May 30, 2022

Doctoral graduate develops new use for biostatistic methods: assessing human exposure to radiation

Thomas LaBone graduated in May with a Ph.D. in Biostatistics. With this degree, he is on the forefront of researchers in his field when it comes to applying Bayesian statistics to internal dosimetry.

In 1986, LaBone began a position at the Savanah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina, where he began communicating with researchers applying Bayesian statistics to various projects at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Twenty years later, he was offered a position at MJW Corporation, where he could attend school and work full-time.

LaBone’s dissertation outlines a technique for using Bayesian methods to offer innovative, practical solutions to the challenges posed by internal dosimetry.

“I especially thank my dissertation advisor for accepting the challenge of teaching an old dog new tricks and not giving up on me,” LaBone says. “I pursued a Ph.D. in an effort to take my game to the next level, and Dr. [Alexander] McLain has been a marvelous coach.”

Read the full story, written by Erin Bluvas, on the Arnold School of Public Health website.