Finding out what a career in biostatistics research is really like

Our widely recognised and highly competitive internship programme provides undergraduate students with an interest in data science and knowledge of statistics to join the Unit for 8 weeks, to work on and contribute to research projects led by our researchers. They carry out data analysis, take part in research team meetings, present their findings, and get involved in all aspects of life at the BSU.

The programme is now in its sixth consecutive year and is expertly managed by Hélène Ruffieux and Pavel Mozgunov. Each student undertakes an individual project which is supervised by an early career researcher in the Unit, allowing one-to-one support and guidance. As well as this, the interns are integrated into research group meetings and attend Unit wide activities such as seminars and staff meetings. A series of internal career discussion sessions are also organised, providing valuable insights into the different paths the interns could take following their placement at the Unit. 

Each student brings enthusiasm, curiosity and exceptional dedication which makes the programme incredibly worthwhile for them and for us. 

This year, we were delighted to welcome: Sasha Robinson, James Logan, Beth Mclean, Yuvraj Gautam, Syan Shah, Joseph Buscemi, Daniel Myhill and Nicolas Couto-Mota.

Feedback

Here some of them have summarised their experiences.

Sasha Robinson

I had a fantastic experience as an intern at the BSU. I undertook a project on Bayesian adaptive basket trials under the supervision of Libby Daniells, and the process greatly improved my research and programming skills as well as my confidence working independently. I appreciated the balance between receiving regular guidance from my supervisor while also having the freedom to explore my ideas. The atmosphere in the BSU was very friendly and welcoming, and I enjoyed taking part in discussion groups and seminars. I also found it very valuable to present my research to the BSU in the penultimate week of the programme, and it lead to several insightful conversations on my project with academics.

For me, one of the most valuable parts of the internship was the career talks. It was fascinating to hear about the career journeys of researchers from a variety of career stages and research interests, and it emphasised to me that your career path doesn't have to be linear to be successful and enjoyable. I also really enjoyed spending time with the other interns both in and out of the office, and learning about their projects gave me a broader perspective on the kinds of research that takes place in the BSU. Overall, this internship has definitely clarified my understanding of what a career in biostatistics research looks like and I have come away with a much stronger interest in doing a PhD after my Masters degree.

James Logan

I greatly enjoyed applying my mathematical thinking skills to the research project. Overcoming the challenge of communicating my ideas to my supervisors, and to a wider audience, has been invaluable for my growth. Thanks to the constructive and thoughtful advice of my supervisors, I have been able to improve significantly in this regard.

The careers meetings were highly useful. The informal talks were a great way to hear from researchers at various stages in their career. I appreciated the diverse range of honest opinions, and realisation about the non-linearity of most people’s career paths.

We were also encouraged and supported in attending the Young Statisticians’ Meeting, where I met many interesting people. This widened my perspective on the realities and possibilities of different career paths.

This internship has changed my mind in favour of pursuing a PhD in Statistics, while educating me on the benefits and realities. The opportunity to speak to current PhD students, and to experience research in a very similar environment, has been instrumental.

Overall, I have greatly enjoyed my time at the friendly and connected community of the BSU. I have grown professionally and personally, and would highly recommend an internship at the BSU to any early career statistician or mathematician!

Beth Maclean

I was very excited to receive the news that I had been accepted for a summer internship with the BSU, although I was initially nervous about the experience. Moving from Scotland to Cambridge, where I did not know anybody, was scary, but I quickly found the BSU to be a very welcoming and supportive environment. I feel lucky to have shared this experience with such a fantastic group of interns and to have had the opportunity to learn from so many people across the Unit. I particularly enjoyed being in the office every day and having the opportunity to interact and build relationships with colleagues face-to-face.

The work was challenging at times, but this made the experience incredibly rewarding and allowed me to develop a wide range of skills. I enjoyed the freedom of working independently, with the support and guidance of my supervisors whenever I needed it. The career talks were also a highlight for me, providing valuable insight into career pathways in statistics. It was fascinating to hear colleagues from a range of backgrounds talk about their journeys to the BSU and to gain an insight into what working in biostatistics is like on a day-to-day basis.

Spending the summer at the BSU has been an incredible experience. Our group of interns had so much fun, made new friends and formed great connections, while also learning a huge amount along the way. I am very grateful for the opportunity, and I would strongly encourage anyone considering an internship at the BSU to go for it!