A STATISTICIAN’S LIFE
Janet Tooze
Degree(s)
MPH from the Harvard
School of Public Health
PhD in biometrics from the
University of Colorado
Employer
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Current Title
Associate Professor, Department
of Biostatistical Sciences
What or who inspired you to be a statistician?
What is a skill you would like to learn to be bet-
My mother, a nursing professor, actually told me
ter at your job?
about the field of biostatistics. I’ve always loved
I think the most challenging thing, as a consulting
mathematics, and biostatistics has been a great way
statistician, is to manage multiple projects. I’d like
for me to combine my interests in statistics, medi-
to learn about how I can more efficiently manage
cine, and public health. Victor Kipnis inspired me
my time and switch from one project to the next
to start working with dietary data, which are prone
more easily.
to measurement error, and his mentoring—along
with that of Larry Freedman and Ray Carrollh— as
Name one or two favorite books you have read
inspired me to continue working in this field. and would recommend to others.
Hmmm … well, unfortunately, I don’t have
What is the hardest or most interesting thing
much time to read these days. I do have a lot of
about being a statistician?
children’s books memorized. Hippos Go Berserk
The most interesting thing about being a statisti-
is a favorite in our house right now; it’s a count-
cian is the challenge of figuring out the best way
ing book in which 45 hippos have a party. I
to analyze a problem and come to, hopefully, the
try to explain to my children that they can
‘best’ answer.
just use the formula for the sum of integers to
count the hippos, but they’re not too interested.
What is the best career advice you were ever
given?
Given the current economy, would you recom-
I think the best advice I’ve been given is never to
mend statistics as a profession to a student?
be afraid to take risks. Moving across the country
Absolutely! I always encourage anyone with math
can be a bit scary, but I’ve never regretted any of my
aptitude to consider statistics as a profession. I think
career decisions. I also loved being a postdoc, and I
it’s a very rewarding career and will continue to
recommend it as a good way to start your career.
thrive in the future.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I spend most of my free time with my family.
SEPTEMbER 2009 AMSTAT NEwS 61
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