BioBuzz’s Buzzin’ Brood Student Spotlight series celebrates the future of life sciences talent — and the programs, institutions, and organizations investing in them.
Name: Susannah Kirby, B.S.
Hometown: Loudoun County, Virginia
Institution: George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia)
Role: MS Biostatistics Student, George Mason University (Class of 2027)
Susannah Kirby, B.S. is a microbiologist turned data enthusiast who is bridging the gap between foundational science and population-level healthcare. We sat down with Susannah to talk about her path into biostatistics, what’s exciting her right now, and where she sees herself headed next.
Some scientists want to understand the exact mechanisms of a single cell. Others want to zoom out and see how those mechanisms impact entire populations. Susannah Kirby is doing both. After earning her B.S. in Microbiology from Virginia Tech, she realized that while she loved the foundational biology of healthcare, her true passion lay in the numbers that define it. She wanted to scale her impact beyond individual patient care, using mathematics and data to solve systemic health challenges.
That drive led her to George Mason University, where she is currently pursuing her M.S. in Biostatistics. Now deeply immersed in healthcare research, she is exploring the practical applications of data, physics, and biomedical imaging to better understand human health. When she isn’t analyzing large datasets or studying the physics of radiation, she balances her analytical side with ballet. We sat down with Susannah to talk about her path into biostatistics, what’s exciting her right now, and where she sees herself headed next.
How did you get here?
My interest in science started with my undergraduate degree in microbiology at Virginia Tech. I’ve always loved math and science, and during college, I became interested in how data could be used to understand health and solve problems on a larger scale. While I enjoyed learning about biology and healthcare, I realized I wanted to do more than focus on individual patient care.
I wanted to use data and research to hopefully make a positive impact across larger populations. This led me to pursue my master’s in biostatistics at George Mason University. Since starting at Mason, I’ve also had the opportunity to get involved in healthcare research, which has helped me explore how I can use statistics and data to contribute to the field. I’m still figuring out exactly where I want to take my career, but I’m excited to keep exploring.
What is currently blowing your mind right now?
Right now, my biomedical imaging class has been one of the things I’ve found most interesting. In this class, I’ve been able to see physics applied in a much more practical way, especially through learning how different imaging technologies actually work and how concepts like waves and radiation are used to create images of the body.
“I took physics in undergrad, and it’s been interesting to take something I learned years ago and understand better how it can be applied to something directly related to healthcare.”
If you could explain yourself right now in only emojis…
🐈⬛🕊🧠
If you could travel into the future… what does your LinkedIn headline say?
Biostatistician | Using Statistics and Data to Improve Healthcare
What are some of the things you can’t live without?
I cannot live without my cat, Pudge.
