The Weill Cornell Medicine Biostatistics Summer Internship, offered through the Division of Biostatistics in the Department of Population Health Sciences, is committed to fostering an impactful learning experience for the next generation of statisticians and data scientists. Led by Caroline Andy, research biostatistician III, the program provides students with comprehensive training in and exposure to biostatistics and public health research.
The 2025 cohort consisted of nine undergraduate and two graduate students, selected from over 1,600 applicants. Over two months, students completed applied health research projects aimed at improving care on individual, system, and social levels. Students used foundational statistical methods, regression analysis, and advanced statistical techniques in their work, ultimately completing a poster presentation.
“My favorite part [of the research] was applying my academic knowledge to real-world data and seeing how biostatisticians can directly inform health care decision-making,” said Nathalia Lugo Ciriaco, a senior at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. “I enjoyed learning new statistical methods, working with large datasets, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.”
Students participated in several lecture series given by biostatisticians, as well as data scientists, epidemiologists, and public health researchers. Each student was also paired with a personal biostatistician mentor to discuss career goals and next steps. Outside of their academic endeavors, students attended community-building events, including a baseball game at Yankee Stadium and a trip to the Whitney Museum of American Art.
“The lectures, mentor pairing, and support for my research provided me not only with a greater understanding of biostatistics and public health, but also much-needed clarity about what I want to accomplish,” said Daniel Ugo-Omenukwa, a medical student at the CUNY School of Medicine. “This truly has been a transformative experience.”
Since its launch in 2024, the program has more than doubled in size, tripled its research output, and created opportunities with 12 academic institutions and 13 industry partners, including the NYU School of Global Public Health, Columbia University, Pfizer, and Merck, among others. Former interns are coauthors on abstracts and manuscripts they completed during the summer and are pursuing higher education in biostatistics, medicine, pharmacy, and more.
"Our goal is not only to teach students statistical methods, but to show them how these tools can directly impact patient care and health policy,” said Caroline Andy, program director. “Watching our interns grow in confidence and clarity about their future paths has been the most rewarding part of leading this program."
Visit the program website to learn how you can get involved: https://phs.weill.cornell.edu/research-collaboration/divisions-institutes/biostatistics/biostatistics-summer-internship
- Highlights