When:
Friday, October 3, 2025
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CT
Where: Chambers Hall, Ruan Conference Room – lower level, 600 Foster St, Evanston, IL 60208 map it
Audience: Faculty/Staff - Student - Graduate Students
Cost: free
Contact:
Kisa Kowal
(847) 491-3974
Group: Department of Statistics and Data Science
Category: Academic, Lectures & Meetings
Statistical Innovations in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Dong Xi
Statistical Advisor, Biostatistics, Gilead Sciences, Inc.
PhD in Statistics, 2013, Northwestern University
Talk 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Networking Reception 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
This talk aims to provide an overview of career development in the pharmaceutical industry as a statistician. Examples will be shared to illustrate how statisticians make impacts in drug development and contribute to innovation. Critical skills will be highlighted to thrive in a cross-functional setting. This talk will also delve into the process of finding internships and permanent positions. Tips will be offered to equip students with essential knowledge to launch their careers in the pharmaceuticals industry.
Dr. Dong Xi is currently a Statistical Advisor in the Biometrics department at Gilead Sciences, Inc. He is a member of the Biostatistics Innovation Group. Prior to joining Gilead, he was a statistician in the Statistical Methodology group at Novartis. He has supported development and implementation of innovative statistical methodologies in multiple comparisons, dose finding, group sequential designs, estimands and causal inference. He is an associate editor of Statistics in Biopharmaceutical Research.