Biostatistics Focus

Teaching & the Graduate Program

The Department of Public Health Sciences (DPHS) offers a Ph.D. degree in biostatistics that prepare our students to have a strong foundation in both statistical theory and methodology. Through rigorous course work, these programs provide innovative interdisciplinary training in analytical and mathematical sciences germane to biology, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, health care, and environmental sciences. In collaboration with other departments, our programs offer a wealth of opportunities for students to acquire experience and expertise in the application of biostatistical methodology and theory to biomedical, clinical, and public health problems.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Our Ph.D. in Biostatistics emphasizes statistical theory and methods so that students are prepared to be effective statistical collaborators in interdisciplinary studies, take leadership roles in the design and execution of studies, and develop novel biostatistics methodology. This is a 4 to 5 year program with a research-based dissertation after successfully completing rigorous and comprehensive course work. The program prepares students for careers as independent investigators, educators, or highly-qualified practitioners of biostatistics.

Career Opportunities

Biostatistics is one of the primary skills needed for the development and practice of public health. A biostatistician partners with researchers in medicine and public health fields to advance scientific discovery through involvement in designing studies, improving data collection methods, analyzing data, interpreting results and collaborating in writing research reports and papers to disseminate research findings. Our programs prepare students to become outstanding Biostatisticians in each of these areas. Our graduates are in high demand and have a wide array of career opportunities in academia, government and industry.

Faculty

Faculty members in the Biostatistics Division have expertise in areas such as categorical, longitudinal, multivariate, survival, recurrent events, multiple outcomes and Bayesian biostatistical methods. They assume leading and collaborative roles in various clinical trials and health related studies. They develop innovative methods to improve statistical inference and data analyses by incorporating relevant scientific knowledge from biological and clinical fields. Our faculty members work closely with basic scientists, clinicians and health services researchers to optimally design clinical and public health study, to efficiently collect and archive data, to oversee data analyses, and to report and interpret study results. Their clinical areas of interest include cancer prevention and control, Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular disease, AIDS, aging and Alzheimer’s disease, oral health, genetic epidemiology, mental health, neurology and neuroimaging.