Unlocking insights from complex data to advance biomedical research and education and to improve population health.
The Division of Biostatistics develops and applies innovative designs and quantitative tools that extract knowledge from complex laboratory and clinical data. We promote sound statistical practice that fully leverages study results, fostering reproducibility and enabling accurate interpretation. This work plays a critical role within the Perelman School of Medicine and the broader biomedical research community.
In the data-rich world of biomedical research, biomedical data science plays a key role in knowledge discovery-to devise and validate new clinical strategies for managing and treating disease-and biostatistics is central to this enterprise.
As experts in inferential thinking, biostatisticians’ work enables the global scientific community to unlock new knowledge and population insights from sampled data. Our unique understanding of randomness and variability positions us to lead experimental design and build models that can account for design-induced systematic biases; handle structures inherent to complex data; adjust for multiplicities that could produce false discoveries; and rigorously assess causal inference for observational data.
Our research is inherently collaborative. We work across labs, divisions, and departments to promote sound experimental design, analytical procedures, and reproducible research to address complex biomedical challenges.
Deputy Director, Biostatistics
Professor of Biostatistics
Deputy Director, Biostatistics
Professor of Biostatistics
Associate Director, Biostatistics
Executive Assistant to Dr. Jeffrey Morris (Biostatistics)
Stay informed with the latest research findings, news, and events from our division.
Dr. Sharon Xie helped lead a study linking air pollution to worsened Alzheimer’s disease, published in JAMA Neurology and named a top 20 Penn breakthrough of 2025.
Congratulations to Mingyao Li on receiving the 2026 Michael P. Nusbaum Graduate Student Mentoring Award, recognizing her outstanding dedication to mentoring and supporting graduate students.
Congratulations to Dr. Yong Chen on his RECOVER-EHR study being named a 2026 Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement.
Jeffrey S. Morris, PhD, analyzes the U.S. vaccine safety monitoring system and suggests improvements in a new APPC white paper.
Associate Professor of Biostatistics
Alisa Stephens Shields, PhD, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, is recognized for her collaboration and impactful leadership in the realms of health, statistical education, and inclusion in the field. Her research focuses on extensions and innovative applications of causal inference approaches to enhance the design and analysis of clinical trials, as well as the development of patient-reported outcomes to inform population-appropriate trial endpoints. In this Q&A, Dr. Stephens Shields touches on her experiences in the DBEI research community, advice for students and early-career biostatisticians, and her recent 2024 Myrto Lefkopoulou Distinguished Lectureship from Harvard University.
Read Q&ABiostatistics research at Penn Medicine provides the statistical methods and analytical tools necessary to facilitate cutting-edge biomedical research and improve patient care. Collaborating with Epidemiology and Informatics, we discover and validate insights from complex data to develop precision strategies for disease prevention, risk reduction, therapy design, and population health guidelines.
Join a community of experts and mission-driven professionals committed to shaping the future of biomedical and population health data research through collaboration and scientific excellence. Explore available faculty and staff positions in the Division of Biostatistics and the department.