Alumni Spotlight: Hannah Damico
Hannah Damico graduated in 2023 from Duke’s Master of Biostatistics Program. She works with Van Andel Institute as a Core Biostatistician I and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What initially drew you to the field of biostatistics?
I enjoyed statistics and wanted to apply this interest to some sort of medical application. I wanted to make a difference in medicine or biological research at a more granular level.
Why did you choose Duke University’s Master of Biostatistics program?
The application to Duke’s Master of Biostatistics Program stood out to me compared to other universities. I noticed that their questions ranged beyond statistical comprehension and into personal values and motivation; this meant a lot to me as I wanted an environment that cared about strengthening “soft skills” in addition to theoretical and applicable knowledge.
What are some of your favorite memories or experiences from the program?
Some of my favorite times were spent on Hock’s 11th floor conference room when a group of us would get together and study for exams or do homework together. We’d ask each other questions, teach each other, and laugh when we were all equally confused.
Were there any faculty members or mentors who had a significant impact on your learning journey?
Dr. Hwanhee Hong was such an encouraging mentor and engaging professor. I apply the concepts of her Generalized Linear Models course daily at my job and still remember the kindness and support she gave in and out of her classes.
Dr. Jesse Troy was a great listener and supportive advisor. I could always rely on Jesse’s directness and conciseness to help untangle my thoughts and ideas when reviewing past exams or current homework assignments.
Dr. Laine Thomas’s causal inference course encouraged independent thinking and improved my ability to balance course material in class and out. Laine herself taught me so much about using my voice to encourage positive change in a space.
I, of course, cannot forget the support that Kendall, Michelle, Gail, and Monica showed me in countless difficult moments throughout my time in this program. If it were not for their genuine kindness those difficult moments would have felt impossible to get through. Thank you for encouraging my own strength and showing up in ways I wouldn’t have expected.
How did the program prepare you for the challenges in your current role or in your field?
The program provided many opportunities for collaboration with other students in our program and across disciplines. This is something I now do daily: collaborating with other statisticians, communicating results with clients who don’t have a statistical background, coordinating deadlines and project expectations.
Can you describe your current role and responsibilities?
I am a Core Biostatistician I. My role relies on social and professional skills just as much as statistical knowledge. I begin a project with a client by meeting with them after the submission of their analysis support request. Our initial meeting identifies hypotheses, data access, deliverables, and deadlines. Many of these items are guided by the client’s needs, but my intention is to provide reasonable answers and timelines for their deliverables. This work sometimes results in a manuscript that may or may not be submitted for publication and other times becomes a small contribution to a later experimental design.
What are some projects or achievements that you’re particularly proud of?
Since beginning this job, I’ve learned a great deal in statistical methods as well as vastly improved the efficiency of my code. I’m particularly proud of a project that I worked on when I first began at VAI that later became a paper (in the submission process currently). This paper specifically will offer evidence of my experience working with flow cytometry data and has the potential to create future opportunities for me in this field.
How has your education in biostatistics influenced your career or opened up
opportunities?
My overall education taught me how to think deeply about statistical theory and methodology. My time in Duke’s Master of Biostatistics Program taught me to think about how I establish myself as a researcher and build connections to further my career in biostatistics. My time at VAI has taught me how to think like a biostatistician and truly apply the principles I’ve learned through my academic experiences. My time at VAI has been just as educational as my university education as it’s continued to challenge my knowledge and abilities.
What advice would you give to current or prospective students in the biostatistics program?
If you’re one who wants to keep yourself consistently busy with a variety of projects or your goal is to apply statistics across many different research questions, I advise looking into working for a non-profit or a core of some kind. There are many institutes out there with these opportunities. If you’d prefer more consistency in projects with more rigid timelines, a CRO or pharmaceutical company might suit you better as they typically follow more precise client timelines and have a more direct line of command. I highly recommend thinking of these questions or ideas when looking for an internship after your first year. Maybe do something different from what you’d expect to like and possibly surprise yourself or maybe look for a position that aligns with what you’d like to eventually work in and from there determine if it’s what you expected.
Consider what kind of impact you’d like to make with these skills.
What are your goals for the next few years in your career?
I’d like to continue working as a core biostatistician for several more years as it’s been a great opportunity to push the boundaries of my statistical knowledge. From there, I’d be interested in maybe pursuing a doctorate and furthering my research skills into policy work that might either progress research and education in women’s health care or, on a completely different note, in policy work that educates the community on climate change through data driven research and science.
How do you see the field of biostatistics evolving, and what trends are you excited about?
Great question. It’s been fascinating to see the statistical community discuss the efficacy of the p-value and I’m curious to see if methods such as the second-generation p-value or harmonic p-value surface as our ideas and expectations evolve for research.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the effect of artificial intelligence within the broader research community. As technology expands and the use of AI in data science and statistics becomes more common, I’m consciously keeping myself informed as someone who cares deeply for the efficacy and ethical impact of new resources.
Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests?
I’d consider myself an avid reader these days and I like to align certain book genres with the seasons or events in a month. While I typically prefer a thriller novel overall, I do enjoy reading this genre in the Fall especially. I enjoy crocheting and writing letters to friends as well. My favorite thing this year (2025) has been volunteering at a free-roaming cat shelter! I’ve found so much joy in supporting this community. Learning the individual personalities of these animals has been a gift, especially since we often find kittens/adult cats who have experienced terrible hardship on the streets and still find themselves filled with excitement and love. We have much to learn from animals.
How do you balance work and personal life while working in a demanding field?
In all honesty, it took me easily a year to a year and a half to find a good rhythm with my work and having a life outside of it. The best advice I can give is to be gentle with yourself for that first year. There will likely be so many changes in your life when transitioning from student to a real-life-salaried-employee, especially if you went straight to grad school from undergrad. Try to become involved with your community, seek out events that interest you or something you’ve always wanted to try and just get it on your calendar. This helped me find a balance after some initial adjustment time.
Looking back, how has your journey in biostatistics changed or impacted you personally?
I feel changed in many ways. I’ve noticed that my ability to envision the progress or modeling methods of a project has greatly improved as has my ability to translate these results.
On a more personal level, I’ve found an even greater drive to make change in the scientific community. Given the opportunity, I’d like to focus more on advocating for better representation of minority groups in data collection or experimental design. I feel that the knowledge I have gained through my education and professional experience can be further leveraged to educate and uplift our communities.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Duke community or future biostatisticians?
I am so grateful for my time at Duke; it was beyond anything I could’ve expected to experience. I built these experiences within the Master of Biostatistics cohort as well as finding lifelong friendships in other Duke graduate student programs. Remember to be kind to yourself. Ask yourself why these hypotheses matter on a greater scale. Remember that you are a part of all that you meet during your current and future experiences.