When Rebecca Deek joined the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science as assistant professor, after completing her PhD in biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania in 2023, she brought with her a passion for teaching, dedication to mentoring the next generation of public health scientists and expertise in statistical methodology.
Working with students over the past two years has been as fulfilling as she knew it would be. Deek appreciates that she can teach students from across public health and the broader health sciences. “One rewarding aspect of teaching biostatistics courses has been working with students across departments, with different backgrounds and research interests,” she explained. “I think statistical literacy is a fundamental skill, not only in research but also in navigating daily life.”
She also enjoys seeing what her students are able to learn and accomplish in their final projects, where they choose a data set - often tied to their own research - and apply the concepts they’ve learned in class. “I’ve enjoyed seeing students connect with the material and realize how statistical techniques can be applied to their own work,” she said. It was memorable when her first advisee successfully defended their master’s thesis. “Watching my students grow over time, both in technical skills and in practical abilities like data cleaning and manuscript writing, has been incredibly rewarding. It’s gratifying to see them gain confidence in their ability to conduct research.”
Having worked primarily with graduate students, Deek is looking forward to a new teaching role in the Bachelor of Public Health program. She knows that making statistics and data science approachable to an undergraduate crowd can be different, and hopes to get students excited about pursuing the field at the graduate level.
Deek’s approach has been shaped by the collaborative environment at Pitt, particularly in the health sciences with colleagues sharing different perspectives on mentoring,” she noted. “I teach a midsize course with students from a variety of programs, which can make participation challenging. Through conversations with colleagues, I’ve learned strategies to make students feel more comfortable asking questions and engaging in discussions.”
Deek’s research lies at the intersection of statistics, machine learning, and large-scale biomedical data. Her methodological innovations aim to address pressing questions in precision medicine and public health, ensuring that the tools keep pace with the data’s complexity.
Specifically, her research focuses on developing statistical and computational methods for omics data, with a particular emphasis on metagenomics and multiomics integration. “As the size of the data being collected in omics studies grows, both in terms of the number of participants and modalities, many unique statistical and computational challenges arise. Current approaches may not be well suited for these data and innovation is needed,” she explained.
Her work requires creating new methodologies to handle these challenges, often in close collaboration with clinicians. This includes analyzing transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and metagenomic data, and studying how these layers of biological information interact to impact human health.
At Pitt Public Health, she’s found a collaborative and welcoming environment. “Since my first day here, everyone, from faculty to staff to students, has been exceptionally welcoming. My colleagues are always eager to help, whether it’s co-mentoring students, collaborating on research, or sharing advice on teaching and grant submissions.”
Outside of the classroom and research lab, Deek enjoys exploring Pittsburgh. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how many great restaurants there are from so many different cuisines,” she said. “I also appreciate the number of parks within the city. I still have a lot more to check out, from restaurants and cafés to museums and green spaces.”
In her dual roles as teacher and researcher, Deek brings both intellectual rigor and a human touch, creating a learning environment where students feel supported and inspired. Whether in the classroom, advising a thesis, or developing the next generation of statistical tools for biomedical research, her work reflects a clear commitment to advancing knowledge while helping others discover their own capacity to contribute.
-Calvin Dziewulski