TAMIU Student Accepted into Graduate Biostatistics Program at the University of Iowa
A Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) student was recently admitted to the University of Iowa's (UI) College of Public Health.
Nereyda Molina, a senior biology major and mathematics minor, who plans to graduate this Spring 2024, will begin her master’s degree in Biostatistics at UI in the Fall 2024. She credits her intentions for pursuing this career pathway to early, first-hand experiences faced by members of her family and loved ones.
"My journey into biostatistics stems from growing up in a minority family located within the southern border towns of Texas, where disparities in quality healthcare are rampant," said Molina.
She continued, "Throughout my life, I have witnessed the devastating impacts of chronic illnesses on individuals and their loved ones; unfortunately, this struggle with healthcare inequities is not unique to my family but is a shared narrative within the Hispanic community, which is only growing larger by the day."
Of the ten graduate programs Molina applied to, she was accepted into nine of those programs, including universities in Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, and more.
She credits her success to the support she experienced throughout her tenure as a TAMIU student, including her undergraduate research experiences.
"As a biology major, undergraduate research opportunities opened my eyes to significant chronic illnesses/diseases affecting the Hispanic community, such as colorectal cancer research I have done with Dr. Amanda Muñoz, TAMIU assistant professor of biology and chemistry. We have a manuscript in editing based on colorectal cancer, focusing on addressing the topic's current and past significant findings," Molina explained.
She became an undergraduate research assistant under Dr. John Kilburn, TAMIU associate dean of Research, and professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice to garner additional statistical knowledge. Through this endeavor, she worked specifically on the Gaining Equity in Training Public Health Informatics and Technology (GETPHIT) Program and the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects.
"Beginning the job, I participated in editing two manuscripts along with my co-worker, Jenna Arsuaga. The manuscripts in editing involve data analysis of demographic factors of GETPHIT participants to find key variables associated with their majors and their knowledge of public health informatics," said Molina.
She reiterated, "I had the benefit of being able to improve skills that will be important to my future studies in biostatistics, as I was able to participate in several projects that allowed my knowledge in statistics to flourish by applying my statistical skills- such as running analytical tests like a chi-square, logistic regression, and t-test."
Molina hopes to continue onto a career as a biostatistician to analyze data, identify trends, and draw conclusions from her research interests in colorectal cancer, diabetes, and HIV.
TAMIU's registration for Maymester, Summer, and Fall is now underway.
To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit https://go.tamiu.edu/registration
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