have been playing guitar for years and played in several bands back in China.  I hope to get involved in the local Boston music scene and craft some interesting sounds.

 

Jiemin Yang     

Hello, my name is Jiemin and I am originally from Southern China. Prior to joining BU, I worked as a statistician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for 2 years and worked at Karyopharm Therapeutics for another year where I enjoyed a lot. During work, I mostly dealt with observational data and clinical trials in the area of Cancer, but I am also very interested in statistical genetics and hoping to explore more research areas. Before moving to Boston, I earned an MS in biostatistics from the University of Minnesota. In my free time, I enjoy music and outdoor activities, especially piano and hiking. I have recently developed an interest in photography and had an obsession with snowboarding.

 

Yixin (Amy) Zhang

Hi everyone! My name is Yixin, and I go by Amy. I received my bachelor’s degree in biology from Boston College and completed the Biostatistics MS program in our department. I’m really happy to continue my studies here as a PhD student!  My research interest is in statistical genetics. In my free time, I like to dance, draw, travel, and watch a lot of movies.

 

Xiaoyu Zhang

I am from Yunnan, a warm southern province of China.  I got a BS in Biomedical Science and Chinese Medicine from Hong Kong Baptist University, and an MS in Statistics from Rutgers University before joining BU.  My current research interests lie in statistical genetics and personalized medicine.  In my spare time, I love running, swimming, and occasionally taking on adventurous activities.  Running the Boston Marathon could be my next challenge.  Come and join me!

 

Jingwen Zhang

I am a Ph.D. student in the biostats program. I did my undergraduate program at BU Math & Stats department and obtained my MA degree at Yale. Finding that I had a great interest in biostatistics when I worked at Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, I decided to come to this program.

 

Yuankai Zhang

I am Yuankai, a Ph.D. student in the Department of biostatistics. I am originally from China. I earned my BS in pharmaceutical science from Fudan University an MA in Biostatistics from Boston University. I am very happy to continue my study at BU!

 

 

Luke Zheng

I got my B.S. in Statistics from the University of Wisconsin: Madison. I’ve done a lot of work in contract research organizations for clinical trials and a data monitoring committee over the past few years, so I have a large interest in clinical trial design and the issues that may come up when conducting trials. Outside of my schoolwork, I’m a competitive table tennis player that used to compete for the UW Madison team, and I take interest in many other sports such as various martial arts and more recently biking.

Francesca Zumpano    

Hi everyone! I am originally from Northern New Jersey. I received my BS in Mathematics from The College of New Jersey and my MS in Biostatistics from Rutgers University. My previous research focused on analyzing changes in DNA methylation of individuals with HIV. In my free time, I like reading, trying new coffee shops, and exploring museums.

 

Sydney Carolan
I am from Brentwood, California, a small town in the east Bay Area. I graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in public health. I have lived in California my whole life but am looking forward to moving to the East Coast and continuing my education at BU!

 

Jiaying Chen
I am from Toronto, Canada. I graduated from University of Toronto in 2023 with an honors bachelor’s degree in life sciences. It had been quite intense and stressful in my undergraduate journey, and I would like to explore some new stories in this new city. In my free time, I like to do K-pop, play with my piano, or watch movies. I cannot wait to start a new chapter with BU!

Xinyi (Riddle) Chen
Hello, I am a new MS student in the Biostatistics program. I was pursuing in Carey Business School, Johns Hopkins University for my Finance master’s degree while I was fascinated by the power of statistics. Though not professional enough, I am eager to learn and embrace it. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, badminton, watching TV shows and cooking.

 

Yu-Hung Cheng
Hello, I am Yu-Hung Cheng. I’m from Taiwan and I’m excited to embark on this new journey as a student in the MS in Biostatistics program. I first became interested in statistical methods during my undergraduate studies, and I’m eager to apply these skills in the medical research field. In my free time, I love to play basketball. This is my second time here in Boston, and I’m looking forward to discovering more about the city!

 

Yili Du
Hello everyone! My name is Yili Du. I am an incoming student in Biostatistics MS program. I am from China. I graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a Master’s degree in Biopharmaceutical and Engineering. After graduating, I worked as a clinical data analyst at Pfizer Biometrics and Data Management group for 2 years. My interests lie at the intersection of data analysis, computer science and population health sciences, where I strive to make meaningful contributions. In my spare time, I enjoy playing yoga, exploring the outdoors, and taking great photographs for my family and friends. Excited to be a part of the BU biostatistics community and looking forward to meeting you all soon!

Shae Gantt
Hi! My name is Shae Gantt and I’m from Ridgeland, SC. I graduated from the University of South Carolina Beaufort with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and then became interested in applying my mathematics background to public health research. I then received my Master of Science in Epidemiology (focusing on Infectious Disease) from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. I’m looking forward to continuing my interests in infectious disease research while connecting back to my mathematical roots in the Biostatistics MS program at BU! Outside of school I enjoy watching movies, travelling, and being on the beach!

Yu Hua
I am a new graduate student in BU’s MS in Biostatistics program. I graduated from Questrom business school at BU this year and majored in Finance. I am very excited to continue my study in a different and challenging field. I like photography, kayaking and snowboarding during my free time.

 

 

Gwyneth Li
I am from Guangdong, China. In the past, I pursued a degree in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, subsequently serving as a product manager at an international technology company in China. I am so excited to start the Biostatistics Master’s program at BU. In addition, I am passionate about working out, traveling, cooking and studying with companions. I extend an open invitation to all to connect with me.

 

Ruohan Ou
I am from Hunan, China. I graduated from the University of Toronto in May 2023, with the degree of Honour bachelor’s of Science. I like reading, listening to music, and exercising.

