Li Chen elected as ASA Chair of Biopharmaceutical Section
Congratulations to Dr. Li Chen (SD 1996), Head of Hematology Oncology Biostatistics at Amgen, who has been elected as the 2027 Chair of the Biopharmaceutical Section—the largest section of the American Statistical Association (ASA). The position is a highly influential role that extends well beyond the pharmaceutical industry.
In honor of the event, we have conducted a short interview with Dr. Chen about her time in the Biostatistics department, her vision for her new role in the ASA, some of the greatest challenges and opportunities she sees in the field, and her advice to students interested in a similar career path.
What is your primary vision or top priority as you step into this new chair role?
My top priority is to ensure that the ASA Biopharmaceutical Section, one of the ASA’s largest and most active sections, continues to serve as a platform where industry, academia, and regulators come together to address emerging challenges, develop practical standards, and support the development of future leaders in our field.
As our profession evolves with rapid technological change and an increasingly global environment, I want to strengthen the Section’s impact by investing in scientific leadership, mentorship, and global engagement so that our community continues to shape how AI and innovative statistical methods are integrated into drug development and regulatory decision-making.
How did your time in Harvard Biostatistics help shape the leadership style you bring to this position?
My time in Harvard Biostatistics had a lasting influence on how I approach leadership. One thing that stood out was how approachable the faculty were. They were not only world-renowned scholars in their fields but also caring mentors who created an environment where students felt comfortable engaging openly with faculty, asking questions, and seeking guidance. That experience reinforced for me the importance of being accessible and investing in mentorship.
Over the years, I have stayed connected with my thesis advisor, LJ Wei, who remains an inspiring influence. His vision consistently encouraged us to see the bigger picture, to branch out beyond traditional boundaries, and to ensure that our work remains relevant and impactful not only within statistics but across the broader scientific and medical community.
Together, these experiences shaped how I approach leadership today – staying accessible, supporting mentorship, fostering collaboration, and encouraging statisticians to think more broadly about how we can make a greater impact.
What do you see as the biggest opportunity or challenge facing our field right now?
I see the biggest opportunity and challenge as the rapid integration of AI and advanced analytics into biopharmaceutical research and development. These technologies have enormous potential to improve efficiency, generate deeper insights, and accelerate drug development, but they also raise important questions around validation, interpretability, reproducibility, and regulatory trust.
As AI becomes more capable, the role of statisticians will increasingly shift toward scientific judgment, strategic leadership, and guiding how evidence is interpreted and used. In biopharmaceutical development, decisions are rarely purely technical. They often involve balancing complex considerations across clinical relevance, operational realities, and regulatory expectations. Those are areas where human judgment, experience, and accountability remain essential.
What core advice do you have for current students who hope to follow a similar career path?
My core advice for current students is to strive for excellence in whatever you do, while building a strong technical foundation and developing the ability to communicate clearly, work across disciplines, and adapt as the field continues to evolve.
I’d also emphasize the value of relationships and mentorship. Many of the opportunities in my own career came from people who were willing to guide, challenge, and support me along the way. Seeking out those connections and eventually doing the same for others is an important part of building a meaningful career.
Finally, I’d remind students that careers are rarely linear. Being curious, dependable, open to learning, and willing to step outside your comfort zone often matters more than having every step carefully planned out. Some of the most meaningful growth opportunities come from taking on challenges and being open to new directions and opportunities.
