Program Overview
Doctor of Philosophy in Biostatistics
Overview
The PhD in Biostatistics prepares students to succeed in academic research positions and leadership roles in health-related data analysis within the public or private sector. The program deepens statistical expertise, provides college teaching experience, and requires the completion of a major research project that advances the discipline and helps improve the health of countless people.
Program of Study
The biostatistics doctorate requires 60 credits and the completion of a dissertation. For the first two years, students follow the curriculum for the master's in biostatistics program. After that, they work with their faculty advisor to develop a specialization through their remaining coursework. Finally, they design a biostatistical study in their area of interest and report their findings in a publishable report.
Research Opportunities
Students learn first-hand from faculty who actively address public health issues facing New York State (NYS). More than 75% of faculty in the College of Integrated Health Sciences hold appointments with the NYS Department of Health, which provides many research opportunities in the labs of the internationally recognized Wadsworth Center.
Students may also work with biotechnology firms located on UAlbany's Health Sciences Campus and with faculty in the University's Cancer Research Center, Prevention Research Center, Public Health Preparedness Center, Cardiac Quality Improvement Initiative, and Center for Health Workforce Studies.
Research Topics
Biostatistics students frequently work on research projects related to:
- Vector-borne diseases
- Human immunodeficiency virus
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Hospital admissions
- Vital records
- Toxicology
- Outbreak investigations
- Chronic diseases
- Nutrition
- Environmental and occupational epidemiology
Career Paths
The PhD program in Biostatistics prepares students for employment in multiple settings, including universities, hospitals, public health and other government agencies, nonprofit organizations, NGOs, and health care and pharmaceutical companies.
Alumni have obtained academic research and teaching positions at Duke University, Pennsylvania State University, John Hopkins University, and Harvard University.
Other doctorate students pursue jobs with titles like:
- Nutritional epidemiology statistician
- Pharmacogenomics statistical analyst
- Health economist
- Geospatial statistician
- Clinical research analyst
- Disease control specialist
- Medical research biostatistician
- Quantitative health analyst
Admission Requirements
Deadlines
- Fall: December 15
Applicants who wish to be considered for a departmental doctoral graduate assistantship must submit their application by the published deadline. Students who wish to be considered for one of the non-departmental assistantships should consult the Costs and Aid page for information on additional funding opportunities, requirements, and deadlines.
Application Requirements
- Must hold a bachelor's degree from a college or university of recognized standing
- MS degree in Biostatistics is strongly recommended
- Grade point average of 3.00 or better
- It is very strongly recommended to have an undergraduate major in mathematics, statistics, computer science, the biology, physical or social sciences
- One semester in linear algebra, multivariate calculus, and computer programming
International Requirements
- International students must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 98, IELTS score of 7.0, or Duolingo score of 125
- UAlbany SOPHAS TOEFL code is 5688
- Official Duolingo scores must be sent to the University at Albany (SOPHAS does not accept Duolingo scores)
- The TOEFL or IELTS is not required for international students who have completed at least four semesters of full-time study within a four-year time frame from time of application, and maintained at least a B average at a college or university in the United States or a country from an approved list
Required Application Materials
- Official transcripts from every post-secondary academic institution attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal Statement (2-page limit)
- CV/Resume
Student Learning Objectives
- Describe the roles biostatistics serves in the discipline of public health
- Describe basic concepts of probability, random variation, and commonly used statistical probability distributions
- Describe preferred methodological alternatives to commonly used statistical methods when assumptions are not met
- Distinguish among the different measurement scales and the implications for selection of statistical methods to be used based on these distinctions
- Apply descriptive techniques commonly used to summarize public health data
- Apply common statistical methods for inference
- Apply descriptive and inferential methodologies according to the type of study design for answering a particular research question
- Apply basic informatics techniques with vital statistics and public health records in the description of public health characteristics and in public health research and evaluation
- Interpret results of statistical analyses found in public health studies
- Develop written and oral presentations based on statistical analyses for both public health professionals and educated lay audiences
- Capability to build statistical model over real health data
- Estimate and compare efficiency of models
- Use statistical software to analyze health-related data
- Be able to explain the advantages of a Bayesian data analysis
- Perform univariate data analysis for continuous and categorical variables
- Interpret inferential findings within Bayesian thinking (e.g., credible intervals, hypothesis testing)
- Conduct inference via posterior simulation and simulations tool
Supplemental Degree Programs
Graduate students can typically request a supplemental degree in one or more subordinate degrees without needing to go through the full admissions process again.
Supplemental programs available with this degree:
- Africana Studies CGS
- Biostatistics MS
- Community College Leadership CGS
- Demography CGS
- Global Health Studies CGS
- Health Disparities CGS
- HIV Studies CGS
- International Education Management CGS
- Maternal and Child Health CGS
- Public Health Surveillance and Preparedness CGS
