Mission
The purpose of the CFAR Biostatistics Core is to accelerate successful HIV/AIDS research by direct provision of biostatistical support and by arranging mutually beneficial collaborations between CFAR researchers and statistical scientists.
We provide biostatistical support that is readily available to CFAR investigators and to other CFAR Cores. In addition to making strategic contributions to the CFAR’s scientific dialog, we provide statistical consulting services that range from brief professional consultations to invention of new statistical methods. We collaborate on the framing of hypotheses and on the development of study designs, grant applications, journal articles and presentations, selection of statistical methods, performance of statistical computations and interpretive analyses, and research database management consultation and support.
The Biostatistics Core brings together CFAR investigators and professional biostatisticians who possess specialized expertise needed for CFAR research projects. We promote opportunities for faculty and students in the statistical sciences at UNC to participate in HIV/AIDS-related research and become members of the CFAR. The participating faculty of the Biostatistics Department forms an important component of the Biostatistics Core.
We also promote training opportunities for CFAR investigators who are interested in the application of best statistical methods, and provide training opportunities for students and fellows who are assisting in AIDS-related studies. We recommend that investigators contact the Biostatistics Core in the earliest stage of new research efforts and well in advance of deadlines for grant applications, abstract submissions and protocol development.
Please contact the CFAR Biostatistics Core with new requests by e-mailing us at CFARbios@bios.unc.edu.
Michael Hudgens, Ph.D.
Core Director
Dr. Michael Hudgens is a Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Biostatistics at UNC-Chapel Hill and is Director of the Biostatistics Core of the UNC Center for AIDS Research. He has experience in collaborative research and statistical methodology development related to studies of infectious diseases, with emphasis on HIV. Professor Hudgens has co-authored more than 250 peer-reviewed papers in statistical journals such as Biometrics, Biometrika, JASA and JRSS-B as well as biomedical journals such as the Lancet, Nature and New England Journal of Medicine. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for Biometrics. He is an elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association and has taught graduate level biostatistics courses at UNC for over 15 years.
3101D McGavran-Greenberg
Chapel Hill, NC
mhudgens@bios.unc.edu
Office Phone: 919-966-7253
Stephen R Cole, Ph.D.
Associate Core Director
Dr. Cole is a Professor of Epidemiology at UNC with an interest in quantitative epidemiologic methods. He is Associate Director of the Biostatistics Core of the UNC Center for AIDS Research, as well as Director of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Core of the CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS). His research focuses on the use of structural models to explore the causal effect of antiretroviral therapies on HIV disease progression, and direct and indirect causal effects of alcohol intake on HIV acquisition. He is also a member of a Causal Inference Research Group (CIRG) at UNC.
2105E McGavran-Greenberg Hall
Chapel Hill, NC
cole@unc.edu
Office Phone: 919-966-7415
Bonnie Shook-Sa, Dr.P.H.
Assistant Core Director
Dr. Bonnie Shook-Sa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biostatistics. She has over 14 years of experience in collaborative public health research and statistical methods development with over 40 peer-reviewed publications. Her research focuses on survey sampling and causal inference methods and their applications to HIV research. Dr. Shook-Sa is the instructor for the graduate-level Sample Survey Methodology course in the Department of Biostatistics at UNC and is a member of a Causal Inference Research Group (CIRG). Her statistical experience includes study design, sampling frame development and evaluation, statistical analysis plan development, and complex modeling.
3103B McGavran-Greenberg Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
bshooksa@email.unc.edu
Office Phone: 919-966-3794
Katie Mollan, M.S.
