An Liu: A different way of thinking

An Liu arrived in the United States and at the University of Minnesota in 1997. But it wasn't until 2001, when he started coursework in biostatistics, that he found a home here.

"It's a good atmosphere," says Liu, who received an M.S. in biostatistics in 2003. "Not only for studying, but for friendships and living."

Liu had an introduction to biostatistics as an undergraduate at China's Nankai University, though he came to the University to study water resource science and to develop skills in mathematics and statistical modeling. Biostatistics was fairly new to him when he switched programs.

"It's challenging, but very interesting to me and very rewarding," Liu says. "Statistics, it's not just techniques, not just math. It's kind of a thinking process. You can apply statistical thinking to almost anything."

In 2002, Liu got a job as an advanced biostatistician at 3M Pharmaceuticals. Today, he's the principal statistician and president of A & L Consulting, LLC.

(Updated: June 2009)

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