What is Biostatistics, its importance?
Biostatistics is a branch of science that helps investigate biological observations through statistical approaches. The interpretation of scientific data via biostatistics facilitates the formulation of new theories and concepts that become the baseline for scientific advancements.
The study of life sciences and medicine through biostatistics helps public health experts to address and resolve a multitude (of health-related issues). The skilled public health experts with proficiency in biostatistics expedite scientific innovations and enhance their utilization for the welfare of human populations.
Qualified biostatisticians utilize mathematical conventions, analyze data, and communicate scientific findings.
Public health experts utilize biostatistics to minimize the incidence and prevalence of fatal disease conditions. The multifaceted discipline of biostatistics relies on data management approaches to improve the performance of biological systems. The viable statistical tools developed by biostatisticians strengthen scientific research in public health, epidemiology, and medicine. The biostatisticians also apply mathematical strategies to enhance the quality and outcomes of agricultural and environmental studies.
The concepts of biostatistics help improve the disease risk assessment measures in medical facilities. The engagement of biostatisticians in clinical trials reduces the risk of biased outcomes. Biostatistics also informs innovative pharmaceutical manufacturing techniques and diagnostic approaches in the health care sector.
The Efforts Needed to Become a Biostatistician
Biostatistics is a promising career for public health professionals with an eye for detail. Biostatistics helps them utilize their mathematical knowledge and skills to solve complex biological issues. Biostatistics is a viable career for those public health professionals who understand its importance in life sciences and streamline their efforts to achieve their career goals.
Biostatistics in public health offers them several opportunities for personal and professional development. The intricacies of biostatistics do not challenge the candidates who thoroughly understand the relationship between mathematics and life sciences.
The students of biostatistics need to study the concepts of distributions, probability, and descriptive statistics. They also require increasing their knowledge of surveying techniques and computational methods. The command in programming languages (including Statistical Analysis System (SAS) and C++) prove highly beneficial in delineating the scientific concepts. The biostatistics students also need to strengthen their skills and knowledge in the following subjects.
- Statistical ecology and genetics
- Computational biology
- Bioinformatics tools and techniques
- Genomics for data mining
- Linear programming
- Clinical trial operations
- Survival analysis
- Bayesian interference
- Advanced statistical computing
- Advanced epidemiology
- Multivariate statistics
- Time series analysis and stochastic modeling
Applications of Biostatistics
The tools and techniques of biostatistics help develop a range of attributes or variables with predefined values to unravel biological problems. Biostatisticians utilize various mathematical models to improve the quality and outcomes of the following measures.
- Decision-making interventions in scientific studies and clinical trials
- Interpretation and assessment of scientific data
- Data collection and presentation procedures
- Formulation of novel mathematical concepts, theories, and rules for their application in epidemiology and clinical medicine
- Diagnostic evaluation of biological samples to identify the causative factors of various disease conditions
- Development of innovative communication channels to improve scientific communication
The biostatisticians collaborate with private companies, hospitals, governmental organizations, research centers, educational institutes, pharmaceutical companies, and contract research organizations to improve their data analysis systems. They collaborate with physicians, researchers, policymakers, administrative personnel, and scientists to develop comprehensive public health improvement strategies. They also engage in the following processes to improve the rigor and credibility of clinical studies.
- Configuration of problem-focused strategies to enhance the overall performance of the health care system
- Audit and validation of research findings
- Development of statistical methods to improve the production of drugs and medical equipment
- Comprehensive assessment of risk factors concerning various disease conditions
- Evaluation of mechanism of action and effectiveness of novel drug targets
The applications of biostatistics in the following domains help innovative biostatisticians expand their careers based on their skills and academic background.
- Quantitative genetics
- Personalized medicine
- Internal medicine
- Health care management
- Health policy development
- Environmental health
- Nutrition
- Health services research
- Epidemiology
- Population dynamics
- Systems biology
- Biological sequence assessment
- Ecological forecasting
The engagement of biostatisticians in clinical studies helps reduce their overall cost and time. A career in biostatistics helps public health professionals to improve the methodology of clinical studies and the accuracy of their findings. A career in biostatistics also assists public health professionals in designing various tools, techniques, and programs for the meaningful utilization (of high throughput data) in scientific studies. A career in biostatistics further assists public health experts in expanding the applications (of the following procedures) in biological studies.
