Statistical genetics at MD Anderson and the TMC
M. D. Anderson, situated in The Texas Medical Center (TMC) -- the world's largest, offers an attractive setting in which to conduct genetics and statistical genetics research.
The Department of Epidemiology, located on the 4th and 7th floors of the newly-constructed
Cancer Prevention Building (CPB) has a strong group in statistical genetics. On various projects, I collaborate with Christopher Amos. With Sanjay Shete, I teach a statistical genetics journal club course for the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS).
I have several colleagues and collaborators at nearby institutions, including John Belmont and Yongtao Guan at the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). I regularly interact with Richard Gibbs (Human Genome Sequencing Center, BCM) and Eric Boerwinkle (Human Genetics Center, UT-SPH) via lab meetings and service on students' advisory committees. At MD Anderson, I work closely with Eduardo Vilar Sanchez (Clinical Cancer Prevention) and Chad Huff (Epidemiology).
The GSBS offers an attractive avenue for studying statistical genetics in the TMC. The Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and Human & Molecular Genetics programs both offer flexible curricula. In addition, nearby Rice University offers a Ph.D. program in statistics and The UT-SPH offers a Ph.D. in Biostatistics.
Life nearby
I moved to Houston in 2008 from Ann Arbor and have been impressed with this city.
I find Houston to be exceptionally diverse and cosmopolitan.
It has a thriving performing arts scene in the Theater District downtown, and a
hip, up-and-coming urban scene in midtown and the Montrose neighborhood. Adjacent to the medical center is the Museum District,
which harbors a sophisticated collection of museums and galleries, including the Houston Museum of Natural Science. In addition, the proximal
Rice University and the much smaller University of St. Thomas contain green campuses with aesthetically-pleasing buildings, and Hermann Park and The Houston Zoo are direclty
north of the TMC. Rice Village offers a pedestrian-friendly shopping experience and excellent collection of restaurants and bars.
There is a small and historic collection of Vietnamese restaurants near midtown (on the lightrail line, an accessible lunch location from the TMC),
but a
gem of the city is the
Houston Chinatown -- an awesome and modern collection of Chinese
restaurants and other businesses. Houston is also home to a "Ranch 99" market.