Letter from the Chair.
Welcome to the Department of Biostatistics website!
Biostatisticians engage in interdisciplinary research to address the most pressing medical and public health problems of our time, such as epidemic modeling. Biostatisticians collaborate in study design, data collection and statistical analyses as well as develop and implement new statistical approaches which may lead to new public health programs, policies and more safe and effective medical treatments.
The mission of the Department of Biostatistics is aligned with the Boston University School of Public Health’s core purpose to “Think. Teach. Do. For the health of all.” Our mission is to develop and evaluate new methods of biostatistical analysis and strategies for study design (Think), to teach students the proper conduct of research studies through rigorous study design and appropriate analytic methods that enable valid, interpretable conclusions to be drawn (Teach) and to actively collaborate in multi-disciplinary research to ensure that studies are appropriately designed, analyzed, and interpreted for maximal impact (Do).
The Boston University Department of Biostatistics offers a number of graduate training programs in Biostatistics. Our Master of Public Health (MPH) degree offers a certificate (specialization) in “Epidemiology and Biostatistics.” Our Master of Science (MS) program in Applied Biostatistics is an innovative one-year MS program that provides comprehensive training in biostatistical methods, real-world experience through rotations and internships, and the opportunity to build a professional network in Boston and beyond. We also have Master of Arts (MA) and PhD programs in Biostatistics, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in the Fall 2019. These programs have trained world-class biostatisticians making impactful contributions in numerous sectors including academia (26%), pharmaceutical and other industries (42%), government and non-profit organizations (24%), and other sectors (8%).
Faculty in the Department of Biostatistics are internationally recognized for their innovation in research and scholarship in various areas of biostatistics, including statistical genetics, clinical trials, surveillance, infectious diseases, longitudinal studies, Bayesian statistics, risk factor identification and predictive analytics. Newly developed statistical methodology has been applied to a number of epidemiological studies and clinical trials to further our understanding of population health. For example, faculty in the Department of Biostatistics collaborate on projects involving the renowned Framingham Heart Study, the Black Women’s Health Study, the Children’s HealthWatch, the Million Veterans Project and the Risk Evaluation & Education for Alzheimer’s Disease study, to name a few. These collaborative projects provide outstanding learning and networking opportunities for students enrolled in the various Biostatistics training programs.
There are so many public health and medical problems that need addressing, and biostatistics is the key to finding solutions that address social and other determinants of health. Prepare yourself with the knowledge and skills to find innovative and effective solutions with one of our graduate training programs. With a Master’s Degree in Biostatistics listed as the #1 graduate degree for jobs by Forbes, based on pay growth from early to mid-career, job satisfaction, stress, meaning derived from the work, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) projected employment growth, there is no better time to be a biostatistician!
Join us as we together, improve the health of all.
Debbie M. Cheng, ScD
Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics