Ziran Yin will graduate from Duke’s Master of Biostatistics program in May 2025. Her hometown is Chongqing, China. She completed an undergraduate degree in Canada at McMaster University, where she majored in Biochemistry.
What first sparked your interest in biostatistics?
I got my first taste of SAS during a project on post-hoc analysis of medicine's adverse effects. That’s when I realized working with healthcare data was way more fascinating (and way more my thing) than diving into protein transduction pathways and human immunology—honestly, no contest, LOL!
What attracted you to the Master of Biostatistics program at Duke?
Duke offered me a spot!
But honestly, I have a personal dilemma. I have a medical condition that could potentially get worse while studying abroad for two years, so I really need someone to consult with before deciding whether to go to Duke or take a gap year. Kendall was the only program coordinator who patiently responded to my emails—none of the other universities even replied.
What do you enjoy most about this program?
It feels like a second home. Just knowing there's someone I can count on makes all the difference.
What are some of your favorite classes?
Biostats 702
Biostats 705
Biostats 709
Biostats 707
Biostats 719
What skills have you gained from the program?
Coding Skills
Networking
Understanding of industry
What does the program do well?
This program did fantastic at focusing on student growth and development. The coordinators are super friendly; the advisors are always approachable - they are willing to speak at workshops and share their experiences, and actively recruit new students to help them gain valuable experiences; the program is open to feedback about courses and events, etc... Honestly, there’s just so much to be grateful for—it’s hard to list it all!
What's the most challenging aspect of the program?
The biggest challenge for me—and likely for anyone coming from a bio-related bachelor's degree—has been time management. The program is packed with amazing course content and offers invaluable opportunities to work with advisors and do research under their supervision. But balancing everything—studying stats, learning to code, attending classes, conducting research, and job hunting all at once—is no small feat! Managing all these demands in such a limited time frame is by far the toughest part of the program.
Did you participate in a summer internship?
What type of work did you do for your internship?
Yes, I did. It's not exactly an industry internship—I've been working with my thesis supervisor, Dr. Hong, on research related to large language models (LLMs).
What advice do you have for incoming students?
Try every chance to explore and plan things early! I’ve learned a lot about what industry looks like, what types of jobs are biostatistics related, what would be my interest, etc…
What type of work do you see yourself doing in the future?
The ultimate goal of my future career—at least based on my current plan—is to work on real-world analysis projects that guide how new pharmaceutical products get commercialized. I love causal inference and enjoy collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, so this kind of work feels like the perfect fit for me!
What do you like to do outside of work and school?
Cooking! (I am a Szechuan dish specialist.)
Shopping (I like every fashionable thing.)
Reading brain-dead novels
Chatting with new people
Karaoke
Doing nothing