Characteristics of a Successful Biostatistics Summer Internship Program

• Activity Number: 589 - Characteristics of a Successful Biostatistics Summer Internship Program
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 6, 2020 : 3:00 PM to 4:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Teaching of Statistics in the Health Sciences
• Author(s): Constantine Daskalakis* and William Scott Clark* and Jacqueline Hicks* and Jayawant Mandrekar*
• Companies: Thomas Jefferson University and Eli Lilly and Boston University and Mayo Clinic
• Keywords: Statistics education; Biostatistics; Internship

Abstract

This panel discussion aims to characterize successful biostatistics summer internship programs. More specifically, the following dimensions will be addressed: (i) Characteristics of desirable student applicants (including issues of educational background, diversity, and leadership qualities). (ii) Balance of programmatic components (e.g., didactics, computer programming, data analysis projects). (iii) Logistics challenges (e.g., size, funding, mentoring, program evaluation). (iv) Benefits to the host group/organization. These issues will be discussed for formal (with substantial time of structured in-class activities) vs. informal (with minimal classroom time, relying mainly on mentored/directed projects) programs, programs intended for undergraduate vs. graduate students, and for programs with and without extramural funding. The session is mainly directed towards statistician-educators who coordinate, participate in, or plan the development of summer internship programs.