Student Spotlight: Kedi Le


Bloomberg School of Public Health, Feb 03

Kedi Le is a second-year ScM student in the Department of Biostatistics with a focus on genomics. 

This past year Kedi received the Kocherlakota Award, which honors the outstanding achievement by a Biostatistics master’s degree student on their first-year comprehensive examination. 

  • Hometown: Shanghai, China
  • Previous Degrees: BS in Mathematics, Fudan University
  • Current Program: Master of Science (ScM)
  • Starting Year: 2023

What led you to Hopkins and choosing to study biostatistics? 

My interest in biostatistics first grew during my senior year at Fudan University while working on a deconvolution of spatial transcriptomics project. This eye-opening experience introduced me to the field of biostatistics, which soon captivated me with its capability to bridge abstract mathematical models and complex biological mechanisms. Through this connection, numbers are imbued with meaning, transforming equations into practical tools that address biological problems. 

My eagerness to explore biostatistics led me to Hopkins, which is world-renowned for its excellence in research and education. I believe the rigorous training and the collaborative environment here will provide the foundation I need to thrive in this field.

Tell us about one experience in the Biostatistics Department that stands out as a favorite or most memorable? 

The retreat! The Department organized a three-day retreat in Philadelphia where everyone gathered to connect. We held a poster session to share our research projects, explored museums with faculty and classmates for some fun, and engaged in meaningful discussions about the future and growth of the department. The retreat created a sense of belonging, making me feel like a valued member of the biostatistics family. It reaffirmed that the Department is a welcoming and inclusive community, and it always will be.

Tell us about a project you are currently working on that you are excited about.

I’m currently working on predicting spatially resolved chromatin accessibility using spatial transcriptomics data under the guidance of Weiqiang (Ken) Zhou and Hongkai Ji. Our model successfully replicates and enhances the patterns in the marker genes, demonstrating the feasibility of using gene expression to explore regulome in the context of spatial omics. It also holds the potential to significantly expand the number of available spatial chromatin accessibility datasets.

Are you involved in any clubs or Working Groups?

I’m involved in the Genomic Data Science working group, where faculty and students from both within and outside the department present on topics in genomics approximately twice a month. The speakers and audience are highly engaged, fostering an active exchange of ideas and perspectives. These sessions provide a great opportunity to learn about a wide range of emerging and established technologies, methods, and applications in genomics. I believe the knowledge gained from these talks will not only deepen my understanding of the field but also inspire and inform my own research projects.

What advice do you have for prospective students interested in joining the Department of Biostatistics?

Connect with the faculty and students! Everyone in this department is friendly and helpful. Just reach out with your questions. Besides, the website of the Department provides plenty of the important and useful information, offering an overview of the programs and the student lives.

What do you like most about the Biostatistics Department?

The Department is highly supportive of master’s students. Upon enrollment, each student is paired with a faculty advisor and a second-year student mentor who offer valuable guidance and advice on both academic and daily life. Additionally, the Department provides abundant resources for students with different career goals. For those like me who are pursuing further research opportunities, seminars and lectures led by faculty and students offer insights into various research areas. This allows us to explore our interests and finally identify fields and labs that align with our goals. 

What do you hope to do or accomplish after graduation? 

I wish to pursue a PhD to further explore the intersections among statistics, biology and medicine, to advance methodologies that bring statistical models to life, and to create meaningful insights in both biology and medicine.

read more at: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/student-spotlight-kedi-le

By Jishuo Yang
Jishuo Yang