Burc Barin - Biostatistics

Burc Barin, a native of Cyprus, arrived at the University of Kansas in 1997 for undergraduate studies in mathematics. After moving on to mathematics graduate work at the University of Minnesota in 2001, he learned about the School of Public Health's Biostatistics program. The idea of using his skills to help improve human health was enticing.

"I liked the quantitative discipline, but I wanted to apply it to a meaningful branch," says Barin, who received an M.S. in mathematics in 2003, and an M.S. in Biostatistics in July 2004.

Barin credits the Biostatistics faculty, staff, and students with inspiring him to explore a career in the field. His coursework, including training in statistical packages currently used in the industry, as well as his research assistantship at the division's Coordinating Centers for Biometric Research, offered both strong theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical experience.

In August, Barin began work as a statistician at the EMMES Corporation, a Rockville, Md. contract research organization that coordinates multi-center clinical trials. The 24-year-old helps design studies, monitor patient safety and data quality, and interpret and present data. The fact that his work may advance the public health is important to him.

"Programming for long hours and analyzing large amounts of data can be overwhelming," Barin says. "Knowing that it will be used for a good cause motivates me."