
Dr. Hongtu Zhu bridges big data and health to improve our understanding of the brain.

What’s your role in public health?
I play a pivotal role in public health as a professor and researcher at UNC-Chapel Hill, where I hold appointments across several departments, including biostatistics, genetics, radiology, computer science and statistics. I have been a faculty member here since 2006.
My work centers on integrating advanced statistical methods, artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics into health research. My contributions include leading the BioStatistics and Imaging Genomics Analysis Lab (BIG-S2), where I work on statistical and computational innovations to solve critical challenges in imaging, genomics and precision medicine.

Can you describe your focus area in one sentence?
My focus lies in developing innovative statistical models and computational tools to analyze complex biomedical and imaging data. I also advance personalized medicine, neuropsychiatric disorder understanding and translational health care applications.
In the realm of public health, my work identifies various risk factors for diseases like Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia, predicts individual treatment responses and improves early detection of mental health disorders through biomedical data analysis. I also develop algorithms to ensure health care solutions are equitable across diverse populations.

What brought you to public health?
My journey into public health was inspired by the profound potential of statistics to drive impactful discoveries in medicine and health care. With a background in statistics and postdoctoral training at Yale University, I recognized the interdisciplinary power of biostatistics to bridge mathematical rigor with pressing public health challenges. My work in neuroimaging and genomics revealed opportunities to make meaningful contributions to public health through the application of cutting-edge methodologies.

Dr. Zhu speaks at the Department of Biostatistics’ 75th anniversary celebration.
While I was in my first faculty position at Columbia University, a defining moment in my public health journey occurred while I was working on multiple projects involving neuroimaging data and mental health disorders. One project, in particular, focused on analyzing brain imaging data to uncover structural and functional patterns associated with schizophrenia.
Through this work, I observed how statistical techniques could bridge the gap between raw data and meaningful clinical insights. By applying advanced statistical models, we identified key biomarkers in brain imaging that were linked to the progression of the disorder. These findings not only advanced our understanding of schizophrenia, but also highlighted the potential of neuroimaging to inform early diagnosis and intervention strategies.
This experience underscored the profound impact biostatistics can have in addressing real-world public health challenges. It was a transformative period that deepened my commitment to leveraging statistical methods to improve health care outcomes and crystalized my passion for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of statistics, imaging and public health.

Can you describe a time when you’ve pivoted in your public health career?
A significant pivot in my career occurred during my tenure as a DiDi Fellow and chief scientist of statistics at DiDi Chuxing, a startup company, between 2018 and 2021. There, I led several teams to apply statistical learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in real-world ride-sharing applications. This experience broadened my perspective, enhancing my understanding of operational research, AI and decision sciences.
Upon returning to academia, I applied these skills to advance statistical methodologies and AI for biomedical applications, particularly in neuroimaging and genomics, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and translating innovations into impactful public health solutions.

Who are you when you’re at home?
At home, I am deeply family-oriented and enjoy mentoring my son with his homework, fostering his curiosity and growth. I also find solace in running a small farm where we care for goats and chickens and grow vegetables, embracing a sustainable and hands-on lifestyle.
This balance between professional dedication and personal life allows me to stay grounded, connected to nature and focused on nurturing the next generation, whether it be through mentoring students or supporting my family.
Read more interviews in The Pivot series.
Published: Jan. 21, 2025