PhD Candidates

 

Qiufan Fu, Enrollment year: 2018
I received my BS degree in Bio-pharmacy from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and my MS degree in Biostatistics from Tulane University. I worked for a Women and Children’s healthcare company for six months after I graduated from Tulane. I was enrolled in the Biostatistics PhD program in 2018 Fall. I passed my qualifying exam in 2019 and I am currently taking additional courses and work as a RA. My RA job is focused on cancer related data analysis, and I am planning to work on genetics for my dissertation. In my spare time I enjoy performing martial arts; I have a black belt in Karate.
Email: qfu@lsuhsc.edu
Indrani Sarkar, Enrollment year: 2018
I have received my Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics from Calcutta University, India and Master of Science degree in Statistics from University of Toledo, Ohio. I joined the Biostatistics program at LSUHSC in 2018. My research involves understanding the effects of SNP and methylation on cancer cells. I love to cook and explore new recipes from across the globe and play with my dogs.
Email: isarka@lsuhsc.edu
Harun Mazumder, Enrollment year: 2019
I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biostatistics at LSU Health Science Center. Before joining LSUHSC Biostatistics, I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Applied Statistics from the Institute of Statistical Research & Training at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. After completing my Master’s degree, I worked as a Data Scientist in the Bangladesh office of a US based Software Company. My research interests include Bioinformatics methods in Cancer Genomics and Human Microbiome, Clinical Trials and Generalized Linear Models. Apart from my work and academic activities, I love travelling, reading books, listening to music and hanging out with friends and family members.
Email: hmazum@lsuhsc.edu

PhD Students

Yue Zuo (Ruikun), Enrollment year: 2018
I got my BS degree in Pharmacy with a minor in Computer Science in China. Then I studied at Saint Louis University and got my MPH degree with concentration on Biostatistics. After that, I spent one year at Indiana University in the Bioinformatics program. I enrolled in the LSUHSC Biostatistics PhD program in 2018. I have some basic coding skills on C++, SQL, Python, R and SAS. I’m also familiar with Linux. My research interest is linear models, model selections and statistical learning. I’m a fan of St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues. I would like to watch their matches when I have some free time.
Email: rzuo@lsuhsc.edu
Dachuan Zhang (Benjamin), Enrollment year: 2019
I earned my Master’s Degree in Applied Statistics from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2014, after which, I began working as a full-time biostatistician in the Department of Biostatistics at Pennington Biomedical Research Center till now. Since 2019 I started pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the Biostatistics Program in the School of Public Health as a part-time student. I like all the core biostatistics courses being taught in the biostatistics program since they provide a deeper understanding of day-to-day statistical practices and give me the possibilities to implement new methods. I believe that the coursework and studies I do in LSUHSC can help in solving more complex problems often come across in biomedical research. It can also advance my career in contributing to a healthier Louisiana through research in diabetes and obesity. When I am not working, I enjoy relaxing with my family and playing with my son.
Email: dzhan2@lsuhsc.edu
Xiaodan Zhu (Mia), Enrollment year: 2019
Before LSUHSC Biostatistics, I received my BS degree in Mathematics from Sun Yat-sen University in China and my MS degree in Biostatistics from Georgetown University. I worked in a Biomedical research center in the Washington, D.C. area as a research assistant. I enrolled in the Biostatistics PhD program in 2019. My research interests include Bioinfomatics and clinical trials. In my spare time, I enjoy watching movies, traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Email: xzhu1@lsuhsc.edu
Yang Ou, Enrollment year: 2020
I received a bachelor’s degree in international business economics from Nanjing University of Finance and Economics. In 2017, I received a Master of Science in Mathematics from the University of Mississippi. After that, I worked as a full-time research assistant at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). During my studies and work, these experiences made me more eager to continue to study data science related to human health in the field of biostatistics. I participated in the LSUHSC Biostatistics Program in 2020. When I am not studying or working, I want to relax by playing basketball and watching movies.
Email: you@lsuhsc.edu
Juhnar Esmerelda, Enrollment year: 2021
I graduated from the University of the Philippines in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Statistics. In the past 11 years, I have been to various financial institutions, technology and consulting firms working in roles related to data science, machine learning and data analytics. I also graduated with a master’s degree in Statistics from the same university. My interest in biostatistics grew out of my encounter with people fighting against cancer, the Covid-19 pandemic, and my thesis topic touching on crossover design and computational statistics. When I’m not studying, I usually watch movies, go on hike or travel, or go to meet-ups where I can practice or converse in French.
Email: jesmer@lsuhsc.edu
Md Abdullah Al-Mamun, Enrollment year: 2021
I completed my BS and MS degree in Applied Statistics from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. Before joining the Ph.D. program in Biostatistics, I worked at icddrb, an international public health research organization based in Bangladesh. My methodological research interests include Bayesian survival analysis, computational statistics, and bioinformatics. I am interested in applying statistical tools to genomics data, high-frequency biometric data, and survey data. I love spending time with friends and family members, music, and watching games of the Bangladesh National cricket team.
Email: malmam@lsuhsc.edu
Yaqi Zou, Enrollment year: 2021
I graduated from Huazhong University of Science and Technology with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, after I saw people suffering from diseases, I decided to dedicate my life to improving human well-being. With affection to math, I got a master’s degree in biostatistics at New Jersey Institute of Technology, from which I learned about the biotech industry. Then I enrolled in the LSUHSC biostatistics program to go further studying biostatistics and achieve my career goal. In my spare time, I enjoy K-pop music, YouTube videos, delicious food. I hope to become a brave, genuine, and kind person.
Email: yzou@lsuhsc.edu
Masuma Mannan, Enrollment year: 2022
Email: mmanna@lsuhsc.edu
Nubaira Rizvi, Enrollment year: 2022
Email: nrizvi@lsuhsc.edu

