Xiaoping Jin - Biostatistics

Xiaoping Jin has come a long way in a short period of time. In 1999, he left China and traveled to the other side of the globe for graduate studies at Washington State University. In 2001, after completing a master’s degree in statistics, he moved across the country to pursue a Ph.D. in biostatistics at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

“I enjoy applying statistics to public health and medicine. The human benefit makes it worthy and important,” Jin says.

The 29-year-old’s tenacity helped pave his academic path at the University. Jin says the SPH offered him enormous opportunities. He completed a teaching assistantship and two graduate assistantships during the program—receiving accolades along the way. He won the 2003-2004 Teaching Assistant Award from the Division of Biostatistics. In May of 2005, he received the Jacob Bearman Achievement Award in Biostatistics. In the final year of his program, he was one of 50 students to receive a highly competitive doctoral dissertation fellowship. “Having a supportive advisor was tremendously helpful,” he says modestly.

In June 2005, Jin completed his Ph.D in biostatistics. He now works for Daiichi Medical Research, Inc. in New Jersey, a company focused on designing and conducting global experimental clinical research. As a senior biostatistician there, he designs and analyzes early phase clinical trials for cardiovascular and oncology drugs.

“The main purpose is to bring the new, safe drug to the market to help the patient,” Jin says.  “That’s why I do what I do. You can make a difference and see your contribution.”