(Recording Coming Soon)
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm ET
This COPSS-NISS Leadership Webinar featured Dr. Maya Peterson and Dr. Jenna Wiens discussing leadership and translational statistics in clinical settings. Dr. Peterson, Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at UC Berkeley, shared her non-traditional career path from human biology to becoming a leading figure in clinical collaborations, particularly in HIV research in East Africa. Dr. Wiens, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, discussed her journey in developing machine learning applications for healthcare, including a decade-long project on predicting C. diff infections in hospitals. The panelists discussed challenges in clinical collaborations, including the importance of finding the right partners, handling setbacks, and maintaining relevance in an AI-driven world. They emphasized that successful translational work requires deep engagement with clinical partners, practice in communication across disciplines, and the ability to adapt to new technologies while maintaining critical thinking skills.
This webinar featured Dr. Maya Peterson and Dr. Jenna Wiens, who were selected to discuss leadership and translational statistics and machine learning. Dr. Irina Gaynanova, Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan and COPSS Emerging Leader Award recipient, served as the moderator and provided an overview of the event's purpose and structure. The webinar was organized in collaboration with the National Institute of Statistical Sciences and aimed to highlight the impact of quantitatively trained scientists in the clinical world.
Clinical Collaboration and Computational Health
Dr. Maya Peterson shared her non-traditional career path from human biology to becoming a biostatistics professor at UC Berkeley, emphasizing the importance of clinical collaborations throughout her journey. She highlighted key lessons for building successful clinical collaborations, including the importance of translation skills, active listening, humility, and maintaining equitable relationships. Dr. Peterson also discussed her current work leading the Computational Precision Health program, which focuses on developing computational methods for real-world health applications and training the next generation of researchers at the intersection of clinical and computational sciences.
AI in Healthcare Research
Dr. Jenna Wiens, an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, shared her experience in AI and healthcare research. She discussed the importance of engaging with clinicians and patients rather than simply developing algorithms and "throwing them over the fence." Dr. Wiens highlighted a decade-long project focused on predicting Clostridioides difficile infections using electronic health records, which required navigating multiple committees and clinical workflows to achieve successful deployment.
Biostatistics Research Collaboration Strategies
The panel discussion focused on research collaborations and career development in biostatistics and computer science. Dr. Maya shared insights from a challenging HIV treatment study that initially failed due to changing clinical guidelines, emphasizing the importance of learning from setbacks and maintaining respectful, collaborative relationships. Dr. Jenna discussed her approach to clinical collaborations, highlighting the value of use-inspired research and the importance of asking key questions before starting projects, including whether collaborators have relevant data and what they would do with new tools. The panelists agreed on strategies for junior researchers seeking clinical collaborations, including giving talks to build networks and starting by listening to potential collaborators rather than immediately proposing solutions. They also addressed concerns about AI's impact on their field, arguing that rather than replacing human expertise, AI tools can democratize access to advanced statistical methods while making human collaboration more essential than ever.
From Setbacks to Success: Lessons from Clinical and Computational Research
During the moderated Q&A session, Dr. Maya Peterson and Dr. Jenna Wiens reflected on the realities of building and sustaining successful clinical research collaborations. Both speakers discussed the challenges that can arise when projects encounter unexpected obstacles, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, resilience, and maintaining strong professional relationships even when research outcomes do not go as planned. They shared how setbacks can provide valuable learning opportunities and help researchers develop more effective approaches to future partnerships.
The panelists also addressed the tension between developing novel methodological contributions and pursuing impactful applied research. They noted that while academia often rewards methodological innovation, meaningful advances can also come from the thoughtful application of existing statistical and machine learning techniques to important real-world problems. Both speakers encouraged researchers to focus on work that addresses genuine clinical needs and creates measurable impact.
For early-career quantitative scientists seeking clinical collaborators, the speakers stressed the importance of building relationships through networking, departmental presentations, seminars, and interdisciplinary events. They advised researchers to approach potential collaborators with curiosity and a willingness to listen, seeking first to understand clinical challenges before proposing analytical solutions.
The discussion concluded with perspectives on mentoring and preparing the next generation of translational researchers. Dr. Peterson and Dr. Wiens emphasized the value of strong communication skills, humility, adaptability, and interdisciplinary collaboration. They also discussed the growing influence of artificial intelligence in healthcare research, noting that while AI tools are expanding access to advanced analytical methods, human expertise, critical thinking, and effective collaboration remain indispensable for translating research into meaningful clinical impact.
Thank You & Acknowledgement
NISS and COPSS extend their sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the COPSS-NISS Leadership Webinar: Leadership in Translational Statistics and Machine Learning: Working Hand-in-Hand with the Clinical World, held on March 31, 2026.
We would like to offer our deepest appreciation to Dr. Maya Peterson, Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of California, Berkeley, and Dr. Jenna Wiens, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, for sharing their professional journeys, research experiences, and leadership insights. Their thoughtful discussion highlighted the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration in translating statistical and machine learning innovations into meaningful improvements in healthcare. Their candid reflections on career development, navigating challenges, building successful partnerships, and adapting to rapidly evolving technologies provided valuable guidance for researchers at all career stages.
We are especially grateful to Dr. Irina Gaynanova, Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan and recipient of the COPSS Emerging Leader Award, for serving as the webinar moderator. Her engaging questions and skillful facilitation fostered a dynamic conversation that encouraged thoughtful discussion and audience engagement throughout the event.
We also extend our sincere thanks to the COPSS-NISS Leadership Webinar Organizing Committee for their vision, dedication, and efforts in planning and coordinating this event. Their commitment to highlighting leadership within the statistical sciences and creating opportunities for professional development continues to make this webinar series an important resource for the broader statistics, data science, and machine learning communities.
Finally, we thank all attendees whose participation, questions, and enthusiasm enriched the discussion and contributed to the webinar's success. Through the collective efforts of the speakers, moderator, organizing committee, and participants, the event provided valuable perspectives on building impactful careers at the intersection of quantitative science and clinical practice.
We look forward to continuing these important conversations in future COPSS-NISS Leadership Webinar events.
Resource Links Shared
About the COPSS-NISS Leadership Webinar Series
COPSS (Committee of the Presidents of Statistical Societies) and NISS have come together to organize and host a new webinar series focusing on leadership in statistics and data science. Plan to attend these webinars every month during the academic year! Visit the COPSS-NISS Leadership Series Page for previous webinars.
The COPSS-NISS Leadership Webinar Series is co-organized by the Committee of the Presidents of Statistical Societies (COPSS) Emerging Leaders in Statistics and the National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS). The purpose of the webinar series is to promote leadership skills for members of the statistical societies at any stage in their careers. The series features conversations with leaders throughout the discipline, including leaders from major academic and government institutions, and companies. Invited speakers share their leadership stories and answer questions about their experiences. Each webinar is moderated by a member of the COPSS Emerging Leaders in Statistics program.
Access the Full COPSS-NISS Leadership Webinar Series YouTube Playlist | COPSS-NISS Leadership Webinar Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoRtupvDJTjvFukMcO6NfDr0GvxDsIj81