MS Students

Nicholas S. Sorrells, Enrollment year: 2020
I am currently pursuing an M.S. in biostatistics here at the School of Public Health. In 2008 I received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Samford University and in 2016 a master of urban and regional planning from UNO. While at UNO and in the years afterwards I conducted research on housing and community development and developed a statewide housing needs assessment for the Louisiana Housing Alliance. In addition to planning analysis and research I have also taught business English in Istanbul. I hope to work in the public sector in the field of biostatistics, or live in New Zealand in a mountain cottage with excellent wifi and work remotely.
Email: nsorr1@lsuhsc.edu
Kennedy Dorsey, Enrollment year: 2021
I received my BS degree in Math and Computer Science from Tulane University in 2020. While working as data analyst intern, I realized that I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of statistics, so I decided to enroll in the Biostatistics MS program. I am interested in health disparities research, as well as machine learning applications in public health. I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, watching rom-coms, and doing yoga.
Email: kdors3@lsuhsc.edu
Tiffany M. Kollah, Enrollment year: 2021
I completed my B.S. degree in Public Health at Slippery Rock University in May 2017. After completing my degree, I had the opportunity to work as a Research Assistant under a Neurobiologist who was studying the relationship of Alzheimer’s disease pathology to cognition, behavior and health using neuroimaging techniques. After spending two years working as a Research Assistant, I spent one year working as a Research Specialist supporting two studies under a Public Health Nephrologist studying chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients undergoing dialysis. Her goal is to reduce symptoms of pain, fatigue and depression in her patients undergoing dialysis, therefore, improving overall health and reducing mortality (TACcare Study and Kidney-CHAMP).

I am interested in Biostatistics because I am excited about the intersection between data science, statistics, and health. Mental health problems are highly stigmatized, which presents both a funding and data issue. The burden of mental illness is extraordinary in the U.S. and unfortunately most people are not receiving the correct treatment. I would like to use the skills to understand and effectively implement treatments, understand the disease and push for advancing data science in mental health. My research interests include Statistical Analysis of Longitudinal Psychiatric Data, Longitudinal Data Analysis, Psychiatric Epidemiology and Mental Health Disparities in Minority Populations. In my spare time, I enjoy Playing tennis as I played competitively in high school/college, hiking, participating in mindfulness/yoga and painting.
Email: tkolla@lsuhsc.edu

Nicholas Stroeher, Enrollment year: 2021
I received my BS degree in Public Health from Florida State University in May 2021. While taking undergraduate courses, I quickly became interested in biostatistics and the role it plays in public health, leading me to apply for the MPH Biostatistics program at LSUHSC. I plan on applying what I learn throughout the program to analyze data regarding infectious and chronic diseases in the future. In my free time, I enjoy working out, sports, and eating out at various restaurants throughout the city.
Email: nstroe@lsuhsc.edu

