Cohort Members

Harvard College | May 2025

B.A. in History of Science and Sociology

My name is Camryn Dixon, and I am a rising senior at Harvard, studying sociology and the history of science. I have been involved in minority aging research for three years now, and I am excited to learn even more from this program! My research interests include the impact of discrimination on health, chronic pain, and physical well-being. I am most excited to learn more about biostatistics and improve my analysis skills. In the future, I plan to pursue a PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences and improve the health of minoritized older adult populations. 

Fun fact: I have family roots in Trinidad and St. Lucia

New York University | May 2024

B.A. in Environmental Studies

Hello! I am an Arizona native and a recent graduate of NYU. This coming fall, I will begin the M.H.Sc. program in Environmental Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. I enjoy working with environmental data and examining its relation to health outcomes in underserved global communities. I am particularly interested in air pollution’s effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health. I am so excited to begin the PQAR program and expand my knowledge of statistical computing and using various statistical methods to answer complex research questions. Aside from research, I have also worked as a deputy news editor for the Washington Square News where I covered city/university news and spent this past year as an intern for an NYC Congressman where I helped constituents get assistance from the federal government. 

Fun Fact: While I was an exchange student in Australia at the University of Sydney, I gave a fist bump to a kangaroo.

Howard University | May 2025

B.S. in Mathematics with an Applied Mathematics concentration; Chemistry Minor

Hi Everyone! I'm Cheyene Henry, a third-year undergraduate student at Howard University studying for a Bachelor's of Science in Mathematics. My introduction to statistics came during my International Baccalaureate Psychology class in high school. I enjoyed having the ability to derive qualitative insights from numbers. This sparked my initial interest in data science without me even realizing it. I'm excited to engage with biostatistics this summer as it offers an opportunity to advocate for communities, like my own, to have full representation in public health research. 

Fun Fact: I am a huge plushie collector! So much so that I don’t even use normal pillows anymore.

Queen's College CUNY | May 2025

B.A. in Mathematics and Secondary Education 

I'm currently a member of the Time 2000 Math-Ed program at Queens College as a rising senior. My interest in biostatistics and aging research comes from the need to understand the people in my community. Given that my community is predominantly Black and Hispanic, I'm eager to learn how our neighborhoods impact our elders and overall health. Overall, I aim to contribute to my community by providing credible data that can improve public health policies for communities just like mine. 

Fun fact: I love to paint and draw on my iPad using Procreate! :)

San Francisco State University | May 2023

B.S. in Business Administration; Marketing Concentration

I began college as a pre-nursing student but graduated with a degree in business and marketing. I stuck with that major to finish my degree, but I knew I wasn't passionate about becoming a marketer. I am now studying data science, and when it came to choosing a specific industry for my research, Public Health was the best fit for me since I originally set out to work in the healthcare industry. I am now fully immersed in understanding the complexities of biostatistics and aging research, as these are the areas where I intend to focus my research. 

A fun fact about myself is that I love to customize and install wigs!

University of Maryland, College Park 

B.S. Family Science; Pre-Nursing 

Throughout my academic journey, I've cultivated a rich blend of expertise in both healthcare and technology. From an early stage, my fascination with health was evident, yet I recognized the transformative potential that technology holds within the field. This dual passion led me to pursue a diverse educational background, encompassing courses in both health sciences and technology-related subjects. My career aspirations are equally varied, reflecting my desire to make meaningful contributions across different domains of healthcare. Whether in roles such as nurse administration, nurse informatics, or as an OBGYN engaged in research, I aim to leverage my diverse skill set to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes. My interest in Biostatistics, public health, and aging research stems from a deep-seated curiosity about understanding health trends and implementing evidence-based interventions. 

As for a fun fact about myself, I once developed a mobile health app that helps individuals track their wellness goals, blending my passion for technology with my commitment to promoting health and well-being.