- Gene set enrichment analysis
- Linear discriminant analysis
- Logistic regression method
- Gene expression evaluation
- Mass spectrometry
- DNA microarrays
Why Should You Study Biostatistics?
A career in biostatistics provides several opportunities to the public health experts to facilitate quantitative research concerning the enhancement (of public health and wellness).
A career in biostatistics authorizes public health experts to validate health care policies based on the evolving patient care demands. The increasing contribution of biostatistics in public health continues to expand career opportunities for transformative candidates.
Biostatisticians address and resolve real-life scientific issues that consistently challenge researchers and clinicians in prestigious health care facilities and research centers. The public health experts gain proficiency in performing the following interventions with a certificate in biostatistics.
- Survey research
- Tracking and extraction of missing data
- Longitudinal data evaluation
- Assessment of causal inference
- Brain imaging data analysis
- Statistical investigation of genetic data
Biostatistics is a good career opportunity for public health experts due to the numerous growth advantages (it extends) across health care organizations. The applications (of biostatistics) in public health positively influence the median income of biostatisticians
Biostatisticians across various research centers and public health organizations earn an annual salary ranging between $90,000-$100,000. The projected annual growth rate (of 15%-20%) makes biostatistics a highly paid career in health care facilities and research centers. The increasing use (of biostatistics) in formulating public health measures adds more job opportunities for skilled candidates.
Career Opportunities in Biostatistics
The public health experts who study biostatistics remain aware of its importance in the health care sector. The expertise in biostatistics increases their scope of employment in pharmaceutical firms, medical schools, research organizations, hospitals, clinical settings, federal (health governing) agencies, and laboratories.
The qualified biostatisticians facilitate observational studies and also supervise the design and assessment methods concerning experimental studies. The biostatisticians get the opportunities to serve reputed universities on the profile of lecturers and associate professors. A career in biostatistics helps many public health graduates to render their services as senior research consultants at various colleges.
Biotechnology companies prefer to hire biostatisticians with a public health background to improve the quality and scalability of their products. Health insurance companies hire biostatisticians to evaluate the quality of their medical claims through statistical methods.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also provides employment opportunities to biostatisticians (all across the globe) based on their background in public health and epidemiology. Several peer-review organizations deploy biostatisticians to streamline their information systems.
The state health departments also deploy biostatisticians to improve the surveillance and administration of their public health programs. The research centers hire biostatistical programmers to maximize the function of their utility tools and software programs.
The Worth of a Career in Biostatistics
The skills in biostatistics increase the scope of public health experts for acquiring competitive salaries based on their contribution to data analysis in clinical studies. Biostatisticians establish a stable and progressive career in academia, pharmaceutical companies, and contract research organizations. They prove to be the irreplaceable options in research facilities that strive to foster scientific studies (for benefiting the human populations).
Multinational companies provide challenging projects to biostatisticians who prefer to extend their services as freelancers. The communication and analytical skills of senior biostatisticians help them gain financial incentives and appraisals in pharmaceutical companies.
The experienced biostatisticians deliver their services across federal agencies and state-based public health centers as team leaders, consultants, project supervisors, managers, and executives. The SAS programmers with a certificate in biostatistics help various research centers to manage their data management projects.
The engagement of biostatisticians in regulatory affairs of various clinical studies helps resolve their administrative issues. The biostatisticians also supervise regulatory submissions of drug candidates and help minimize the scope of errors in clinical trials. They act as collaborators in scientific research and utilize cutting-edge technology to improve public health decisions.
Steps for Becoming a Biostatistician
The students and professionals interested in developing their career in biostatistics should initially obtain a bachelor’s degree in public health, statistics, mathematics, health, science, or equivalent discipline.
The short-term approach to entering the field of biostatistics is to obtain a certificate in biostatistics after graduation. The interested candidates should also ascertain to upgrade their skills (in linear algebra, differential equations, calculus, and abstract algebra) to avoid any learning difficulty.
The doctoral and master’s degrees also help candidates to specialize in biostatistics and strengthen their profile for executive and research positions.
The biostatisticians must gain excellence in SAS programing language and proficiency in formulating RTF/HTML/PDF documents. They should also learn Microsoft Excel skills at the advanced level to strengthen their candidature for various employment opportunities in biostatistics. They should subsequently develop a well-structured and appealing resume to display their analytical, scientific, mathematical, communication, and management skills to potential employers. They also need to face their interview sessions (with confidence) and approach the job opportunities matching their skillsets and public health background.
