Doctor of Philosophy in Biostatistics

After completing this degree, the student should be able to:

1. Identify and develop appropriate statistical designs for biomedical research studies;
2. Identify and perform an appropriate statistical analysis of biomedical data to address a given research question;
3. Proficiently apply specialized computer software to manage and analyze biomedical data and summarize/interpret results;
4. Write a statistical analysis and results sections for a manuscript as part of a research team;
5. Describe and develop mathematical and statistical theory underlying biostatistical methods;
6. Develop and evaluate new and existing statistical methodology as part of a research team.

All students enroll in a set of core courses that cover biostatistical theory and applications. At the end of the first year, students take a two-day written screening exam assessing mastery of these topics. Students then choose from one of four tracks that will allow them to develop expertise in a specific area:

• Biostatistics Theory
• Statistical Genetics
• Environmental Statistics
• Clinical Trials

Students then take all remaining core and track-specific courses in preparation for the qualifying examination. The qualifying exam focuses on the student’s dissertation topic and includes both a written and oral component. Subsequent efforts are devoted to dissertation research and culminate in the PhD defense. A minimum of 60 units of graduate study is required for the PhD degree; a maximum of 19 of these units may be from research and dissertation.