Thomas Stewart

Thomas Stewart is an Associate Professor of Data Science and Program Director for the Ph.D. in Data Science at the University of Virginia's School of Data Science. He previously held faculty positions at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, contributing to the Data Science Institute, Clinical Investigation program, and Public Health program.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• M.S. in Statistics, Brigham Young University
• B.S. in Mathematics, Brigham Young University
• B.A. in Economics, Brigham Young University

Stewart specializes in biostatistics, clinical trials, and clinical research education. His work emphasizes statistical methodology in public health and translational research, particularly in the context of multi-site clinical trials. He is the lead statistician for two NIH-funded trials: Pass It On, which investigates convalescent plasma for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and ACTIV-6, a platform trial evaluating repurposed medications such as Ivermectin, Fluvoxamine, and Fluticasone for mild to moderate cases. His research integrates statistical computing, particularly using R, and promotes open science and education through initiatives like Biostats4You.

Stewart has been recognized nationally for his contributions, including his election to the Academy for Excellence in Education in 2022 and his role as a founding board member of Biostats4You, a curated educational resource for biostatistics and clinical research design. He was also an organizer of the international useR! 2022 conference, highlighting his leadership in the statistical computing community.

As Program Director, Stewart plays a key role in mentoring and advising doctoral students in data science. His collaborative research extends across institutions and organizations, including ACHQC, VCKD, and VICTR, reflecting a strong commitment to team science and interdisciplinary research. He is actively involved in grant-funded research, particularly through NIH support for his clinical trial leadership.

Stewart maintains an active research presence and contributes to the development of educational resources in biostatistics. His lab or research team is involved in clinical trial design, data coordination, and statistical analysis for large-scale health studies, particularly in the context of infectious diseases and public health emergencies.