Staff: Julia Thompson
Julia Thompson, MS
Data Analyst
Department of Biostatistics
Julia joined the Department in the Spring of 2021 as a Data Analyst, having graduated with a degree in biostatistics from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and an MS in biostatistics from our department. While Julia has been with us only for a year and a half, she has already been an integral part of many projects. She has been working with the SSTAR group on several publications investigating social and structural determinants of HIV risk in adolescents and young adults in Rakai, Uganda. Notably, she has a first-author paper in preparation on trends in orphanhood and HIV and is co-leading a project investigating COVID and pregnancy rates. She is also finalizing the protocol and statistical analysis plan for a randomized clinical trial evaluating a tailored intervention aimed at improving patient adherence to cancer and cardiovascular drugs. Her dedication and attention to detail have significantly improved the design and protocol for this study. Julia is also a member of the Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design (BERD) consulting team, and in that role has helped numerous investigators with data analysis, grant writing, and study design. She joins every consult with a smile on her face and always provides valuable feedback to investigators.
In addition to being an outstanding analyst, Julia is also a talented teacher and app designer. She has been teaching an R mini-course to over 100 students and has received rave reviews and developed a user-friendly R-shiny web application to visualize survival data.
What is your favorite thing about working in the Biostatistics Department?
My favorite thing about working in the Biostatistics Department is the people! Everyone is so passionate about what they do, and they genuinely want to be here. It makes it fun to come to work. Aside from the people, my favorite thing is the variety of projects I get to work on – I really enjoy getting a taste of many different things, especially early in my career.
What is your favorite outdoor activity? Indoor activity?
I love hiking, especially visiting national parks and getting the opportunity to do new and challenging hikes. My favorite indoor activity is trying new restaurants with friends (and watching UNC basketball games).
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I would like to learn how to make pottery. I think it’s so beautiful and it would be a fun way to express my creative side. Plus, handmade pottery would make a great holiday gift for friends and family.