HOBI Graduates: After the tassel

Where are they now? Here’s a partial list of HOBI graduates since 2018 and what they’ve gone on to do.

PhD in Medical Sciences

Biomedical Informatics

Chen Bai, PhD
Chen Bai, PhD

Chen Bai, PhD (2024)

Position: Data Scientist at Novelis, the world’s largest recycler of aluminum.

HOBI Dissertation: AI-based Preoperative Frailty Index Using Real-World Data


Matthew Diller
Matthew Diller, PhD

Matthew Diller, PhD (2024) MS (2018)

Position: Postdoctoral associate at the National Institutes of Health, with scientific director of the National Library of Medicine.

Read 2024 profile in UF News

HOBI Dissertation:  An Advanced Ontology-Based Approach to Semantic Data Integration for Exposome Research with a Focus on External Environmental Exposures and Temporal Relations

HOBI Master’s Thesis: Semantic Data Integration using the Ontology of Cancer-Related Social-Ecological Variables


Tyler J Loftus, MD
Tyler J. Loftus, PhD, MD

Tyler John Loftus, PhD (2024), MD

Position: Assistant professor and acute care surgeon, University of Florida Department of Surgery

Watch video about artificial intelligence award

HOBI Dissertation: Aligning Patient Acuity with Resource Intensity after Major Surgery: Federated Learning across University Health Systems


Xinsong Du
Xinsong Du, PhD

Xinsong Du, PhD (2023)

Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Harvard Medical School, with professor/director of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Read Postdoctoral Profile and about 2021 fellowship in HOBI News

Watch video about University of Florida Informatics Institute Fellowship Talk

HOBI Dissertation:  Reproducible Computational Workflow for Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Metabolomics Data Processing


Xing He
Xing He, PhD

Xing He, PhD (2022)

HOBI Position: Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, UF

Assistant Director of Research Infrastructure, Office of Data Science and Research Implementation at UF Health

Dissertation Title: Towards Computable and Standardized Representation of Clinical Trial Eligibility Criteria for Electronic Health Record Data


Hansi Zhang
Hansi Zhang, PhD

Hansi Zhang, Ph.D (2021)

Position: Data Scientist, The Bosch Group

Dissertation Title: Semantic Data Integration of Health Information


Yunpeng Zhao, PhD
Yunpeng Zhao, PhD

Yunpeng Zhao, PhD (2021)

Dissertation Title: Public Health Surveillance Using Social Media Data


Health Outcomes and Implementation Science

Faith Heeren, PhD
Faith Heeren, PhD

Faith Heeren, PhD (2024)

Position: Postdoctoral fellow at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, supported by the National Institutes of Health

HOBI Dissertation: Utilizing Community-Engaged Research Methodology to Identify Pre-Operative Educational Needs Among Adolescents Undergoing Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery



Gina T Eubanks MPH, PhD
Gina Eubanks, PhD

Gina Eubanks, Ph.D | Health Outcomes and Policy (2023)

HOBI Position: Assistant Scientist and Director, QI & Implementation Science

Dissertation Title: Patient and Provider Characteristics Associated with Guideline Concordant Metabolic Screening and Monitoring among Adults Prescribed a Second-Generation Antipsychotic


Boya Lin, Ph.D.
Boya Lin, PhD

Boya Lin, Ph.D. | Health Outcomes and Policy (2023)

Position: Associate, Analysis Group

Dissertation Title: Utilization of Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder and Its Associated Health Outcomes among Pregnant Women in Florida Medicaid


Tianyao Huo, Ph.D.
Tianyao Huo, PhD

Tianyao Huo, Ph.D. | Health Outcomes and Policy (2022)

Position: Senior Statistical Manager, IQVIA

Dissertation Title: Examination of Disparities in Pediatric Lipid Screening and Management in Florida Medicaid


Photo of Jennifer LeLaurin
Jennifer LeLaurin, PhD

Jennifer LeLaurin, PhD (2022)

Position: Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, UF; Assistant Director of the Learning Health System Program at the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Dissertation Title: Implementation of Electronic Health Record-Based Interventions to Address Social Needs in Pediatric Primary Care


Guanming Chen
Guanming Chen, PhD

Guanming Chen, Ph.D. | Health Outcomes and Policy (2021)

Position: Reviewer, FDA

Dissertation Title: Disparities in Health Outcomes following Metabolic Bariatric Surgery: Evidence from the OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium


Alexandra Lee presents a poster at a research event.
Alexandra Lee, PhD

Alexandra Lee, PhD (2021)

Post graduate positions: Postdoctoral researcher at Penn State University; Manager of Clinical Research, Weight Watchers (WW)

Dissertation: Characterizing Subjective Social Status in Adolescents and its Application to Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior

Learn more about Spring 2021 Graduates


Sarah Chavez, PhD
Sarah Chavez, PhD

Sarah Chavez, PhD (2019), MPH 

Post graduate position: Post-Doctoral Associate, STEM Translational Communication Center, College of Journalism and Communications and UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida.

Dissertation: Evaluating the Quality of Type 2 Diabetes Mobile Apps: The Development, Testing, and Dissemination of an Evidence-Based Scoring Instrument for Mobile Health Applications


Photo of Aditi Patel, Ph.D., with HOBI faculty advisers
Aditi Patel, Ph.D., with faculty advisors Bruce Vogel, Ph.D., and Betsy Shenkman, Ph.D.

Aditi G Patel, PhD (2018), MPH  | Health Outcomes and Policy

Post graduate position: MD candidate, class of 2020, College of Medicine, University of Florida

Dissertation: Investigating Network Adequacy Standards for Provider Networks in Medicaid Managed Care


MS in Medical Sciences (selected examples)

Health Outcomes & Implementation Science

Russell Hawkins, MS (2020)

Post graduate position: 4th Year Resident Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida

Biomedical Informatics

Haeun Lee, MS (2021)

Post graduate position: PhD candidate, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Ruoyi Zhang, MS (2021)

Caitrin Rowe, PhD, MS (2019)

Post graduate position: Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida

Thesis: A Computable Phenotype for Resistant Hypertension: Accurate Antihypertensive Drug Classification and Validation Through Manual Chart Review 

Justin Tauscher, MS (2019)

Post graduate position: PhD candidate in Human Development and Organizational Studies, College of Education, University of Florida

Jong Taek Kim, MS (2019)

Post graduate position: Clinical Fellow, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Alexander Loiacono, MS (2019)

HOBI Post graduate position: Applications Programmer, College of Medicine, University of Florida

Mohamed H. Shahin, B.Pharm., MS, PhD (2018)

Post-graduate position:  Pfizer, Inc.

Thesis: Using a Systems Pharmacology Approach to Identify Novel Signatures Associate with Thiazide-Induced Changes in Uric Acid Levels

Dharani Balasubramanian, MS (2018)

Post graduate position: Data Engineer, Amadeus North America Inc.

Thesis: Semantic Data Integration Using the Ontology of Cancer-Related Social-Ecological Variables