Recent Graduates

Alex Martinez, Enrollment year: 2021
Email: amar33@lsuhsc.edu
Katie Sternberger, Enrollment year: 2021
Email: kster4@lsuhsc.edu
Tina Trosclair, Enrollment year: 2020
Hi! I earned my bachelor’s degree in Human Performance and Health Promotion from the University of New Orleans. After undergrad, I worked in clinical research for a few years with the Epidemiology department at Tulane University School of Public Health. While working, I was able to take a few classes for fun and discovered biostatistics. This led me to enroll in the Biostatistics program here at LSUHSC. I plan to use my training in statistics to collaborate with epidemiologists and other public health scientists in study design and analysis. I am also interested in data visualization and the communication/education of statistical thinking. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, comedy, cafes, and the outdoors.
Email: ttros3@lsuhsc.edu
Lisa Kam, Enrollment year: 2020
I enrolled in the LSUHSC Biostatistics program in Fall 2020. In spite of the COVID pandemic, I believe that keeping up with advancements in clinical research and medicine is important to the health sector, a theme that has only grown more relevant with time. During my time in this program, I want to gain a better understanding of degenerative diseases and of their impact on the local community, and plan to bring both experiences with me in my future career.
Email: lkam@lsuhsc.edu
Jessica K. Fox, Enrollment year: 2019
I got my BS in Mathematics at the University of Texas at Tyler. During my last year of college, I took some statistics courses that sparked my interest in the field and eventually led me here in LSUHSC Biostatistics program in 2019. I plan to use the tools that I have learned throughout this program to analyze data in the field of pediatric medicine. In my free time, I enjoy reading a book at my house with my dog and completing puzzles; when I do go out I enjoy going to the movies.
Email: jfox4@lsuhsc.edu
Raven P. Moret, Enrollment year: 2019
I received my BS from Xavier University in Biology and my MS in Biological Sciences from Drexel University. After six years as a Research Scientist for Ochsner Health System I became intrigued in the field of Biostatistics and enrolled in the LSUHSC Biostatistics program in 2019. My research background has primarily focused on Urologic Carcinoma development and treatment. With my degree I plan to build my knowledge on machine learning and various model types to better analyze complex issues most affecting society and develop effective solutions. I love spending time at home with my dog Zoe or enjoying the city with friends, and when I’m feeling particularly adventurous I dabble in photography.
Email: rmoret@lsuhsc.edu
Erick Nguyen, Enrollment year: 2019
I completed my bachelor’s in Public Health at Tulane University. I enrolled at LSUHSC Biostatistics MS program in 2019. During my bachelor’s, I had taken a statistics course as of my core requirements, and I found myself enjoying and excelling in the class. After taking more statistics courses and doing an internship at Eden House New Orleans as an developmental intern, I decided that statistics is what I wanted to do with my life. The concept of taking data and using it to drive change was the really alluring part of statistics for me. During my free time, I enjoy playing the piano, beating my friends at video games, and bothering my younger siblings.
Email: enguy1@lsuhsc.edu
Cornelius L. Rosenbaum, Enrollment year: 2019
I am pursuing a Master of Science in biostatistics at LSUHSC.  In 2014, I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Mississippi State University. After receiving my bachelor’s degree, I worked for The Dow Chemical Company for 5 years as an improvement engineer and then a reliability engineer. During my time as a reliability engineer, I discovered my passion for data and statistics. This led me to enroll in the biostatistics program at LSUHSC in 2019 in order to receive formal training in statistics. Currently, I am interested in computational statistics, simulation studies, and statistical / machine learning.  When I am not at school or studying, I enjoy reading, napping with my dog, going to the many concerts New Orleans hosts, and enjoying the city’s amazing food and drink scene with my wife.
Email: crosen@lsuhsc.edu
Chaoyi Zeng, Enrollment year: 2019
I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Chengdu Institute Sichuan International Studies University.  After the graduation, I worked as interpreter, translator and secretary in foreign companies. I enrolled in the Epidemiology Program in 2018 and transferred to Biostatistics Program in 2019. I’m interested in genetic studies and cancer research. I like jogging, writing and singing in my spare time.
Email: czeng1@lsuhsc.edu