Xiaoping Jin: Wanting to contribute

In 1999, Xiaoping Jin left China for the other side of the world. In 2001, after completing a master's degree in statistics at Washington State University, he moved across the country for a Ph.D. in biostatistics at the University of Minnesota.

At SPH, Jin completed a teaching assistantship and two graduate assistantships during the program, won the 2003-2004 Teaching Assistant Award, and 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 2005, Jin completed his Ph.D. He now works for Daiichi Medical Research, Inc. in New Jersey. As a senior biostatistician, 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."

(Updated: June 2009)

Biostatistics