Why did you choose the Yale School of Public Health?
What makes my journey at Yale special is that I have chosen YSPH not once, but twice. I started the MPH program in Biostatistics at YSPH simply because I cannot resist Yale’s prestigious reputation. But I firmly chose Yale for my PhD study because I know Yale is the place to provide solid, systematic training in every perspective of Biostatistics, with almost unbounded resources for conducting top-notch research. YSPH has made me a better person.
What were you doing before enrolling at YSPH?
Before jumping into the field of Biostatistics and the MPH program at YSPH, I was an undergraduate student at Sun Yat-sen University [in Guangdong Province, China], with a major in Biomedical Engineering. I did a lot of wet lab experiments, such as chemistry synthesis and cell culture, which have little to do with statistics and programming. The transition from Biochemistry to Biostatistics was not plain sailing for me, but it has been fulfilling and rewarding. That is also why I feel grateful for the MPH program at YSPH. They always welcome and care for people from diverse backgrounds and provide courses from different levels for their success. At the time I entered the MPH program, I got a chance to learn more basic statistical concepts and programming via R and SAS, and professors are always so patient and kind answering all my basic questions. And later, in my master’s study and now as a PhD student, there has been no shortage of challenging and advanced applied/theoretical courses that lay the solid foundation for my research.
The transition from Biochemistry to Biostatistics was not plain sailing for me, but it has been fulfilling and rewarding. That is also why I feel grateful for the MPH program at YSPH. They always welcome and care for people from diverse backgrounds and provide courses from different levels for their success.
Jiping Wang, PhD '25, MPH
What are your favorite aspects of the YSPH academic program?
The whole program is designed to make you successful. There is always strong support behind you, from the first-class research resources and facilities to the immense department-level and faculty-level assistance and mentoring. You can easily tell professors care about your future professional development and career path much more than how many results/research papers you can co-author with them. If you are interested in doing research, no matter what your plan is, doing a PhD or heading into industry, no matter what background you have, you will always find a good fit and feel supported. All the supportive faculties and the rich collaborations between faculties and students made me love Biostatistics more and feel a sense of belonging here at YSPH.
What was your most impactful experience outside of class?
I enjoy attending conferences/seminars the most. It is, in particular, rewarding for me because I can listen carefully to other presentations to grasp the current hot trends in our field, and also communicate with other researchers for a possible collaboration. I’ve probably already traveled too much, but a trip to an exotic place never fails to fascinate me.
Do you have a favorite Yale place or New Haven food?
My favorite Yale place has to be the private study carrel in Sterling Memorial Library. Nothing can be compared to the overly tranquil atmosphere for immersive learning and the sight of the sunset glinting on the stained glass of the building. And there is some extra comfort about the warm glow shed by old-fashioned advertisements on York Street on cold, wet, winter study nights. When I feel a little burned-out by my coursework, the study carrel is my pleasant and sweet home.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
I enjoy work that involves developing and implementing novel statistical approaches and analyzing trial and medical record data, to help improve human health. After graduation, I am open to all the possibilities, but will be more than happy to welcome the opportunity to work as a biostatistician in a pharmaceutical company.