Biostatistics Professor Awarded Prestigious ASA/NSF/CENSUS Research Fellowship

Dr. Sixia Chen, associate professor of biostatistics at the Hudson College of Public Health, has been honored with the esteemed American Statistical Association (ASA)/National Science Foundation (NSF)/US Census (CENSUS) senior scholar research fellowship program grant. This grant, totaling approximately $250,000 over two years, is a testament to Dr. Chen's exceptional contributions to the field of Biostatistics and his dedication to bridging the gap between government and academic science.

The ASA/NSF/CENSUS Research Fellowship Program is highly competitive, with limited awards granted to top researchers across the nation. Dr. Chen's selection reflects his outstanding nationwide research record, extensive expertise in novel statistical methodologies, and academic achievements. As part of this fellowship, Dr. Chen will collaborate with leading statisticians at the US Census Bureau and a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) on a groundbreaking project titled "Developing analytic tools for handling nonprobability samples with application to census data files." This project will utilize cutting-edge methodologies to analyze data from the Household Pulse Survey, providing real-time insights into the social and economic impacts on U.S. households.

"We are immensely proud of Dr. Sixia Chen's remarkable achievement," said Dr. Dale Bratzler, Dean of the OU Hudson College of Public Health. "His dedication to advancing statistical methodologies and his commitment to collaborative research exemplify the values of our institution."

"Collaborating with top statisticians at the US Census Bureau and leveraging the Household Pulse Survey data, we anticipate our findings will inform federal and state actions, contributing to evidence-based policy decisions that address social and economic disparities”, said Chen. “It can also bring the knowledge from Census to our college and university. It will build strong long-term collaboration relationship between OUHSC and US Census Bureau and improve the visibility of our college and university. I am so proud to be the first scholar in our college to receive this prestigious fellowship program award."

Dr. Chen's contributions extend beyond research; he is an elected member of the International Statistical Institute, serving as Associate Editor for four prestigious statistical journals and as President of the ASA Oklahoma Chapter.  Dr. Chen published more than 103 manuscripts in peer reviewed journals. Among which, more than 40 are novel statistical methodology publications with 36 as first or corresponding authors. Additionally, he directs the novel methodology unit of Oklahoma Shared Clinical and Translational Resources (OSCTR), further enhancing research capabilities within the University and the broader community. Dr. Chen has successfully secured more than 35 grants/contracts with 12 as PI or Co-PI.

This fellowship not only recognizes Dr. Chen's outstanding contributions but also underscores the College's commitment to excellence in research and innovation in public health.