Florida’s 2024 Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Data Science Program Application

Calling all undergraduate students or those recent graduates not currently in graduate programs, it’s time to discover how working with data can change your life through Florida’s Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Data Science Program (SIBDS), funded by the National Institutes of Health.

This opportunity is the key to understanding how data, driven by participants’ responses, can help draw conclusions on everything from why COVID-19 impacts certain populations more than others, to why clinical trials are important and a whole lot more.

When: May 20 to June 28, 2024

Where: FAU’s Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL

Deadline for Applications: March 15, 2024 (Applications will be reviewed continuously starting mid-December 2023, and interviews will begin late January 2024.)

Application Review: Applications will be reviewed continuously starting mid-December 2023 through March 15, 2024.

Interviews: The top 50 applicants ranked by coursework content and geographic region will be asked to provide a 3-minute video (optional) regarding their motivation, academic background and career interests. Applications and videos will be reviewed by members of the Leadership Team who will then decide which students to invite to a 15-minute zoom interview. We expect the last notification of acceptance will be early April, 2024.

NOTE: If you have not been contacted to provide a video or to schedule an interview, you have not been selected but may be put on a waitlist.

Prerequisites:

• Undergraduate or have graduated and uncertain about career plans
• Commit to a 35-hour week for six weeks (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Administrative: students will have to allocate their own money beforehand for flights/travel, food and entertainment for three weeks; after students arrive on 5/20 and spend a few days in the Program, we will begin processing their stipends which will cover these expenses incurred during the Program. The delay is imposed to maximize the stipend amount distributed to students.
• Able to acclimate to a group living situation if living on campus

Students will:

• be housed on campus which is covered by grant (unless they live close by)
• receive generous stipends for participation in the program (this is not a salary)
• learn principles of biostatistics, epidemiology, data science, scientific communication, social determinants of health and career opportunities including working with faculty (see schedule)
• be mentored by expert faculty and peers
• participate in career workshops with practicing biostatisticians, epidemiologists, data scientists and population health experts
• conduct group projects using real data
• visit the beach, turtle rehabilitation nature center, Miami Marlins baseball, arcades and museums

Should you have any questions, please email Dr. Katherine Freeman at kfreemancostin@health.fau.edu or Dr. Lun Ching-Chang at changl@fau.edu

Student Testimonials (unsolicited)

Thank you for everything you have taught me this summer, including lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Multidisciplinary aspect is wonderful and great practice for a career.

Strengths are the very different backgrounds all the students have. This allowed for us to talk and work together to bridge the gaps in understanding.

The knowledge of the faculty and how diverse they are while at the same time being connected.