José Ignacio Cuitún Coronado

PhD in Social Statistics (2022)

José is a Research Fellow in Data Science / Medical Statistics. He graduated from Manchester in 2022 with a PhD in Social Statistics. He talks about what he does now and how he got there following his time at Manchester.

My current role and how I got there

Shortly after completing my doctoral studies in the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMI) I started working as Research Associate at the University of Liverpool, and later as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol. My work focused on the topics of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, mental health, autoimmune diseases, rheumatic diseases, and more.

I am currently a Research Fellow in Data Science / Medical Statistics, based in the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS) and Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR), where I research in the areas of Structured Medication Review (SMR), frailty, 24 hours blood pressure and using Electronic Health Records (EHRs).

My experience at Manchester

I had considered a career in applied statistics, so the Social Statistics PhD at The University of Manchester, which included multidisciplinary research in areas such as Psychology, Sociology, and Medicine, seemed like a perfect fit. The opportunity to engage in multidisciplinary research significantly influenced my interest my current career, as it provided me with essential skills in statistical analysis, data management, and the use of various statistical software including Excel, Stata, and R. Working with different software allowed me to identify their strengths and limitations, which helped me to improve my work.

During my time at Manchester, the lecturers encouraged me to explore various topics and perspectives. They emphasised the importance of staying up-to-date with current developments and advancements in my area of interests and urged me to consider approaches such as health inequalities, socioeconomic status, and geographic differences. Their suggestions helped me refine my research projects and identify gaps in the literature, which has been instrumental in preparing research protocols for the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

My advice for future students

Engage with the staff within The University of Manchester, they’re friendly and helpful and will always find you the answer. If you are interested in doing research, but unsure about the necessary steps, the staff can point you in the right direction to contact the most suitable supervisor. Finally, go out and explore the campus, it’s amazing and there are plenty of activities to get involved with.