Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
Supported by National Science Foundation (UConn PI)
Collaborative Research: Shape-based Imputation and Estimation of Fragmented, Noisy on to the Reconstruction of Fossil Bovid Teeth
Role:PI
2020-2024
Supported by US Food and Drug Administration (PI Rickles)
The feasibility and effectiveness of an Opioid package prototype (OPP) to impact opioid prescribing, dispensing, and patient use outcome
Role:Co-I
2019-2024
Supported by Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services via grant awarded to the State of Connecticut Office of Healthcare advocate (PI Aseltine)
State Innovation Model/Round Two of Funding for Design and Test Assistance
Role:Subcontract PI
2019-2020
Supported by Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute via the American Statistical Association (PI Crespi)
Engagement Award for the 13th International Conference on Health Policy Statistics.
Role:Co-PI
2019-2020
Supported by National Science Foundation (UConn PI)
Collaborative Research: Statistical Analysis of Partially Observed Shapes in Two Dimensions
Role:PI
2018-2020
Supported by Research Excellence Program (REP), Office of Vice President for Research (PI Smith)
Pharmacist E-Consult Service for Primary Care Medication Use and Safety (PCMUST): An Implementation Science Pilot Project
Role: Co-PI
2018-2019
Supported by Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services via grant awarded to the State of Connecticut Office of Healthcare advocate (PI Aseltine)
State Innovation Model/Round Two of Funding for Design and Test Assistance
Role: Subcontract PI
2016-2018
Supported by Institute of Education Sciences (IES) (PI Drake-Ginsburg)
Enhancing the Capacity of School Nurses to Reduce Excessive Anxiety in Children
Role: Subcontract PI
2014-2018
Supported by United States Department of Agriculture (PI Ann Ferris)
Effectiveness of an IMB-based intervention for Reducing Sweetened Beverage Consumption in Preschool Children
Role: Statistician
2008-2012
Supported by Health Services Research and Development, Department of Veteran Affairs (PI April Gerlock)
Detection of Intimate Partner Violence
Role: Biostatistician
2007-2012
Supported by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (subcontract from UCHC, Rob Aseltine PI)
Evaluation of Connecticut Statewide Suiside Prevention Program
Role: PI of subcontract
2009-2010
Supported by Center for Health, Intervention and Prevention (CHIP), University of Connecticut
CHIP/CHCM Grant Development Stipend Competition
Role: PI
2008
Supported by the National Science Foundation (PI Zhiyi Chi)
Scientific Computing Research Environments for the Mathematical Sciences (SCREMS)
Role: Co-PI
2007-2008
Contract awarded by the National Institute of Health (PI Enrique Schisterman)
Methodology for enviromental agents whose quantification may be affected by limits of detection (LOD)
Role: Co-Investigator
2007-2009
Supported by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and graduate Education, University of Connecticut
Faculty Large Grant Competition
Role: PI
2007