Principal Biostatistician
Katie Mollan, Principal Biostatistician at the UNC Center for AIDS Research within the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, has 16 years of experience in quantitative research. Her areas of expertise include the design and analysis of clinical trials and observational cohorts. Mollan has provided statistical support for numerous HIV/AIDS grant proposals and research studies, including for the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN), UNC-CH investigator-initiated studies, and industry collaborations with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Gilead Sciences. Ms. Mollan has co-authored >65 peer-reviewed articles in journals including Annals of Internal Medicine, The Lancet, American Journal of Epidemiology, Clinical Infectious Diseases, and the New England Journal of Medicine. She served gratis as Statistical Editor for the Open Forum of Infectious Diseases for 7 years. Her collaborative research background spans a breadth of topics, including antiretroviral treatment (ART), women’s health, mental health comorbidities, long-acting agents, HIV prevention and testing, HIV cure, and drug-resistant virus. She has worked with a wide variety of laboratory-based data, clinical data, and patient-reported outcomes and collaborated on research conducted in the United States, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, China, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Her primary research interests include HIV, women’s health, mental health, COVID-19, epidemiologic methods, applied causal inference, and statistical power.
3126 McGavran-Greenberg Hall
Chapel Hill, NC
kmollan@email.unc.edu
Office Phone: 919-966-8421
Fei Zou, Ph.D.
Participating Faculty
Dr. Zou is a Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and the Department of Genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research interest is in the development of theoretical methodologies appropriate for interpretation of high-dimensional genetics and genomics data. She is highly experienced in gene expression data analysis, genome wide association (GWA) mapping, and next-generation sequencing data analysis. She is also experienced in designing clinical trials, and analysis of complex observational data.
4115D McGavran-Greenberg Hall
Chapel Hill, NC
feizou@email.unc.edu
Office Phone: 919-843-4822
Jessica Keys, Ph.D.
Research Analyst
Dr. Keys joined the Biostatistics Core at the UNC Center for AIDS Research to offer support to new and ongoing clinical research. She received her doctorate in epidemiology from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health where her research focused on measuring HIV drug resistance and its impact on clinical care. She has worked collaboratively with laboratory scientists, clinical care providers, and biostatisticians, and she has experience in both academic and corporate settings, where she developed skills in data management and analytics. As a Research Analyst with the Core, she is primarily available to provide support to investigators looking for assistance with data capture, oversight, and integrity.
Monika Caruso
Core Administrator
Ms. Caruso provides administrative support to the Biostatistics Core. As the Contracts & Grants Manager for the Department of Biostatistics, Caruso provides pre-award support as needed for grant applications supported by the Biostatistics Core. She also assists with meeting scheduling, project tracking, RPPR preparation, overseeing NIH-related publication compliance, and other administrative needs of the Core.
3104D McGavran-Greenberg Hall
Chapel Hill, NC
mcaruso@bios.unc.edu
Office Phone: 919-966-7268
Ann Marie Weideman, M.S.
Research Assistant
Ann Marie Weideman is a PhD student in the Biostatistics Department at UNC. She received a B.S. and M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Before joining the CFAR, she worked as a post-baccalaureate fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where her research focused on developing mathematical and statistical models to predict disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis. During her fellowship at the NIH, she worked as adjunct faculty at Capitol Technology University, where she taught engineering statistics and differential equations. Ann Marie has interests in high-performance computing, web-app design, and watercolor painting.
Yen Chang, M.S.
Research Assistant
Yen Chang is a PhD student in the Biostatistics department at UNC. She received a B.S. degree in Life Science and a M.S. degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan, and a M.S. degree in Biostatistics from UNC. She assists Dr. Julie Dumond’s research on pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of HIV antiretrovirals in WIHS and MACS cohorts.
Taylor Krajewski, M.A.
Research Assistant
Taylor Krajewski is a Ph.D. candidate in the Biostatistics Department at UNC. She received her B.S. in Mathematics and her M.A. in Mathematics Education from the University of Pittsburgh. Before coming to UNC, she was the mathematics department chair and a mathematics teacher at a high school in the Philadelphia, PA area for several years. In addition to working for the CFAR, she is also a predoctoral trainee on the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences training program in Environmental Biostatistics.
Kaitlyn Cross, M.S.
Research Assistant
Kaitlyn Cross is a PhD student in the Biostatistics department at UNC. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from the University of Richmond and her M.S. in Statistics from George Washington University. Before joining the CFAR, she worked as a biostatistician at the Emmes Company, where she led clinical trials focusing on vaccines and therapeutics for respiratory infectious diseases.
Brain Richardson, B.S.P.H., B.A.
