Biostatistics student spends summer supporting a clinical trial in California
Carson Richardson's public health journey is rooted in his interest in clinical trial design and analysis.
Meet Carson Richardson, a master’s student in biostatistics with a passion for clinical research.
Question and Answer
What are you doing this summer?
A couple of things actually! I’m currently a clinical data science intern working on Phase I clinical trials at Gilead Sciences in California, but I’m also helping with research centered around maternal health in the College of Public Health, doing some exploratory analysis. I also just finished a manuscript collaborating with the College of Dentistry which was really rewarding.
What do you like most about your internship?
Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who are interested in science and how we can use that science to improve patient outcomes is a great experience. I’ve collaborated with others across several disciplines and learning about their thought process, and the real work that goes into biopharmaceutical research is fascinating.
What drew you to studying biostatistics?
I had an odd trajectory. I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after undergrad, so I spent some time working as a medical assistant in a cardiology outpatient office. I ended up working with some patients enrolled in clinical trials and that spurred my interest in clinical research. Learning about the design and analysis of clinical trials intrigued me, so after a few months of deliberation, I decided to take the plunge and apply to grad school, where luckily I ended up at Ohio State.
What public health issues are you passionate about?
So far, my exposure at Gilead has gotten me very interested in immuno-oncology research and how we can supplement that with machine learning and other statistical methods to more accurately determine the molecular mechanisms behind disease.
What are your goals for the future?
I want to pursue a PhD and transition into industry work eventually. It would be great to implement new technologies into the ever-evolving field of biomedical science, especially with how fast the advancements have been occurring in our lifetime thus far.
What do you hope for the future of public health?
I hope it gets more attention. The cohorts in public health tend to be pretty small — I think mine is comprised of less than 10 students total! Seeing a greater influx of those interested in tackling important issues within public health is absolutely necessary.
What advice do you have for students interested in pursuing a graduate education in biostatistics?
Don’t limit yourself to just one avenue in your studies. Branch out, take classes in other areas, reach out to faculty and ask questions. Most importantly, get involved. Whether you want to continue to pursue a PhD or go straight into industry, you should want to gain experience applying what you’ve learned because it is far different than what goes on in the classroom.
What really matters about graduate studies in biostatistics is that the skills acquired are highly transferrable to other fields. You could work in the financial sector, biopharma, government, hospital systems and more. Ultimately, it’s up to you to find your path, but the great thing is — it’s out there, even if you don’t know what it is just yet.
