Biostatistics Track in the Graduate Program of Statistics at UMBC

Biostatistics, one of the fastest growing research areas in statistics, focuses primarily on development of statistical methods and their application to biomedical and public health studies. Statistical methods use mathematics and probability theory to aid scientists in designing studies, and in analyzing data. In addition to developing innovative statistical methodologies, biostatisticians often participate in collaborative research to solve important public health problems and in teaching scientists, professionals, and graduate students the use of statistics in biomedical and epidemiological research. The job market for statisticians (M.S. and Ph.D.) has been very hot for the past ten years and the prospect for statisticians specializing in Biostatistics is even hotter. More information about biostatistics careers can be found at the American Statistical Association website.

The Biostatistics track in the graduate program of Statistics at UMBC is a joint venture between UMBC's Department of Mathematics & Statistics, the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, and the University of Maryland Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center's Biostatistics Division. It offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. General information on the M.S. program of statistics at UMBC can be found here. This joint graduate Biostatistics track will be primarily for graduate students who seek a career as an academic, government or industrial researcher in the areas of biomedical and epidemiological sciences. This special statistics program will also meet the needs of health professionals who wish to continue with a public health career and achieve a higher and more specialized degree, or the needs of statisticians who wish to specialize in statistical methods for biomedical and epidemiological applications.

This program will provide students a strong mathematical statistics foundation in biostatistics research, mastery of a broad range of applied methodologies through course work and seminars at UMBC and UMB, and exposures to numerous biostatistical applications through collaborations. During their stay in the program, students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in collaborative research at UMBC, the School of Medicine and the Greenebaum Cancer Center. This program will be unique in its emphasis on the theoretical foundations of statistical reasoning, as well as in the requirement that graduates have a scientific minor in one of the many important biomedical fields, including clinical trials, bioinformatics, population epidemiology, gerontology, etc. It is expected that there will be significant interaction between the three partners in terms of student mentoring and offering of courses and student support.