Jiahe Tian is a second-year student in the Master of Biostatistics program. She is from Shandong Province, China. Tian earned her undergraduate degree from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou, China, where she majored in financial mathematics.
What first sparked your interest in biostatistics?
I have always aspired to engage in meaningful work and utilize the knowledge and skills I've acquired to solve real-world problems. During my undergraduate studies, I interned at several financial institutions. Through these experiences, I realized that this was not the type of work or the environment I was seeking. After the outbreak of COVID-19, I secured a summer internship at Bayer. This experience inspired me to consider a shift in focus. Building on my undergraduate background in statistics and programming, I decided to pursue further studies in biostatistics, hoping to eventually work in public health and drug development.
What attracted you to the Master of Biostatistics program at Duke?
I was attracted to Duke's exceptional academic reputation, both as a prestigious higher education institution and specifically for its biostatistics program. I believe that studying here will significantly aid in my self-exploration and professional development. Additionally, I am very fond of Duke's campus and the climate in North Carolina, which are also important factors for me.
What do you enjoy most about this program?
The faculty, coordinators, and my classmates in the program are incredibly kind and helpful. This creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, which is what I love most. Without the support and assistance of Kendall, Michelle, Laura, Greg, and Jesse, I could not have overcome the many difficulties and challenges I faced. Additionally, we have numerous research opportunities and a comprehensive student support system, both of which are exceptionally valuable.
What are some of your favorite classes?
Although every class is instrumental in shaping us into biostatisticians, my favorites include a series of courses: BIOSTAT 702, 705, and 719. These courses are interrelated and build upon each other. They involve learning numerous statistical models and methods and provide plenty of opportunities to work with biostatistics-related data, all of which are very practical and hands-on. I thoroughly enjoyed learning in these courses and am eager to continue expanding and delving deeper into those related topics.
What's the most challenging aspect of the program?
I would say that time management and maintaining a balance between studies and life are crucial and challenging. The highly beneficial courses in our program demand significant time and effort to truly understand and apply their core content. At the same time, many of us are engaged in research or internships. Additionally, taking care of oneself, engaging in physical activities, and participating in social life all require sensible time planning.
Did you participate in a summer internship?
At the end of the summer, I participated in a brief internship at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) as an analyst. My role involved cleaning and summarizing data to identify individuals currently enrolled in NC DHHS programs who are likely eligible for additional food-related benefits. This was based on the cross-enrollment rates of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, the Food and Nutritional Services (FNS), and Medicaid.
What type of work did you do for your internship?
This work was highly relevant to what we learned in our program. My primary responsibility was to collect and clean data, and then, based on this, conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses to identify patterns in cross-enrollment rates by geography, demographics (such as race, ethnicity, age group, etc.), and time.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
Try to be as clear as possible about what you want and have a well-defined plan. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others, whether they are professors or senior students, and bravely express your questions and uncertainties. Boldly experimenting is often the most effective way to find answers to your questions.
What type of work do you see yourself doing in the future?
I hope to work in the field of public health as a biostatistician. More specifically, I am most interested in the area of clinical trials.
What do you like to do outside of work?
This year, I've rekindled my passion for tennis. While my skills are still developing, I am making progress and finding a lot of joy in it. I also greatly enjoy spending time with my friends, whether it's sharing meals, playing board games, or traveling. The time spent with them is fulfilling and happy.