PhD Student Profiles | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health

Meet our PhD students.

The Biostatistics PhD program provides training in the theory of probability and statistics in biostatistical methodology. The program is unique in its emphasis on the foundations of statistical reasoning and data science. Students complete rigorous training in real analysis-based probability and statistics, equivalent to what is provided in most departments of mathematical statistics and in advanced data science. Are you an employer looking for an outstanding new hire? Meet our job-seeking PhD candidates.

Anik Burman

PhD Candidate
2022–2023

MStat: Statistics, Indian Statistical Institute, 2022
BStat: Statistics, Indian Statistical Institute, 2020

Office: E3037
Email: aburman3@jhu.edu

Adviser: Abhirup Datta
Co-Adviser: Elizabeth Ogburn

Anagh Chattopadhyay

PhD Candidate
2023–2024

MStat: Statistics, Indian Statistical Institute, 2023
BStat: Statistics, Indian Statistical Institute, 2021

Office: E3031
Email: achatto4@jh.edu

Adviser: Nilanjan Chatterjee

Wanlu Chen

PhD Candidate
2021–2022

BS: Mathematics & Applied Mathematics, Renmin University, 2019

Office: E3030
Email: wchen111@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Hongkai Ji

Andrew Chin

PhD Candidate
2021–2022

MS: Statistics, UC Davis, 2018
BS: Statistics, UC Davis, 2017

Office: E3039
Email: achin23@jhu.edu

Adviser: Akihiko Nishimura

Student Spotlight: Andrew Chin

Jung In Choi

PhD Candidate
2022–2023

BS: Statistics/Mathematics, Seoul National University, 2022

Office: E3039
Email: jchoi177@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Martin Lindquist
Co-Adviser: Abhirup Datta

Charlotte Clapham

PhD Candidate
2021–2022

BA: Mathematics, Carleton College, 2021

Office: E3031
Email: cclapha1@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Karen Bandeen-Roche

Alyssa Columbus

PhD Candidate
2022–2023

MS: Applied & Computational Mathematics, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, 2022
BS: Mathematics, UC Irvine, 2018

Office: E3031
Email: acolumb1@jhu.edu

Adviser: Brian Caffo
Co-Adviser: Stephanie Hick s

Personal Website

Student Spotlight: Alyssa Columbus

Yuzheng Dun

PhD Candidate
2020–2021

BS: Statistics, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 2020

Office: E3033
Email: ydun2@jhu.edu

Adviser: Nilanjan Chatterjee
Co-Adviser: Akihiko Nishimura

Xin Zhi (Cindy) Fang

PhD Candidate
2022–2023

BS: Bioinfomatics & Computational Biology, University of Toronto, 2022

Office: E3030
Email: xfang23@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Stephanie Hicks

Sam Fansler

PhD Candidate
2023–2024

MS: University of Michigan, Biostatistics, 2023
BA: Butler University, Statistics/Music (Cello), 2021

Office: E3035
Email: sfansle1@jh.edu

Adviser: Vadim Zipunnikov

Student Spotlight: Sam Fansler

Gege Gui

PhD Candidate
2020–2021

ScM: Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2018
BS: Mathematics & Applied Mathematics, Sun Yat-sen University, 2016

Office: E3037
Email: ggui1@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Scott Zeger
Co-Adviser: Kasper Hansen

Helen Guo

PhD Candidate
2023–2024

BA: Applied Mathematics, Pomona College, 2020

Office: E3037
Email: hguo51@jh.edu

Adviser: Ilya Shpitser
Co-Adviser: Elizabeth Ogburn

Marina Hernandez

PhD Candidate
2021–2021

BA: Statistics, Cornell University, 2020

Office: E3038
Email: mherna55@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Ciprian Crainiceanu
Co-Adviser: Brian Caffo

Sara Hunsberger

PhD Candidate
2024-2025

BS: Haverford College, Chemistry, 2022

Office: E3039
E-mail: shunsbe2@jh.edu

Adviser: Vadim Zipunnikov

Meucci (Deerspring) Ilunga

PhD Candidate
2024-2025

BS: University of Arizona, Biochemistry, 2020

Office: E3035
E-mail: milunga2@jhu.edu

Adviser: Ingo Ruczinski

Lily Koffman

PhD Candidate
2021–2022

MS: Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2021
BA: Statistics, Harvard University, 2019

Office: E3040
Email: lkoffman2@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Ciprian Crainiceanu

