Qijia He

I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Statistics at the University of Washington, where I am co-advised by professor Alex Luedtke and Bo Zhang. I am also very fortunate to collaborate with professor Yingqi Zhao, Ting Ye, and Fei Gao.

Previously, I received my MS degree in Statistics at the University of Washington in 2023. Before graduate school, I obtained my BS degree in Statistics from Sun Yat-sen University in 2021.

Contact me: heqj3@uw.edu

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Selected Research

I have broad research interests in causal inference and machine learning. Specifically, I have been working on projects about individualized optimal decision-making, assessing variable importance for heterogeneous treatment effects, mediation analysis, and generalizability in causal inference.

We proposed a framework for using placebo samples in observational studies to detect and correct for unmeasured confounding bias. It develops identification assumptions and estimation methods—including regression, weighting, and doubly robust approaches—and validates them through simulations and an applied case study on tax credits and infant health.

We developed a potential outcomes framework to estimate the ITT effect of an active control versus placebo in active-controlled trials, using historical placebo-controlled data. Our method enables ITT estimation when the placebo arm is unavailable and accounts for unmeasured confounders using instrumental variables.

We introduced a new criterion for individualized treatment rules based on the adjusted probability of longer survival, offering a clear and clinically relevant objective. Our method, optimal adjusted probability learning, constructs the best treatment rule by maximizing this nonparametric survival benefit.

Presentations

Generalizing the Intention-to-Treat Effect of an Active Control from Historical Placebo-Controlled Trials

- The Translational Data Science Integrated Research Center Retreat. Kirkland, WA, 2023.

- 20th Annual STI & HIV Research Symposium. Seattle, WA, 2023.

- American Causal Inference Conference. Seattle, WA, 2024

- Joint Statistical Meetings. Portland, OR, 2024.

- HVTN Africa Regional Meeting. Cape Town, South Africa, 2024.

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant in STAT 311 Elements of Statistical Methods (Winter 2024)

Tutor in Mathematical analysis (Fall 2018)

Teaching Assistant in primary-school Olympiad Mathematics (2017-2018)