Florida’s 2025 Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Data Science Program Application

group of students and professor

Calling all undergraduate students or those recent graduates not currently in graduate programs, it’s time to discover how working with data can change your life through Florida’s Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Data Science Program (SIBDS), funded by the National Institutes of Health.

This opportunity is the key to understanding how data, driven by participants’ responses, can help draw conclusions on everything from why COVID-19 impacts certain populations more than others, to why clinical trials are important and a whole lot more.

When: May 19 to June 27, 2025

Where: FAU’s Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL

Deadline for Applications: March 14, 2025 (Applications will be reviewed continuously starting mid-December 2024, and interviews will begin late January 2025.)

Application Review: Applications will be reviewed continuously starting mid-December 2024 through March 14, 2025.

Interviews: The top 60 applicants ranked by coursework content and geographic region will be asked to schedule a 15-minute zoom meeting with a member of the Leadership Team to discuss their motivation, academic background and career interests. The Leadership Team will discuss all candidates together and then decide which students will be offered positions. We expect the last offer will occur in mid-April, 2025.

NOTE: If you have not been contacted to schedule an interview by mid-April, you have not been selected but may be put on a waitlist.

Prerequisites:

  • Undergraduate or have graduated and uncertain about career plans
  • Commit to a 35-hour week for six weeks (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
  • Administrative: students will have to allocate their own money beforehand for flights/travel, food and entertainment for three weeks; after students arrive on 5/19 and spend a few days in the Program, we will begin processing their stipends which will cover these expenses and some others that are incurred during the Program. The delay is imposed to assess commitment and to maximize the stipend amount distributed to students.
  • Able to acclimate to a group living situation if living on campus

Students will:

  • be housed on campus which is covered by grant (unless they live close by)
  • receive generous stipends for participation in the program (this is not a salary)
  • learn principles of biostatistics, epidemiology, data science, scientific communication, social determinants of health and career opportunities including working with faculty (see schedule for 2024 )
  • be mentored by expert faculty and peers
  • participate in career workshops with practicing biostatisticians, epidemiologists, data scientists and population health experts, and graduate students
  • conduct group projects using real data
  • visit the beach, turtle rehabilitation nature center, Miami Marlins baseball, arcades, museums, and gather at dinners including barbeques

Should you have any questions, please email Dr. Katherine Freeman at kfreemancostin@health.fau.edu or Dr. Lun Ching-Chang at changl@fau.edu

Student Testimonials (unsolicited)

The knowledge of the faculty and how diverse they are while at the same time being connected.
My experience at FAU proved to be both enlightening and pivotal in shaping my research interests (applicant to PhD programs in Biostatistics and Statistics).
I've been thinking a lot about grad school since the SIBDS program, and I've decided to apply to several MPH in biostatistics master's programs, including FIU's program. Thank you again for everything because before, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to grad school.
Following the SIBDS Summer Program, I have become increasingly interested in Biostatistics and have begun conducting guided research relating to what I learned during the program. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at FAU and greatly enjoyed working with the professors there.
Being a part of the SIBDS program inspired me to persue a graduate degree in biostatistics. Thank you for everything you have taught me this summer, including lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.