We’ll be featuring mini-profiles of our new PhD students over the next few weeks. We look forward to welcoming them into our community!
Ahmad Abdel-Azim
Hello! My name is Ahmad AbdelAzim, and I grew up in Appleton, WI. I just graduated from Harvard College on the other side of the Charles River with a joint AB degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology and Statistics, and a concurrent AM degree in Statistics. I am thrilled to be back in Boston for a few more years as a part of the Biostatistics PhD program at HSPH.
My research journey gradually led me to biostatistics, but applying quantitative strategies to improve human health has always been a central theme of my work.
In high school, I conducted wet-lab microbiology research on combatting antibiotic resistance. After a summer research program at MIT introduced me to the world of genomics and big data, I was eager to delve deeper into this burgeoning field. Entering college, I found great interest in the field of cancer genomics, and for two years, I worked with Dr. David Kwiatkowski at Brigham and Women’s Hospital on several exciting projects. I led a broad scientific mission to unravel the genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic landscape of a rare, aggressive tumor type. Seeking a deeper theoretical understanding of the statistical methodology behind the analytic tools I routinely used in cancer genomics, I was first drawn to biostatistics. A summer spent working in the Regeneron Genetics Center further drew me to the field, as I developed efficient methods for computing polygenic overlap at biobank scale.
My statistical background and various research endeavors have ultimately equipped me with both a rigorous theoretical foundation and a practical understanding of applications. For the past two years, I have been working with Dr. Xihong Lin at HSPH developing statistical frameworks to predict disease risk and progression, while accounting for related subjects and longitudinal measures. Developing and efficiently implementing statistical tools for applications in health and precision medicine is a broad area of research I hope to further explore during my PhD. In particular, I am eager to develop statistical methods and tools to facilitate an increased understanding of the genetic basis underlying various human diseases.
In my free time, I enjoy going on long runs, hiking in the Northeast, and playing basketball. I also enjoy baking and cooking; exploring new recipes is my favorite way to decompress. I loved exploring all the cafes around Boston during my college weekends, and I look forward to continuing to explore new cafes in the coming few years.
Suhwan Bong
Hello! My name is Suhwan Bong, and I am excited to join Harvard’s Biostatistics PhD program this fall. I grew up in Seoul, Korea, and completed my undergraduate studies in statistics and mathematics at Seoul National University, where I also pursued a master’s degree in statistics with an emphasis on causal inference. During my master’s program, I participated in several projects developing causal inference methodologies. Also, I had the opportunity to work on projects analyzing public health data with clinical researchers. These experiences solidified my decision to pursue a PhD in biostatistics.
Prior to my master’s, I double majored in statistics and mathematics, which sparked my interest in the mathematical foundations of statistics. My undergraduate research spanned nonparametric statistics and spatial statistics. I studied statistical methodologies in infinite-dimensional parametric spaces and asymptotic theory, applying them to real data. Additionally, I engaged in methodological and application-driven projects involving spatial and spatio-temporal data, including developing a statistical model to explain COVID-19 transmission in Korea. These experiences, where I applied rigorous statistical methodologies to practical situations, fueled my fascination with applied statistics and inspired me to pursue further graduate studies. At HSPH, I look forward to exploring various subfields within statistics and biostatistics.
Beyond academics, I enjoy staying active through exercise, particularly working out and playing tennis. I also love traveling and hope to explore different parts of the world. I am thrilled to be part of the biostatistics PhD program at Harvard and look forward to meeting everyone.
