Health Career: Biostatistician
Who are biostatisticians and what do they do?
Biostatisticians are researchers who work with math and statistics to study diseases and other health concerns. They help design research studies and locate important information from sources such as health surveys and medical records. They assist other health professionals such as doctors and epidemiologists analyze the results of the studies.
How do biostatisticians typically spend their work day?
Most biostatisticians work in a university, research facility or pharmaceutical firm. You will research diseases and health conditions; work with mathematical and statistical formulas to analyze the information you find; and advise other researchers about how to use statistics to design and analyze new studies. For example, you may study risk factors that may cause teenagers to start smoking or drinking alcohol. You will use statistics to analyze and interpret information about teens who smoke or use alcohol, including details about their families, peers and communities where they live. Then you will prepare reports explaining your conclusions about what may cause teens to start smoking and using alcohol.
What does it take to be a good biostatistician?
Can you calculate your favorite baseball player's average RBI over the past five years? Do you like helping your mom balance her checkbook? If you like working with numbers and want to work in health care, you would make a terrific biostatistician. This profession requires patient and curious people who enjoy trying to find answers to complicated questions.
What are some health-related jobs that are similar to that of a biostatistician?
Epidemiologist.
Related links and more information:
- American Statistical Association
- American Statistical Association: What is Biostatistics?
- Stanford University – Biosciences and Bioengineering
