PhD in Biostatistics
University of Louisville - School of Public Health and Information Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Louisville, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 14,453 / per semester *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* non-resident/international | resident $7,111
Introduction
Doctor of Philosophy in Biostatistics
Our Ph.D. program has been designed to provide rigorous training in statistical theory and methods, with the goal of enabling students to carry out original research in biostatistics. Graduates of our Ph.D. program are prepared to:
- Conduct theoretical and methodological research in biostatistics.
- Employ modern statistical techniques in the analysis of large and/or complex data sets in the health sciences.
- Serve as biostatisticians in collaborative research teams in the health sciences.
- Teach biostatistics to health sciences professionals and graduate biostatistics students.
We seek students with master’s degrees in mathematics, statistics, biostatistics, or related fields who are interested in extending their knowledge of biostatistics to be able to conduct cutting-edge research in theory and methodology. The Ph.D. curriculum is mathematically rigorous, so while we do welcome individuals with diverse backgrounds to our program, applicants are required to possess some level of fluency in advanced mathematics.
Admissions
Curriculum
Ph.D. Curriculum
The Ph.D. in Biostatistics is a 34 34-credit hour program, including 12 hours of core coursework and 22 hours of elective coursework, which is in part determined by a student’s area of emphasis – biostatistics or bioinformatics. Free electives are chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor, typically from any of the doctoral-level courses offered by the Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics (PHST 700-level).
Required Coursework – All Students
Course No. | Course Title | Offered | Credits |
PHST 691 | Bayesian Statistics | Spring, annually | 3 |
PHST 710 | Advanced Statistical Computing I | Fall, annually | 3 |
PHST 762 | Advanced Statistical Inference | Fall, annually | 3 |
PHST 781 | Advanced Linear Models | Fall, annually | 3 |
Total | 12 |
Elective Coursework – Biostatistics Emphasis
Course No. | Course Title | Offered | Credits |
PHST 703 | Doctoral Practicum in Consulting | As needed | 1 |
PHST 724 | Advanced Clinical Trials | Spring, odd years | 3 |
PHST 782 | Generalized Linear Models | Spring, even years | 3 |
PHST 783 | Advanced Survival Analysis | Spring, even years | 3 |
Various | Additional Electives | Various | 12 |
Total | 22 |
Elective Coursework – Bioinformatics Emphasis
Course No. | Course Title | Offered | Credits |
PHST 703 | Doctoral Practicum in Consulting | As needed | 1 |
PHST 750 | Statistics for Bioinformatics | Spring, even years | 3 |
PHST 751 | High Throughput Data Analysis | Spring, odd years | 3 |
BIOC 545 | Advanced Biochemistry | Fall, annually | 3 |
CECS 632 | Data Mining | Fall, annually | 3 |
Various | Additional Electives | Various | 6 |
Total | 22 |
Elective Offerings Not Listed Above
Course No. | Course Title | Offered | Credits |
PHST 671 | Special Topics in Biostatistics | As needed | 1-3 |
PHST 675 | Independent Study in Biostatistics | As needed | 1-3 |
PHST 752 | Statistical Genetics | Fall, odd years | 3 |
PHST 780 | Advanced Nonparametrics | Fall, odd years | 3 |
Dissertation
The doctoral dissertation is the capstone of the Ph.D. in Biostatistics curriculum and involves the development and defense of a dissertation on an approved topic before a dissertation committee. Students who have completed Ph.D. coursework and passed the comprehensive examination are eligible to begin dissertation research.
Program Outcome
The Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics is committed to maintaining a robust research program, both in the development of methodology in bioinformatics and biostatistics and in collaborative engagements with researchers at the University of Louisville and outside. Our faculty, staff, and students conduct methodological research in a diverse set of areas, including Bayesian inference, bioinformatics and statistical genetics, clinical trials, survival analysis, and the latest in statistical computing. Through, collaborative engagements our faculty engages with researchers in public health, medicine, nursing, and dentistry, providing biostatistical expertise in support of scientific development within and outside the University.
Follow the links below to learn more about research at the Department of Bioinformatics Biostatistics, including our areas of research interest, collaborative work, software developed by our faculty, staff, and students, and some representative publications. To learn more about the research being conducted by specific faculty members, visit our faculty page.
- Areas of research interest
- Collaborative engagements
- Biostatistics Seminar Series
- Software development
- Technical Report Series
- Graduate Student Research
Scholarships and Funding
Financial Support
Financial support for Ph.D. students is available on a competitive basis. Applicants interested in an assistantship should apply as early as possible and indicate their desire for financial support in their statement of purpose. Interested students are advised to also explore funding opportunities at the University of Louisville outside of the department.
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Ideal Students
If you are interested in applying to the Ph.D. in Biostatistics, you must have a master's degree in statistics, mathematics, or related discipline. Your prior coursework must include coverage of mathematical probability and statistics. There are no GPA requirements for the Ph.., but a GPA of at least 3.0 is generally recommended.
For our MS and Ph.D. programs, we’re looking for mathematically capable students who are curious about data in the health sciences. While our academic programs are rigorous, we don’t restrict admission to students with degrees in mathematics or statistics. We welcome students from a diverse array of academic backgrounds and can be flexible about prerequisites for admission (although a background in multivariable calculus is a necessity for full admission). The ability to communicate is also important, as our graduates often go on to careers in which collaborating with other scientists is a key role.
Career Opportunities
Careers in Biostatistics
Biostatisticians are very highly sought after, and graduates can find work in varied fields. Academic biostatisticians are engaged in developing new statistical methods, collaborating with scientists in other fields, and teaching. Biostatisticians employed in government agencies like the FDA, NIH, and CDC do much of the same work as academic biostatisticians. Biostatisticians find work in private industry conducting methodological research and statistical data analysis with contract research organizations (CRO), health insurance companies, and drug and device development with pharmaceutical companies. Head over to our careers page to find links to current job listings in statistics and biostatistics, and get an idea of what kinds of jobs are available.
Biostatisticians are well-compensated for their expertise. An individual with a master’s degree can expect to earn roughly $60,000 annually upon graduation, while Ph.D. graduates can expect to earn around $80,000 in academia and $100,000 in industry. Consult the salary survey of the American Statistical Association for more details