When you talk with Dr. Benjamin Brewer, one thing becomes clear quickly: his path to biostatistics was shaped less by a single defining moment and more by curiosity, practicality, and a willingness to follow what fits.

Now a Research Scientist at Virginia Tech’s Center for Biostatistics and Health Data Science (CBHDS), Brewer brings a friendly and analytical approach to every collaboration.

Brewer earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Auburn University in Alabama after switching majors multiple times. 

“I ultimately landed on math because I was like, ‘I like this. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it yet, but I like it,’” he said.

By the end of his undergraduate studies, he discovered biostatistics and was drawn to the field’s strong career outlook and real-world applications. He went on to earn his master’s degree from Duke University and began working at the University of Delaware in 2019, where he developed a passion for collaborative research. After returning to school part time to complete his PhD, he joined CBHDS in Fall 2024.

“I didn’t know what the heck I was doing when I graduated [from] undergrad,” Brewer said. “I think I just got super lucky. It worked out really well for my personality and skill set.”

At CBHDS, Brewer partners with investigators across disciplines and frequently supports medical students at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. In the past year alone, he engaged with approximately 50 students through Zoom drop-ins and recurring meetings to discuss their program research projects.

When asked what makes a statistical collaboration successful, Brewer focuses on mindset.

“I try to approach any collaboration with a servant’s heart and just be kind,” he said. “The objective is to figure out what they need from me and how I can provide that.”

He begins by understanding collaborators as people and often frames projects with a simple but powerful question: “If this project goes perfectly, what do you want to be able to say at the end?” That answer, he explained, clarifies hypotheses, guides model selection, and ensures the data can support meaningful conclusions.

Brewer also finds deep satisfaction in mentoring students. “Some of them come in and they’re like, ‘I don’t know how to do this. I feel lost,’ and you kind of help guide them to a solution. It’s very satisfying.”

For students considering statistics, his advice is practical: seek hands-on experience. “That collaborative environment does not model the classroom,” he said. “You’re going to work with messy datasets and different personalities. That hands-on experience is just so valuable.”

Outside of work, Brewer stays busy through weightlifting, running, tennis, pickleball, and video games. Since 2016, he has also led Body Pump group fitness classes in Charlottesville.

“I like jobs that are varied, that have a social component, that force me to use my brain, and that are flexible,” Brewer said.

At CBHDS, he has found exactly that: a role grounded in collaboration, intellectual challenge, and meaningful impact.