Musaad Lab Members

Primary Investigator

I am currently an associate professor of pediatrics and biostatistics in the Children’s Nutrition Research at Baylor College of Medicine. My research focuses on understanding the environmental, molecular, and behavioral risk factors that influence the development of unhealthy weight gain and chronic disease progression including immune dysfunction and cardiovascular disease risk. I am particularly interested in developing contextual and other data-driven methods to determine how the risk factors differ across racial/ethnically diverse populations and the effect of behavioral interventions on improving outcomes.

I also mentor fellows in the Department of Pediatrics and find my role as a statistical reviewer for the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior a rewarding experience.

Statistician

I am currently a statistician in the Department of Pediatrics-Nutrition in Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine. I received my M.S. in Sustainable Biomaterials and M.S. in Statistics from Virginia Tech. I have worked in the chemical industry as a statistical consultant and an online tutor for graduate students in statistics before joining Dr. Salma Musaad’s group. I am interested in utilizing statistical models and methods to analyze healthcare and industrial data. 

Research Coordinator

Originally from Spring, Texas, I’m currently a senior at the University of Houston majoring in public health with double minors in management information systems and data and society! My expected graduation date will be May 2023. During my time as an undergraduate, I participated in a summer research program where I explored transportation barriers and its impact on the prevalence of heart disease risk factors. Under Dr. Musaad’s lab, I’ll be exploring the impact of racial disparities and analytic gaps on obesity rates. Though I’m still exploring my career interests, I hope to work with data analytics in the future and may even consider a master’s degree. In my free time, I enjoy bullet journaling, writing food reviews, and I’m trying to get back into digital art, photography, and video editing!

Statistician

I hold a master's degree in Biostatistics from the University of Washington, accompanied by a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. This academic foundation fostered my passion for mathematics and statistical programming. My professional path has encompassed various rules including statistical consultant at Kootenai Health, research assistant for the VA, and teaching assistant for an advanced biostatistics course at the University of Washington. These experiences not only honed my statistical expertise but also taught me practical applications of these skills in addressing real-world challenges, especially in the field of health care. Currently, I am a Statistician at Baylor College of Medicine. This position provides me with a remarkable opportunity to pursue my passion while embarking on new exploration in the field. Outside the academic realm, I find joy in playing chess. I also love travelling, hiking, and biking.

Student Helper

I am a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, with a B.S. in public health and a minor in the business of healthcare. During my time in undergrad, I gained an interest in nutrition research due to the intersection between public health and scientific disciplines like biochemistry and metabolism. I also gained exposure to biostatistics and basic programming through my coursework and time as a teaching assistant for a biostatistics course. I am excited to apply my skills in these areas during my time as a student helper for the Musaad Lab. In my free time I enjoy reading, listening to music, and doing yoga!