Overview
Steven C. Grambow, PhD is Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Education in the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at Duke University School of Medicine. He serves as Director of the Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP), Duke’s flagship degree-granting program for clinical and translational research education, and as Co-Director of the Workforce Development Pillar of the Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Dr. Grambow provides strategic oversight for multiple educational and workforce development initiatives that span the full continuum of learners, from students to faculty.
With over two decades of experience in graduate and professional education, Dr. Grambow has taught statistical methods and research design to more than 1,000 physician-scientists, clinical fellows, and faculty at Duke and the NIH. He has led the CRTP’s core statistics course for over 21 years and has directed or co-directed national and international certificate programs across multiple institutions. His expertise spans classroom, hybrid, and online environments, and he has served as a leader in designing programs that respond to evolving workforce and research needs.
A central focus of Dr. Grambow’s work is building pathways into clinical and translational research careers. He has cultivated longstanding partnerships with academic and community institutions, including North Carolina Central University and Durham Technical Community College, to create educational models that prepare learners for impactful roles in research. His efforts emphasize strong mentorship, practical experience, and tailored program design to meet learners where they are and help them advance.
Dr. Grambow is also at the forefront of educational innovation, leading initiatives that explore the integration of artificial intelligence into biostatistical training and academic workflows. His current work includes faculty development in AI literacy, emerging pedagogical models that support active learning and reflective practice, and new frameworks for clinical research education that emphasize adaptability and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
As a collaborative statistical scientist, Dr. Grambow has contributed to a wide range of clinical research studies, including observational studies, randomized trials, and epidemiologic investigations. His research collaborations have addressed public health and clinical challenges such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), prostate cancer, cardiovascular risk reduction, and substance use recovery.
Dr. Grambow’s leadership has been recognized through institutional and national awards, including teaching honors from the American Statistical Association and Duke University. He brings a unique combination of academic rigor, educational strategy, and programmatic leadership to his roles, helping to shape the future of clinical research training through thoughtful innovation and sustained collaboration.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Natural History of Clostridioides difficile-Related Disease Progression in the 2-Step Testing Era.
Journal Article Clin Infect Dis · June 4, 2025 BACKGROUND: The natural history of Clostridioides difficile progression in nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) positive, toxin enzyme immunoassay-negative patients remains poorly described. Better understanding risk for subsequent disease may improve pr ... Full text Link to item CiteIntegrating Large Language Models in Biostatistical Workflows for Clinical and Translational Research
Journal Article Journal of Clinical and Translational Science · January 1, 2025 Introduction: Biostatisticians increasingly use large language models (LLMs) to enhance efficiency, yet practical guidance on responsible integration is limited. This study explores current LLM usage, challenges, and training needs to support biostatistici ... Full text CiteA Method for Teaching Biostatisticians to Write and Critique Specific Aims
Journal Article Journal of Curriculum and Teaching · November 1, 2024 This article describes the design of a single instructional module on writing and critiquing the Specific Aims (SA) section of a grant proposal for a biomedical research study. It begins by discussing the goals and learning objectives for the module. Then, ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Staphylococcus aureus Cardiac Device Infections - From the Vascular Viewpoint (K23)
ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2022 - 2027Educational Resources to Support FDA's Patient-Focused Drug Development Guidance Series
ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2024 - 2026The Clinical Research/Reproductive Scientist Training Program (CREST)
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Colorado - Denver · 2020 - 2026View All Grants