UW Biostatistics hosted an all-day colloquium April 4, drawing students, faculty, and alumni together for a dynamic day of learning, inspiration, and connection. The event showcased a wide range of biostatistical work conducted by alumni in various fields, and provided a unique networking opportunity for students and alumni.
Keynote speaker Kaleigh Keller (PhD ‘16), a professor of biostatistics at Colorado State University, captivated the audience by comparing similarities between the work of biostatisticians and her hobby of birding.
”At the colloquium, it was exciting to see the impacts that alumni have made with their degrees and to get a glimpse of the various paths they took to make meaningful contributions to public health,” said PhD student Quinn White. “I appreciated that the speakers emphasized the bigger picture aspects of their research but also the day-to-day realities of their work. Kayleigh Keller's keynote was particularly memorable, threading together insights from her career, research, and —to my surprise—birding.”
The Biostatistics Colloquium aims to celebrate the achievements of UW Biostatistics program graduates and reinforce the department’s commitment to academic excellence and cultivating meaningful, long-term professional relationships.
Other featured alumni presenters included:
- Chloe Krakauer (MS ‘14/PhD ’21) highlighted her position as a collaborative biostatistician at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute.
- Allison Meisner (PhD ‘17) shared insights about post doc work at Johns Hopkins, and her current role as an assistant professor at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
- Arie Voorman (PhD ‘14) discussed his role with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
An alumni panel, moderated by Minh Vo, associate director of student services and graduate program advisor, brought together seasoned professionals for a lively discussion on career trajectories, challenges in the field, and lessons learned post-graduation.
Panelists included Kent Koprowicz (MS ‘00), Brian Williamson (MS ‘17/PhD ‘19), Ben French (PhD ‘08), and Aaron Hudson (PhD ‘21), all of whom offered candid advice to current students navigating the transition from academia to industry or research institutions.
PhD student Willow Crawford-Crudell said the Colloquium was a valuable opportunity to meet alumni from the program and learn more about how others have approached career development.
“I appreciated hearing the talks from alumni on their careers and what from the program they continue to use (such as different course notes or dissertation work), and enjoyed the lunch, which allowed me to have in-depth conversations with alumni about their career paths and experiences.”
