The idea that statistics is purely math is just one misconception Genevera Allen, associate professor of statistics at Rice University, is used to dispelling. Another hits closer to home — that statistics isn’t a creative pursuit.
Meng Li says it was a “no-brainer” for him to pursue a career in academia. His passion for math and data started early in his studies, and he was drawn to a field that tackles so many real-world issues using mathematical tools.
Dan Kowal says he is drawn to uncertainty. While an undergraduate he majored in math and pursued a statistics and probability track, which eventually led him to an academic career in statistics.
Grace Morgan had a lot on her plate. On top of dealing with the demands of the computer science curriculum, the sophomore was playing on the women’s volleyball team, where she had been named a Conference USA Player of the Week.
“Today, the human genome is easier to sequence but harder to interpret. That’s where statistical genetics comes in.”
David Kahle received his undergraduate degree in mathematics in 2006 from the University of Richmond. He went on to earn his master's and doctoral degrees from the Department of Statistics at Rice University in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
“My research is about using statistics to determine biological networks,” explained Christine Peterson, who earned a Ph.D. in statistics from Rice in 2013.
Statistics major Kate Thomas admits she sometimes feels like an outlier among her statistics classmates.
Jie Song, a second-year graduate student working on a master’s degree in statistics at Rice University, has plotted a career based on long-deferred gratification.
After a stint in the U.S. Army, Patrick Hamel ’16 majored in mathematics/operations research at West Point, graduating in 2004. He stayed in the service for a decade more, completing assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
