Hua He

Hua He is a Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Data Science at Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, specializing in advanced statistical methodologies for public health research. Her work bridges theoretical biostatistics with practical applications in infectious disease diagnostics and causal inference frameworks.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in Statistics, University of Rochester
• MA in Statistics, University of Rochester
• BS in Mathematics, Southwest Normal University, China

Dr. He's research focuses on mixture population modeling, causal inference, longitudinal data analysis, and ROC analysis, with significant applications in tuberculosis diagnostics and molecular epidemiology. She develops novel statistical approaches for social media data analysis, drinking outcome modeling, and zero-modified datasets, emphasizing methodological rigor in public health contexts. Her textbook Applied Categorical and Count Data Analysis and edited volume Statistical Causal Inferences and Their Applications in Public Health Research establish her as a leading methodological authority.

Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a concentrated focus on CRISPR-based diagnostic technologies and next-generation sequencing for tuberculosis detection, with strong emphasis on point-of-care applications, diagnostic accuracy validation, and low-resource setting adaptations. These works integrate biostatistical innovation with molecular diagnostics to address critical gaps in infectious disease control.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Teaching Excellent Award (2020)

Dr. He directs the Methodology/Biostatistics Unit at Tulane University Translational Science Institute (TUTSI) and serves as Principal Investigator for an NIH R01 grant Moving beyond description: statistical and causal inference for social media data, alongside multiple pilot studies and foundation-funded projects. She has contributed biostatistical expertise to dozens of NIH-funded investigations, particularly in tuberculosis and infectious disease research.

As Co-director of TUTSI's Clinical Research Core and Statistical Deputy Editor for the American Journal of Public Health, she leads institutional research infrastructure while advancing methodological standards in public health science.