Christine Bui holds an undergraduate degree in statistics from the University of Central Florida. Her hometown is Orlando, Florida. Christine is in the second year of Duke’s Master of Biostatistics program and serves as a co-president for the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Student Association.
Did you work prior to enrolling in graduate school? What work did you do?
Yes! I worked a remote internship at BroadStreet Institute, a nonprofit organization, as a Data Analyst Intern, analyzing mortality data on deaths of despair (suicide, drug poisoning, and alcoholic liver disease) by querying the CDC WONDER database to identify public health trends at state and county levels. After my internship, I stayed in a leadership role as the Analytics Team Coordinator, where I coordinated monthly projects on a variety of public health issues.
What drew you to the field of Biostatistics?
During undergrad, I wasn’t entirely sure what career path I wanted to pursue with statistics. What I did know was that I loved coding in R, SAS, and Python, and that I especially enjoyed working with health data when the opportunity arose. Over time, I realized that combining my skills in statistics with meaningful health applications would allow me to contribute to work that truly makes a positive difference in society. That’s when I knew biostatistics was the right path for me.
What factored into your decision to attend Duke for graduate school?
Duke was my top choice from the start, and I’m so glad I committed. Throughout the application process, Kendall was an incredible resource. You can immediately tell she loves her job and cares deeply about students, which stood out to me. On top of that, Duke offers many resources, from supportive faculty and staff like Laura, our career coach and professor, to opportunities both within and beyond campus. I have no regrets and I’m grateful to be here!
What have you enjoyed most about the MB program to this point in time?
What I’ve enjoyed the most is the collaborative and supportive community. Working with peers in and outside of class has helped me grow not only academically but socially as well. I’ve become more confident and comfortable connecting with others. The encouragement from both faculty and friends makes the challenges of graduate school much more rewarding.
What has been the most impactful class so far?
I would say the most impactful class is BIOSTAT 721 – Introduction to Statistical Programming I (R) with Brooke Alhanti. We learned a lot about the basics such as good programming etiquette and writing well thought-out code for each project, which made me feel proud about my work once I submitted them. Currently, I’m enjoying BIOSTAT 707 – Statistical Methods for Learning and Discovery with Chuan Hong and BIOSTAT 713 – Survival Analysis with Marissa Ashner.
What has been the biggest challenge in the graduate school you’ve faced?
Time management is definitely the biggest challenge. Balancing coursework, internships, and personal commitments can sometimes feel like a struggle. There are times when everything piles up and it feels overwhelming, but I’ve been learning to stay organized and give myself grace along the way.
Have you participated on a research project, or did you complete a summer internship? Please write a short description about where you were, the work you did, and what you learned.
I’ve participated in two internships this summer. I worked with the Duke BERD Core in their BCTIP internship program, working on a covariate adjustment project within the Duke Global Health Institute, where I learned to do a deep dive in a systematic literature review. I also worked with the Duke Center for AIDS Research in their Quantitative Methods for HIV/AIDS Research Summer Internship, where I gained valuable experience in working with genetics data for the first time.
What are your goals after graduation/for the future?
My goal is to enter industry after graduation. I’m flexible regarding which specific sector I want to work in. As long as my work contributes positively and meaningfully, I’ll be happy!
What do you like to do for fun or to relax after your schoolwork is caught up?
I love spending time with friends whether we’re out and about or just hanging out. On my own, I like playing games and reading classic literature or self-improvement books. I also hope to get back into baking and painting soon!
What advice do you have for prospective or incoming students?
Make the most of your time here! Make new friends and explore life outside of academics. Two years go by so quickly, and you don’t want to look back wishing you had enjoyed it more fully. Life has so many ways of bringing us joy, so lean into that and start romanticizing the little moments now!