Research Assistant
Brian Richardson is a PhD student in the UNC Biostatistics department. He received his B.S.P.H. in Biostatistics and a B.A. in Mathematics from UNC. Brian works as a research assistant for the CFAR and is a predoctoral trainee on the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences training program “Biostatistics for Research in Environmental Health.”
Amber Young, B.S.
Research Assistant
Amber Young is a PhD student in the department of Biostatistics at UNC. She received her B.S. in Mathematics and Statistics from Purdue University. In addition to working for CFAR, she is a predoctoral trainee on the National Cancer Institute training grant “Biostatistics for Research in Genomics and Cancer.” Her academic interests include replicability, machine learning, and clinical trial design. Amber also enjoys skiing and making pottery.
Chanhwa Lee, B.S.
Research Assistant
Chanhwa Lee is a Ph.D. student in the Biostatistics Department at UNC and is a member of a Causal Inference Research Group (CIRG). He received his B.S. in Statistics and Mathematics from Seoul National University in Korea. He has a solid theoretical and mathematical background and is experienced in statistical modeling, from classical parametric models to machine learning and nonparametric models. His research interest is in the nonparametric estimation of intervention effects under interference, semiparametric theory, and precision medicine. As a member of the CFAR, he assists in grant writing, power and sample size calculation, and the analysis of observational and randomized trial data.
Mingwei Fei
Research Assistant
Mingwei Fei is a PhD student in biostatistics, newly back to school after over 10 years’ experience in clinical trials in oncology as well as hematopoietic and solid organ transplantation.
I am very interested in biostatistics and clinical trials in cancer oncology therapeutics research, including cell therapy and drug development.
Melissa Mischell, B.A.
Research Assistant
Melissa Mischell is a PhD student in the Biostatistics Department at UNC. She received her B.A. in Mathematics with a minor in Data Analysis from Wesleyan University. Before coming to UNC, she worked as a data scientist at Penguin Random House.
Past Graduate Students (2012-Present)
-
- Sam Hawke, B.S.
- Wenwen Mei, B.S.P.H.
- Pooja Saha, Ph.D.
- Bonnie Shook-Sa, Dr.P.H
- Sarah Reifeis, Ph.D.
- Ilana Trumble, M.S.
- Andrew G. Allmon, B.S.
- Pedro Baldoni, M.S.
- Owen Francis, M.S.
- Brian Barkley, Ph.D
- Joseph Rigdon, Ph.D.
- Lu Mao, Ph.D.
- Amy Richardson, Ph.D.
UNC CFAR Biostatistics Summer Internship
CFAR Interns
Tianhong (Theo) Wu
(UNC Class of 2024)

Yating Zou (2022)
(UNC Class of 2022)

Michelle Castillo Rzepka (2022)
(UNC Class of 2023)
Mincen Liu (2021)
[UNC Class of 2022]
Matthew Dinwiddie (2021)
[UNC Class of 2022]

Gabrielle Streeter (2020)
[UNC Class of 2021]
Caroline Ha (2020)
[UNC Class of 2022]
HarLeigh Haynie (2019)
[Winston-Salem State University]
Emma Crenshaw (2018)
[UNC Class of 2019]
Jake Mathura (2018)
[Class of 2020]
Orlando Ferrer, B.S. (2017)
[Doctoral Student, Wake Forest]
Sumati Sridhar (2017)
(UNC Class of 2019)
The UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core offers a range of services to CFAR investigators, including:
• Study Design and Planning
• Grant Proposal Support
• Statistical Computation, Derivation, Interpretive Analysis, and Publication
• Data Carpentry and Visualizations
• Statistical Methods Research and Development
• Database Consultation
• Training and Tutorial Consultation
• Mentoring
• Referrals
Publications
Github
Visit the UNC CFAR Biostatistics GitHub at https://github.com/unc-cfar-bios.
