David P
- Research Program Mentor
MD/PhD candidate at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Expertise
Biology, chemistry, math, statistics, computer science
Bio
I am current living in Ann Arbor, Michigan as a medical student pursuing a duel MD-PhD program. I have a Master's degree in Biostatistics from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. I'm interested in ophthalmology and stem cell therapy, particularly the regrowth of retinal cells in humans with blinding eye diseases. I have recently published papers in this area, as well as several areas of biochemistry. I've grown a love of computer science and coding, because it has allowed me to perform my research and data analysis unbelievably faster and more efficiently than I ever could before! Aside from medicine and computer science, I play the cello, and I'm a 4-time marathoner. I love painting, photography, and anything that involves creating. I tend to dive-deep into new hobbies and activities because I love the feeling of learning and becoming and expert at something.Project ideas
Learn About Real-world Medical Issues Using Complex Data Analysis by Learning to Code.
I want to help you connect your passion for science and medicine with cutting-edge computer science and analytical techniques that are increasingly valuable in today’s world. The future of research is going to be dominated by coding and data analysis. I want you to learn how to do this now! I’ll guide you toward where you can access real-world biological and scientific data (COVID-19 statistics, proteins implicated in brain diseases, etc.), and then you’ll learn to write code using R or Python to perform high-level data analysis. In which regions of the US does COVID-19 appear most infectious? What proteins are malfunctioning in Alzheimer's disease? Learn how to draw valuable conclusions from massive amounts of data, and in just a few clicks, discover secrets that would take days to unravel by hand!
Meta-Analysis
There are hundreds of papers that address common treatments to common diseases. How do we know which papers are right, and what do practice in the clinic? When doctors have clinical questions that they want answers to, how do they make sense of all of the studies that have been done? A meta-analysis is a statistical method that makes use of many different studies to come up with more tangible conclusions. I'll guide you through the techniques needed to perform such a study and help you write a publication-ready paper about a topic of your choice. What clinical questions do you have? This is the perfect way to find and answer and share it with the world!
Write a Review Paper
Choose any disease and write a review paper exploring current known causes, symptoms, and treatments. You'll learn about how to read and write peer-reviewed research, all while doing a deep dive on a disease or medical condition you find interesting or of personal significance!