Student Spotlight: Lily Koffman

Mingyuan Li

PhD Candidate
2023–2024

ScM: Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins BSPH, 2023
BS: Statistics, Peking University, 2021

Office: E3038
Email: mli169@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Ciprian Crainiceanu

Shuai Li

PhD Candidate
2022–2023

BS: Computing Mathematics, City University of Hong Kong, 2020

Office: E3040
Email: sli201@jhu.edu

Adviser: Hongkai Ji
Co-Adviser: Ni Zhao

Yuzi Li

PhD Candidate
2024-2025

MS: Johns Hopkins University, Bioinformatics, 2024
BS: University of Toronto, Bioinformatics & Biochemistry, 2022

Office: E3037
E-mail: yli493@jhu.edu

Adviser: Hongkai Ji

Bolun (Peter) Liu

PhD Candidate
2022–2023

BS: Statistics, University of Washington, 2022

Office: E3035
Email: bliu68@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Elizabeth Stuart
Co-Adviser: Elizabeth Ogburn

Yanxi (Nora) Liu

PhD Candidate
2023–2024

BS: Mathematics, UCLA, 2023

Office: E3030
Email: yliu587@jh.edu

Adviser: Martin Lindquist

Wenxuan Lu

PhD Candidate
2023–2024

BS: Applied Mathematics & Statistics, JHU, 2023

Office: E3038
Email: wlu15@jhu.edu

Adviser: Nilanjan Chatterjee

Yu Lu

PhD Candidate
2021–2022

MS: Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, 2022
BS: Statistics, Nankai University, 2020

Office: E3035
Email: ylu136@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Ciprian Crainiceanu

Yi Man

PhD Candidate
2021–2022

BA: Mathematics, UC Berkeley, 2021

Office: E3034
Email: yman4@jhu.edu

Adviser: Hongkai Ji

Fernanda Montoya

PhD Candidate
2024-2025

MS: University of Washington School of Public Health, Biostatistics, 2024
BS: Northern Illinois University, Statistics, 2022

Office: E3039
E-mail: fmontoy1@jh.edu

Adviser: Michael Rosenblum

Emily Norton

PhD Candidate
2022–2023

MS: Oceanography, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2013
BA: Biology, Bowdoin College, 2010

Office: E3032
Email: enorton7@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Nilanjan Chatterjee

Sowmya Parthiban

PhD Candidate
2022–2023

MSE: Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, 2022
BS: Cognitive Science, UC San Diego, 2020

Office: E3036
Email: sparthi1@jhu.edu

Adviser: Stephanie Hicks

Nowell Phelps

PhD Candidate
2024-2025

MMath: University of Oxford, Mathematics, 2021

Office: E3038
E-mail: nphelps2@jh.edu

Adviser: Abhi Datta

Alessio Pignatelli

PhD Candidate
2023–2024

BS: Engineering Sciences, Harvard University, 2023

Office: E3033
Email: apignat1@jh.edu

Adviser: Brian Caffo

Emily Potts

PhD Candidate
2024-2025

MS: Columbia University School of Public Health, Biostatistics, 2024
BA: Vassar College, Mathematics, 2022

Office: E3037
E-mail: epotts5@jh.edu

Adviser: Karen Bandeen-Roche

Michelle Qin

PhD Candidate
2023–2024

BA: Statistics, Harvard University, 2023

Office: E3036
Email: mqin8@jh.edu

Adviser: John Jackson
Co-Adviser: Elizabeth Stuart

Zheng Ren

PhD Candidate
2024-2025

MS: University of Pennsylvania, Social Policy & Data Analytics, 2022
BA: Brandeis University, Economics, 2019

Office: E3035
E-mail: zren29@jh.edu

Adviser: Brian Caffo

Grace Ringlein

PhD Candidate
2022–2023

MS: Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, 2020
BA: Physics, University of Pennsylvania, 2020

Office: E3037
Email: gringle1@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Elizabeth Stuart
Co-Adviser: Liz Chin

Joseph Sartini

PhD Candidate
2021–2022

BS: Operations Research & Financial Engineering, Princeton University, 2021

Office: E3038 BSPH
Email: jsartin1@jhu.edu

Adviser: Scott Zeger

Gabriella (Bella) Satpathy-Horton

PhD Candidate
2024-2025

MD: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2026 (expected)
MPH: Columbia University School of Public Health, 2022
BA: University of Minnesota, Mathematics, 2020

Office: E3031
E-mail: ghorton2@jhmi.edu

Adviser: Jessie Tong