Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
“Our faculty are so incredibly kind, easy to talk to, and really care about their students and colleagues. It’s incredibly collegial. Our master’s and PhD programs are the least competitive I’ve come across that have the level of rigor we do. Finally, our courses are set up to really encourage collaboration, which I think is the best way to learn.”
Raphiel Murden has always had a knack for numbers. Growing up, he liked that math was subjective because there was always a correct answer. So, it only seemed natural to pursue his academic career in mathematics. But, while working on his PhD at Washington University, he began to question if math was truly the place that would bring him the most joy—much of the work can be isolating, which contrasts with Murden’s extroverted nature. Then, he received an unexpected medical diagnosis that forced him to re-evaluate his priorities and shift his coursework to accommodate his health needs. He adjusted his program and received his master’s in statistics instead, which opened new possibilities and ways of thinking.
“It opened my eyes,” says Murden. “My thesis advisor organized it so I could assist on a research project where I analyzed data from a women’s substance abuse housing unit on their risk for HIV acquisition which not only gave me a chance to do work that was collaborative but also that had a real impact. It allowed me to break into this field of HIV which was very pertinent to people across the country, including me personally.”
After receiving his master’s and teaching undergraduate math at Spelman College—a job he loved at an institution he revered—his mentors at Spelman and Morehouse kept pushing him to go back to school and finish his PhD. “Since I already had experience in statistics and wanted to use quantitative skills to make a difference in the world, biostatistics just made sense and Rollins was right here in Atlanta.”
Despite the difficulty of the material and the program, Murden immediately found a home in the department, which he describes as the “best department on campus.” He says, “Our faculty are so incredibly kind, easy to talk to, and really care about their students and colleagues. It’s incredibly collegial. Our master’s and PhD programs are the least competitive I’ve come across that have the level of rigor we do. Finally, our courses are set up to really encourage collaboration, which I think is the best way to learn.”
Murden joined the faculty as research assistant professor just two months after defending his dissertation in 2021 and teaches the BSHES section of Statistical Methods (BIOS 500) every fall. “Getting people who may not traditionally be seen as strong in their quantitative abilities—especially racial minorities and women—to understand and be excited by the material is a joy for me. It’s really at the crux of why I come back to teach this course over and over.”
Biostatisticians collaborate with projects across departments—and campus—which is an aspect of the work Murden values. His research areas have traditionally been based in HIV and neuor-imaging, but lately he has also branched out into social epidemiology and social determinants of health. He’s currently working on a diversity supplement from the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to analyze and develop modeling curves on a project looking at cardiovascular health among young Black women in Atlanta.
“I love it here. The facilities are amazing. I like interacting with the students, faculty, and staff across all the buildings. It’s just a dope place to be. If you’re the type of person who likes people and wants to contribute to public health using your quantitative skills, Rollins is the place for you.”