BU Summer Institute for Research Education in Biostatistics and Data Science

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ABSTRACT Boston University (BU) proposes a comprehensive program entitled the `Boston University Summer Institute for Research Education in Biostatistics and Data Science' (BU SIBS) that includes biostatistical analysis, epidemiology, infectious disease modeling, design and analysis of clinical trials, statistical genomics, and statistical computing within a data science framework. The structure includes online modules preceding a five- week in-residence program followed by additional remote work on a mentored group research project. The rigorous curriculum is interspersed with current examples highlighting the relevance of biostatistics with particular emphasis on biomedical big data, machine learning approaches, and high performance computing. BU SIBS is designed to interest and engage a diverse group undergraduates, recent graduates and early graduate students from across the US. Our faculty is enthusiastic and committed, as are our guest speakers who are practicing data scientists, biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and physician-scientists from academia and industry. Hands- on analyses with teaching data sets from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) Framingham Heart Study and Jackson Heart Study, along with relevant COVID-19 and tuberculosis examples, reinforce skills in computing, data visualization, statistical and computational modeling, and interpretation of findings while deepening exposure to a central theme of health inequities. The typical daily schedule will include a morning lecture with incorporated R programming examples and active learning exercises. After lunch at the BU dining facilities participants will return to the computer classroom to complete short assignments either relevant to the lecture content or focused on new computing skills (SAS/Linux) or to work on the group research project. The research project will span the entire program and will deeply engage students in a content area. Working with a research mentor, the students will determine a research question, develop an analysis plan and proposal, conduct the analysis, and synthesize and present results. The daily schedule will be interspersed with guest speakers and site visits (e.g. to the Framingham Heart Study). Multiple sessions on career paths and graduate school are also included. Strong institutional support from BU provides a 50% tuition scholarship, teaching assistants, and infrastructure to support all aspects of student life during the program. BU has run a Summer Institute in Biostatistics (BU SIBS) since 2004. Our track record is very strong. We successfully maintain follow up of 92% of our BU SIBS alumni (2004-2020) and ~65% of our prior participants have either entered into graduate programs in biostatistics or a closely related discipline or taken jobs in the field. Our experience with our prior BU SIBS programs will enable us to rapidly implement a new BU SIBS program, maintaining proven aspects of our past program while introducing new elements including a data science framework, an expanded infectious disease module, stronger health inequities emphasis, and a more in depth research experience.