Texas Southern University |  May 2025

B.S. in Mathematics

I’m a mathematics major at Texas Southern University. I’ve always felt that math would be the opener to different and unique fields as it can be applied to different areas. Last summer I was apart of an REU in Costa Rica where I did research on tectonic deformation using InSAR techniques. I’ve recently started a project on calculating how soon cancer diagnosis are given to women based off of their demographics, so I’m definitely interested in learning more about biostatistics and public health research. 

Fun fact about myself is that I love fashion! I’m super excited for this summer ! I can’t wait to learn and meet more math majors!

San Diego State University | May 2026

B.A. in Psychology

Hello, I'm Armando Lemus and I'm from San Diego State University where I am majoring in Psychology. Shortly after enrolling at SDSU, I got accepted into the Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (ADAR) program which has allowed me to conduct research concentrating on aging. Through this program, I have had the privilege to meet and work alongside professional researchers as well as like-minded undergraduates and graduates, exploring topics such as cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Looking ahead, I am very excited to gain more knowledge and techniques that I can integrate into my ongoing research endeavors. 

Fun Fact: I am a coin collector, primarily focusing on the U.S. currency.

Purdue University | May 2024

B. S. in Mathematics, Spanish

Hello! My name is Carlos Rubin de Celis, and I am a Mathematics major with a minor in Spanish at Purdue University. My academic journey has involved research into the causal relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD and OCD, and biological markers like plasma proteins. This interest stems from my own experiences with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) during my childhood in a rural town, which highlights the need for improved resources and advocacy for marginalized groups in public health. I am particularly interested in using biostatistics to advance public health initiatives that increase care for those with various disorders and health issues. 

Fun fact about me: I love playing ping pong in my free time!

Howard University | May 2027

B.S. in Mathematics with a concentration in Applied Mathematics; Computer Science Minor

Madison Simmons is a New York native by way of Trinidad and Tobago studying Mathematics with a concentration in Computer Science at the illustrious Howard University. She is a part of Howard’s 7th Cohort of Karsh STEM Scholars, a program dedicated to supporting those committed to obtaining a Ph.D./M.D. Ph.D. both academically and financially. Her interest in research, particularly in the field of Biostatistics, was sparked because of her goal of using mathematics to help drive equity in the medical field. She believes that the work of statisticians is best described as, “making the invisible, visible.” She’s still thinking about what her fun fact is…

Sonoma State University | May 2023

B.S. in Statistics; Computer Science, Mathematics, and Spanish Minors

Hi my name is Dirk Tolson III. I am from California, specifically the San Francisco Bay Area in a town called Pacifica. I recently graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Statistics and minors in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Spanish. My interest in Biostatistics and Public Health grew while I was in university researching in mathematical epidemiology with my professor Dr. Omayra Ortega under MERG (Mathematical Epidemiology Research Group) and the McNair Scholars Program. I always had an interest in mathematics, life sciences and health and I feel biostatistics is a good bridge between mathematics, life sciences, and health. I wanted to use statistics and data in real world applications to help people and create change in my community with statistical evidence on different models and tests. I was fascinated with biostatistics and public health due to the various research and job opportunities in the United States as I want to use my work to create policy change, stop health disparities, and help people of color and minorities protect against certain diseases and illnesses. I also grew into studying aging research as I want to learn more on aging research and research certain aging disorders within the black and hispanic community based on certain parameters in urban cities and suburban areas. 

Fun fact about me: I am Mexican-American and African-American and my favorite Mexican dish to eat is chilaquiles verdes. In my free time, I like to go to the gym or watch youtube.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | May 2025

B.S. in Math; Secondary Education Minor

My name is Annika and I am a rising senior, majoring in math and minoring in secondary education. I have always had a passion for math and teaching, but junior year, my old math TA offered me a research position in modeling of infectious diseases and now I hope to take this interest further in my studies. My specific research interests lie in the social disparities that lie in public health, specifically after seeing the disparities we have studied in our lab in Chicago with communities of color and low-income communities. One day I hope I can contribute further in this field as a professor of math or biostatistics, and give back to my communities! 

Fun fact: During my free time I enjoy cooking Mexican food with my dad. And I love trying foods from all parts of the world!