Burc Barin: Programming with a purpose

Burc Barin, a native of Cyprus, arrived at the University of Kansas in 1997 for undergraduate studies in mathematics. He then went on to the University of Minnesota for graduate work.

At the U, 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 2004.

His coursework included training in statistical packages and he had an assistantship at the department's Coordinating Centers for Biometric Research. The grounding in strong theoretical knowledge and the opportunity for hands-on practical experience served him well.

Barin now works as a statistician at the EMMES Corporation in Rockville, Maryland, where he helps design studies, monitor patient safety and data quality, and interprets and presents data.

"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."

(Updated: June 2009)

Biostatistics