Sanusi receives ASA Biopharmaceutical Section Scholarship Award

April 25, 2019

Busola Sanusi

Busola Sanusi, a doctoral candidate in the biostatistics department at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, has received the Biopharmaceutical Section Scholarship Award from the American Statistical Association (ASA).

The award is given annually to up to three graduate students across the United States in recognition of their notable research, academic achievement and applied project work related to the area of biopharmaceutical statistics.

“We are thrilled with Busola’s research excellence and this well-deserved national recognition,” said Michael Kosorok, PhD, W.R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor and chair of the biostatistics department. “Busola is doing important work that will significantly impact the lives of many people throughout the world.”

“There’s a saying: ‘Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life’,” said Sanusi. “I am very passionate about applying my statistical skills to improve the lives of people and I feel blessed to be rewarded for doing what I love.”

Sanusi’s research interests are survival analysis, infectious diseases, clinical trials and evaluation of surrogate markers. She has focused on collaborative global research projects that address human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cervical cancer.

Sanusi’s work already has been lauded beyond UNC. She is a three-year recipient of a Faculty for the Future Fellowship from the Schlumberger Foundation, which recognizes outstanding female students from developing countries who are enrolled in a doctoral program.

She has published in high-impact public health journals like the American Journal for Obstetrics and Gynecology and has given presentations about her research at the International Papillomavirus Conference, the ASA Conference, the European Research Organization Conference on Genital Infection and Neoplasia, and the UNC Global Oncology Conference. During the summers, she has completed prestigious research practicum positions at two of the largest global pharmaceutical industries: Merck & Co. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Companies.

“I am honored to have been selected as a recipient of this award,” Sanusi said. “I consider it a springboard into future opportunities in my career path.”

Contact the Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@listserv.unc.edu.