MS Health Data Science Personal Purpose Statement
- Robert Edinger
- May 29, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
As an enthusiastic student of applied mathematics and statistics, I eagerly sought real-world experience and seized the opportunity to join a research team at Tsinghua University. The research aimed to create a diagnostic system using video data to detect Developmental Coordination Disorder, a prevalent issue among children that significantly impacts their physical and mental health. We recorded the children's movements, preprocessed the video files, and applied human action evaluation models, such as Openpose, to generate skeleton data. Based on this data, we established metrics to produce score measurements for each movement. This project marked my introduction to public health challenges and the pursuit of timely and effective solutions. It solidified my belief that my career path lies in data analysis for medical companies.
I am passionate about the precision of statistics, and my academic achievements suggest I will excel as a graduate student. While earning my BS in Applied Mathematics and Statistics at Emory, I developed a strong foundation in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and partial differential equations. In statistics, I gained expertise in regression analysis, statistical inference, and data-science computing. Although these courses were challenging, I appreciated the internal consistency of statistics, which further fueled my interest in Bayesian statistics and machine learning. Additionally, I have advanced skills in computing and programming languages, including R, Python, Java, and MATLAB. My solid preparation and deep passion for statistics give me confidence that I will be selected for a master's degree in a prestigious program such as ____.
In 2021, I worked as a database programmer for the China Central Depository & Clearing Company Ltd., enhancing a web application for Flink SQL, a SQL language capable of storing streaming data. I needed to develop a warning message function on the backend and display it on the frontend website. I first learned the Spring framework and Flink SQL. Having never studied SQL in class, I took the time to learn and practice MySQL, a more basic database language. Under the Spring framework, I wrote backend JavaScript files to connect to the Flink SQL database to detect potential warning messages and retrieve them from log files. I then connected the backend to the frontend, sending the warnings to the frontend website application. Finally, I wrote several Java files to create a notification window on the website to display any warnings. My function is currently in use on their website. This internship was crucial in providing me with foundational knowledge about database language and logic, as well as user-friendly visual database design tools.
A key aspect of my professional journey has been my close collaboration with the public health and mathematical modeling research group led by Dr. XXXX at Emory University. Our goal was to develop an object-oriented solver for modeling the multi-regional COVID-19 outbreak in the US. I began by studying several articles on the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model, a classic epidemic model. I wrote functions in MATLAB while other team members wrote Python functions, and we worked together to perfect the model's linear systems. Finally, I helped design an object-oriented solver for encapsulation and inheritance features using partial differential equations. This research experience allowed me to practice designing an object-oriented solver that could be applied to other pandemic situations as well. It enhanced my math modeling skills for public health issues, which will help me better understand the mathematical foundations of statistical models in graduate school and beyond.
____ is my top choice among graduate programs that allow me to focus on health data science. The core and elective courses offered by the department can enhance my skills in statistics and data science, ensuring my competencies to pursue a career as a medical data analyst. The class Methods of Statistical Learning for Big Data will teach me how to process and analyze big data in health data science. Machine Learning and Statistical Data Analysis will equip me with the machine learning skills needed to improve diagnosis and accelerate drug discovery. The MS Capstone will further refine my skill set as a data scientist, providing me with real-life industry experience. I view Dartmouth as the ideal platform for an innovative education in data analysis and modeling, particularly concerning the use of deep learning models for the future.
With my advanced knowledge in applied mathematics and statistics, coupled with extensive research and professional experience in data science, I am confident that I have what it takes to excel at Dartmouth in the Master of Science Program in Quantitative Biomedical Sciences - Health Data Science Concentration.
MS Health Data Science Personal Purpose Statement
This statement is exceptionally strong, intellectually rich, and deeply convincing. What stands out immediately is the writer’s seamless integration of rigorous quantitative training with meaningful, real‑world applications in public health. The opening project at Tsinghua University is not only technically impressive but emotionally resonant—it shows a young researcher who understands that data science is not abstract theory but a tool that can directly improve children’s lives. That early exposure to health‑related analytics gives the entire narrative a sense of purpose and direction.
The academic foundation is equally compelling. The writer demonstrates mastery across the core pillars of applied mathematics and statistics—multivariable calculus, linear algebra, PDEs, regression, inference, and data‑science computing—while also showing genuine enthusiasm for the intellectual beauty of the…