You get a lot of freedom to choose your research area...and there is a wide range of research areas within the department from which to choose
Before SAMBa, I studied at the University of Oxford (MMath Mathematics) and Lancaster University (MSc Statistics).
My research was using Bayesian Decision Theory to calculate optimal decisions when modelling different problems in drug development.
During my time with SAMBa I secured a placement with Cytel in Boston, USA. The role was within the modelling and programming team and I was required to understand and identify problems with a proprietary portfolio optimal decision-making software product, and to take the initiative in proposing and implementing solutions to these problems.
I am now a Biostatistician working for Roche, in Basel Switzerland. I work in teams to run studies for drugs in early development, making sure everything is fine from a statistical perspective. We also undertake research-based work involving looking at if subpopulations (i.e. those with particular features or biomarkers) might benefit from new drugs using large datasets of historical trials.
SAMBa introduced me to the statistical methods used in Industry and contacts within the industry.
In SAMBa, you get a lot of freedom to choose your research area, in comparison to other CDTs, and there is a wide range of research areas within the department from which to choose from. The CDT administration is very supportive.
During my time as a SAMBa student, I also enjoyed extra curricular activities such as the gym, salsa society, cooking with flatmates and travelling.
I joined thinking I wanted to do one type of PhD but ended up doing a completely different one due to the flexibility that was provided in finding/forming a PhD during the masters year
The ITTs were invaluable in providing experience in collaborating effectively with others on large projects, understanding and synthesising new information quickly, and liasing with academic leads and commercial partners
The SAMBa team understands how to efficiently bridge the gap between the abstract world of mathematics and statistics to industrial research
I found the one-on-one reading courses an incredible opportunity to both learn about a topic in detail, and to get to know a potential area and supervisor before starting my PhD
(My supervisors) encouraged me to take my own research direction, guided by my interests, and to be involved in the wider community, presenting at and attending a wide range of national and international conferences
I really valued the experience of being part of a cohort of students in SAMBa, which guaranteed that we were not doing our PhDs in isolation, despite working intensively on independent projects
My experience in SAMBa shaped me as a versatile researcher with the ability to use maths to make an impact.
Being a part of SAMBa was a great way to broaden my research interests and to apply this knowledge to cross-displinary problems
SAMBa exposes students to a wide range of cutting edge statistical and mathematical research that will be useful to them in their PhD and later career
Being part of SAMBa is like being part of a little community: everyone is super supportive and there is always someone to talk to if you need it (usually with cake!).
