Cohort Members

Adetola Makun

B.A. in Anthropology

Hello! My name is Adetola, and I am a rising senior at Amherst College, studying anthropology major on the pre-med track. My fascination with biostatistics began during my second year of college when I realized the impact that statistical methods can have on understanding and solving complex biological problems. I am interested in advancing public health and medical research through data analysis. I am looking forward to engaging with biostatistics this summer and improving my analysis skills.

Fun fact about me: I love learning languages! I am conversational in Mandarin Chinese!

 Benjamin Bekey

B.S. in Mathematics, Equivalent

I'm a non-traditional student changing careers, doing the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in math to prepare for graduate school (my previous BA was in a humanities field). I'm interested in applying math, statistics, and data science to model human health phenomena. After completing my education, I plan to work for a public health agency, at a research hospital, or in industry.

Fun fact about me: I collect fun patterned socks! 

 Corey Brooks Jr. 

B.A. in Health and Societies, Concentration in Healthcare Markets and Finance, Minor in Africana Studies 

I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania studying Health & Societies with a concentration in Healthcare Markets and Finance. My academic journey has centered around exploring how structural, economic, and political forces shape health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. I became interested in biostatistics through my public health research experiences, where I learned tools like SPSS, R Studio, and ArcGIS to analyze data related to chronic disease, healthcare access, and harm reduction. These experiences have fueled my passion for using data to inform equitable health policy and interventions, especially for aging populations disproportionately affected by systemic inequities. I am deeply committed to a career in healthcare administration where I can apply both qualitative and quantitative approaches to transform care delivery. 

Fun fact about me: I launched Future Black Men in White Coats at Penn — the only club on campus solely serving Black men in healthcare.

Celina Jang

B.S. in Human Development, Minor in Data Science, Gerontology

Hi! My name is Celina, and I’m a rising senior majoring in Human Development with a minor in Data Science. I developed a strong interest in data science after taking introductory programming courses in Python and R during my sophomore year. Since then, I’ve deepened my interest through coursework in areas such as data visualization and statistical analysis. I'm especially drawn to the intersection of public health and data-driven interventions, which I find both fascinating and meaningful. My primary academic goal is to learn analytical and practical skills that contributes to improving mental health and well-being in marginalized communities, including aging populations.

Fun fact about me: I love birds! When I was young, I raised a baby chick into a full-grown chicken.

Cameron Lee

B.S. in Data Science; Public Health Certificate

Hello! My name is Cameron Lee and I am a post-bacc fellow at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Success Through Aging Research (STAR) Program. I recently graduated from UWM with a Bachelor of Science in Data Science alongside a Public Health Certificate. My interests lie in the intersection of data science, socioeconomics, and population health specifically in dementia-related diseases in underserved communities. The aging population suffers from loneliness which creates complex familial and societal issues – especially when burdened by adverse diseases or events that may exacerbate severe complications. It would be fulfilling to help the individuals and those near to them understand the impacts of this disease by conducting quantitative research from a holistic standpoint. This upcoming fall, I will be pursing a PhD in Health Sciences at UWM.

Fun fact about me: Although I'm from Wisconsin, I cheer for all Illinois sports teams! My favorite genre to read is historical fiction. I love Pokémon and my favorite starter is Tepig. 

Esmeralda Hechavarria

B.S. in Psychology with a Specialization in Behavioral Cognitive Neuroscience; B.A. in Statistics

Hi my name is Esmeralda, and I recently graduated from the University of Florida (go gators!) with degrees in Statistics and Psychology. I'm a very curious person who is deeply passionate about uncovering the closest thing we have to the truth by using math and data. I feel that biostatistics research allows us to find meaningful answers that can deeply and positively impact people. Throughout my undergraduate career, I was involved in the Perception Attention & Consciousness lab where we studied peripheral vision, in the Youth Development & AI Lab where we studied how household conflict impacts student grades, and in the Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Data Science program where we did research on differential gene expression in exosomes infected with different kinds of viruses. All of these experiences have confirmed my passion for using statistical tools to discover impactful insights that ultimately help people. I am excited to dive into aging research this summer since it is a field with tremendous potential for bettering the lives of many!

Fun fact about me: I have a twin brother! 

Gabrielle Jones

B.S. in Public Health, Minor in Neuroscience

I am a Bachelor of Science major in Public Health with a minor degree in neuroscience, I am a transfer student of Brooklyn College. I am very interested in aging research as it relates to neuropsychological issues in the aging population. I have a deep commitment to understanding how data can be used to address health disparities, which sparked my interest in biostatistics.

Fun fact about me: I love modern dance!

Georgia Reed

B.A. in Economics, Minor in Data Science

I am from San Francisco, CA, and I am graduating with a degree in economics and data science. I have plans to pursue a master's in population health science and I am particularly interested in predictive modeling and its applications. This interest was sparked when I participated in a biostatistics program last summer. I hope to explore even more predictive modeling applications this summer, as well as learn more about a variety of topics related to the study of aging!

Fun fact about me: I like to knit and enjoy making my own sweaters!

Joann Le

B.S. in Statistics; B.A. in Epidemiology

Hi! My name is Joann, and I'm a rising senior at the University of Rochester studying Statistics and Epidemiology! During my freshman year, a semester dedicated to Indigenous health disparities and intergenerational trauma engrossed me into the field of population health and biostatistics, especially in using data analysis to equitably represent marginalized communities. Since then, I have worked on various research projects, including grant writing for Indigenous data decolonization in New York state, as well as researching the relationship between pubertal development of LGBTQ+ youth and societal factors. Through PQAR, I am excited to expand my skills and experiences in exploring this field of public health and aging research!

Fun fact about me: I love listening to true crime podcasts and watching scary movies!

Lauryn Shepard

B.S. in Mathematics, Concentration in Applied Mathematics, Minor in Biology   

Hi everyone! My name is Lauryn Shepard, and I am from Washington, DC. I’m a rising junior studying Applied Mathematics at Howard University. My interest in aging research began when I experienced my grandfather suffer from Parkinson’s disease. I’m excited to enhance my research skills and gain experience in the public health field.

Fun fact about me: I love traveling, and my first scuba diving experience was in Bali, Indonesia!

Cladie Owen Soccorso

B.S. in Applied Statistics; B.A. in Anthropology

Hi, I'm Owen Soccorso, and I'm double major in Applied Statistics and Anthropology at Wake Forest University! I originally came to Wake Forest wanting to be a Latin major, and have also explored many other topics such as business, but realized this fall that statistics and anthropology were the right fit for me. I have a part-time job working in an archaeology lab on campus, and as part of my work I was able to combine my background in statistics with the anthropological research. This experience really sparked my interest in data science and statistics, and I'm really excited to engage with biostatistics and aging research this summer, since I think it ties in really nicely with my goal to grow as both a statistician and anthropologist! 

Fun fact about me: After this summer, I will be studying abroad in Florence, Italy!

Yasmine Alshathir

B.S. in Biomedical Science, Minor in Statistics

I am a first-year Biomedical Science major at The Ohio State University, pursuing a minor in Statistics. My academic background blends cancer biology with an emerging interest in data-driven research, particularly as it applies to human health. I became interested in biostatistics and public health through my experiences volunteering at free clinics and analyzing health disparities in underserved communities. These experiences sparked a deeper curiosity about how data can be used to inform equitable healthcare solutions. My long-term goal is to pursue an MD/PhD, using quantitative methods to support translational research and develop interventions that are both data-informed and community-centered. 

Fun fact about me: I foster neonatal kittens almost every summer!