 

 

 

Grace Simpson
Hi! My name is Grace Simpson, and I’m from Franklin, Tennessee. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in statistics and psychology from Elon University in May, 2023, where I had the opportunity to do research in biostatistics. I’m excited to continue my biostatistics education here at BU! In my free time, I enjoy going to concerts, reading, and exploring the city.

 

Thao Vu
Hello, my name is Thao Vu. I’m from Vietnam. I have been working as Microbiology Med Tech for the past 4 years. Outside of work, I spend most of my time taking care of plants and dogs. I’m hoping to expand my knowledge into the biostatistics field at BU. I’m looking forward to meeting the professors and peers soon.

 

 

 

Sabrina Abbruzzese

I recently graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia with a bachelors in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in statistics. I am originally from New Jersey, so I am excited to be here at BU to complete the MS in Applied Biostatistics program. In my spare time I enjoy cooking and staying active running/ hiking.

 

 

Vidriana Catanzaro

I am an avid baseball fan, football aficionado, and amateur chef, who has a serious case of the travel bug. I grew up in a beach town in the Greater Boston area and graduated with an undergraduate Mathematics degree and Pre-Med minor in 2022. I took a year off from school to gain some work experience, and am now looking forward to pursuing my passion for biostatistics at BU.

Wang Pong (Sean) Chan

I was born in Malaysia, grew up in NY. I graduated from UCLA in 2020 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Economics. I just completed my 3rd year of medical school at BU. I enjoy working out, going to the beach, cooking, and reading mystery books. Excited to meet everyone!

 

Luke Dysart

Hello everyone! I recently graduated from UC Davis with a BS in Neurobiology, Behavior, and Physiology and I am excited to be attending Boston University. As a member of the Shifa Community Clinic during my undergrad, I focused on providing care for underserved communities in Sacramento and developed a passion for promoting health equity. In my free time, I love outdoor activities like camping and hiking.

 

Jonathan Huang

I was born and raised in Southern California in a suburban city called Chino Hills. In 2021, I got my undergrad degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at a small university in St. Louis called University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy. For the next two gap years, I spent my time looking/experiencing different career paths. For the first year, I worked in a hospital as a Pharmacy Technician and EMT, and later the next year, I worked as a Research Associate at a Pharmaceutical Company where I found my interest in data analysis/biostatistics. Aside from work and academics, I love playing basketball and working out when I’m outdoors. At home, I usually cook and play games to pass my time. As Boston is a very new city to me, I am excited to take on my new journey at BU and be part of the MS in Applied Biostatistics Program!

Anna Kurnellas

I’m originally from New Jersey and graduated from The College of New Jersey in 2022 with a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science. After working on a few data analysis and research projects during undergrad, I became interested in using data to solve problems and decided biostatistics would be a perfect fit! In my free time I enjoy reading, baking, traveling, and watching hockey.

Ryan Liebegott

I am originally from South Burlington, Vermont. I graduated from the University of Rochester in 2020 with a B.S. in Molecular Genetics and worked as a research lab tech before seeking a calling in statistics. In my free time I enjoy reading and taking long walks.

 

 

Xinyi Liu

I’m form Hunan, China. I graduated from MSU Natural Science in December 2022 with a bachelor’s degree. In my free time, I like hanging out with friends, go to the exhibitions, playing with my cat and play games. I am really excited to start the Applied Biostatistics master’s Program at BU.

 

 

 

Amrit Pradhan

I am from San Jose, California, and I graduated from Cal Poly SLO this past June with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Statistics. I am excited to start the MSAB program and to explore Boston. In my free time, I enjoy watching and playing sports, going to the gym, hiking, and hanging out with friends.

 

 

Sruti Raman

I am from Phoenix, Arizona and graduated from Arizona State University in 2021 with a degree in Applied Mathematics. I had the opportunity to take some science and public health coursework during my undergraduate studies that initially sparked my interest in biostatistics.  I have worked in marketing analytics for the past couple of years since graduating,  but my continued interest in statistical applications to biomedical/public health research is what brought me to apply to the MSAB program and I look forward to starting this Fall. In my free time, I enjoy staying active (hiking, lifting) and attending live music events.

Lauren Rusnak

I graduated from Appalachian State University in May 2023 where I majored in Cellular and Molecular Biology with minors in Chemistry and Statistics. I am from Apex, NC and am excited to move up to Boston and start the Applied Biostats program at BU! In my free time, I like watching movies and tv shows, going on walks, and playing video games with friends.

Sid Seenivasa

Hey y’all, I’m from Dallas, TX, but went to school in snowy Rochester, NY at the University of Rochester, where I graduated with a BS in Mathematics and a BS in Molecular Genetics. I’m currently involved in research addressing Sexual Orientation Fluidity in Youth (SO*FLY) through Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School; I cannot wait to get more hands-on experience in growing my analytical skills through the MSAB program. During my free time, you could probably catch me at a Celtics game (but go Mavs!) or biking around Boston!

Chang Su

Hi there! I’m Su Chang, an MS graduate in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Ottawa, also with two years of working experience in data analysis and modelling. Excitedly transitioning to the field of biostatistics, I’m thrilled to be part of the Boston University MS in Applied Biostat program. As an ENFP, I thoroughly enjoy making new friends and connecting with people. Besides, my adorable cat is my ever-supportive companion throughout this journey. Looking forward to a fulfilling learning experience and contributing to the world of biostatistics!

Jessica Zambuto

Hi everyone! I just recently graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and statistics. I am really looking forward to attending BUSPH and exploring Boston. In my free time I like to bake, hike, try new food places, and read.