Tools
R package for Serial Limiting Dilution Assay Statistics (SLDAssay)
Power Calculator for Repeated Low-Dose Challenge Studies
R Package for Rank-Sum Power Calculation (wmwpow)
Presentations
Mollan KR: An integrated intervention to engage HIV+ people who inject drugs in antiretroviral treatment and medication-assisted treatment: Extended follow-up of HPTN 074. 23rd International AIDS Conference, AIDS 2020: Virtual. Electronic Poster Presentation: PEC0707.
Shook-Sa, BE: Inverse probability weighting and outcome regression approaches in causal inference and survey sampling. UNC Department of Biostatistics Dissertation Defense, 2020. Oral Presentation.
Shook-Sa BE: Higher numbers of new and total sexual partners following periods of incarceration among women with or at risk for HIV. American Public Health Association (APHA), 2019. Philadelphia, PA. Poster Presentation.
Mollan KR: Precise and Accurate Power of the Rank-Sum Test for a Continuous Variable. Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM), 2019. Denver, CO. Oral Presentation & e-Poster.
Weideman AM: High Performance Computing on a Cluster with R: a Tutorial. Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM), 2019. Denver, CO. Poster Presentation.
Mollan KR: Transporting Outcomes from Randomized Trials to a Population of Interest: Suicidality among US Adults in Routine HIV Care. 2019 Triangle Comparative Effectiveness Research Symposium. RTI International, RTP, NC. Poster Presentation.
Hudgens MG: Causal Inference in HIV Prevention Trials. HPTN Annual Meetings, 2018. Oral Presentation.
Hudgens MG: Statistical Considerations for Repeated Low Dose Challenge Studies. HVTN Translational ESI Conference, 2018. Oral Presentation.
Hudgens MG: Counting Viruses – Measuring the Latent HIV-1 Reservoir. Emory CFAR Seminar, 2018. Oral Presentation.
Mollan KR: A World beyond p<0.05 – Synopsis and debate from the fall 2017 ASA Symposium. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, Nov 2017. Oral Presentation.
The P-value Statement – click here!
Love M: Analysis approaches for microarray and RNA sequencing data will be presented, with thoughts on how these approaches can apply to HIV research. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, June 2017. Oral Presentation.
Watch: http://unccfar.org/unccfarmain/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/zoom_0_shortened.mp4
Zadrozny S and Edwards JK: Stayin’ alive (and suppressed): a longitudinal HIV continuum in the Dominican Republic. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, April 2017. Oral Presentation.
Cole SR: Type 3 rationality is to optimize causally-expected utility, within reason. Examples from HIV will be discussed. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, Oct 2016. Oral Presentation.
Baldoni P and Lee SK: Statistical Methods for Viral Outgrowth Assays. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, June 2016. Oral Presentation.
Bobashev G: HIV modeling: using a combination of agent-modeling and survival analysis. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, Nov 2015. Oral Presentation.
Lu W: Doubly Robust Estimation of Optimal Treatment Regimes for Survival Data – with an Application to UNC AIDS Data. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, Sept 2015. Oral Presentation.
Powers K: Leveraging the HIV Cascade to Improve Public Health: Conceptual and Measurement Challenges. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, March 2015. Oral Presentation.
Buchanan AL, Westreich D and Lesko K: Generalizing Evidence from Randomized Trials and Observational Studies. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, Dec 2014. Oral Presentation.
Mollan KR and Hudgens MG: Power and Sample Size Boot Camp. UNC Friday Infectious Disease and CFAR Conference, 2014. Oral Presentation.
Rigdon J: Statistical Methods for Serial Limiting Dilution Assays. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, Sept 2014. Oral Presentation.
Edwards JK: A measure to combine viral suppression and viral rebound in studies of HIV therapy. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, June 2014. Oral Presentation.
Mollan KR: Hazard of Suicidality in Patients Randomly Assigned to Efavirenz for Initial Treatment of HIV-1. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, Feb 2014. Oral Presentation.
Chen PL and Taylor D: FHI 360 Biostatistics & Epidemiology Brown Bag Lunch Seminar. UNC CFAR Biostatistics Core Research Group, Oct 2013. Oral Presentation.
Hudgens MG and Mollan KR: An Overview of Biostatistics. UNC Friday Infectious Disease and CFAR Conference, 2013. Oral Presentation.