Biostatistics Careers.

Overview

Biostatisticians play a critical role in studies of risk factors for disease, in assessing safety and efficacy of new therapies in clinical trials and in the evaluation of patient outcomes. The results of these studies have public health and policy implications. There continues to be high demand for graduates with biostatistical training for positions in the public health sector, hospitals, private industry and research in both academic and private institutions.

Biostatisticians play essential roles in designing studies and analyzing data from research problems. They help formulate the scientific questions to be answered, determine the appropriate sampling techniques, coordinate data collection procedures, and carry out statistical analyses to answer those scientific questions.

Research problems are as diverse as the study of factors affecting diseases, testing new drugs, assessing indoor air quality, working with various cancer studies, evaluating dental health and dental procedures, evaluating psychiatric symptoms and drug and alcohol use.

Biostatisticians also help develop statistical techniques. Active areas of research include Bayesian methods, high-speed computing and simulation, survival analysis, analysis of geographical patterns of disease, longitudinal data analysis, and methods for analyzing data from epidemiologic studies and clinical trials.

Career Pathways for Epidemiology & Biostatistics Candidates

Common Job Titles

  • SAS Programmer
  • Biostatistician
  • Health Data Analysis
  • Research Analyst
  • Clinical Data Analyst
  • Biostatistician Epidemiologist
  • Health Economics Outcome Research Associate/Specialist

    Where these positions can be found

    • Government (local, state, federal)
      • Be sure to submit applications within the first 15 days of the job being posted and follow the instructions
      • If considering the Boston Public Health Commission, you must be a Boston resident to be considered
    • Hospitals
    • NGO’s
    • Pharmaceutical/Biotech Companies
    • Academic Research Organizations (ARO’s)
    • Clinical Research Organizations (CRO’s)
    • Insurance Companies

    Core Competencies & Skills Needed

    Be sure to read job postings to learn more. Competencies and skills will vary by sector​.

    • Tendency to think logically and analytically
    • Interest in solving challenging research problems
    • Ability to work both individually and collaboratively
    • Desire to continue learning about new topics and new techniques
    • Strong background in math and statistics
    • Knowledge of how to use statistics programs and databases
    •  Experience/interest in analyzing large data sets
    • Tools: SAS, R, Excel

    Salary Expectations

    Salaries for positions in Biostatistics are based on industry, experience level, and location. You can view the BUSPH graduate employment data here. Salary information is housed under Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

    Sample Resume & Tips

    • Follow the EpiBio & Research resume template to help craft your Biostatistics focused resume.
    • For data focused resumes, make sure to create a well detailed technical skills section

    Associations & Organizations

    Industry Specific Job boards