Biostatistician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a biostatistician. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a biostatistician.
Who is a Biostatistician?
A biostatistician is a professional statistician who analyzes information and data obtained during medical research projects. In the medical and agricultural fields, biostatisticians are in charge of designing biological experiments. They gather, examine, and transform raw data into pertinent knowledge that can be applied to research. Moreso, Biostatisticians offer their findings to policymakers, health professionals, and other government officials to help in the decision-making process for public health. They also work with experts like doctors, surgeons, biologists, statisticians, and geneticists.
Biostatisticians are essential to any research team and usually participate in innovative investigations. They employ both theoretical and applied statistics in their study.
Biostatistician Job Description
Below are the biostatistician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a biostatistician include the following:
- Utilize modern technologies and genetic data to investigate systems medicine.
- Use ecological forecasting to forecast how environmental influences will affect communities and populations.
- Create computer simulations to represent forecasts and conclusions drawn from the data obtained.
- Teach and guide junior employees in statistical software and procedures.
- Summarize your expectations and findings in research papers.
- Monitor the execution of research investigations to ensure accurate clinical trial results.
- Create research suggestions using the information gathered.
- Utilize statistical tools like SAS, SPSS, Stata, or R to analyze data.
- Ensure that data is correctly gathered and structured for analysis by acting as a liaison between the study and the data management teams.
- Verify the data and documents associated with the study.
- Use historical data and mathematical models to find patterns or predict future facts.
- Keep up with Food and Drug Administration rules and good clinical practice.
- Use quantitative genetics to boost agricultural productivity.
- Perform quality control tests on the data before analysis.
- Examine the effectiveness and possible dangers of innovative drugs.
- Review the literature to stay current on contemporary statistical methods and applications.
- Determine the elements that illness emergence and disease dissemination are influenced by.
- Develop data cleansing techniques together with the data management team,
- Draft and submit publications and abstracts for presentation at scientific conferences.
- Keep up with new statistical methods and software developments.
Qualifications
The qualifications of a Biostatistician include the following:
- A bachelor’s degree in statistics, biostatistics, or mathematics.
- Experience as a statistician in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry for three to five years.
- The capacity to interpret, analyze, and draw conclusions from complicated statistical data.
- Understanding of the guidelines and requirements for writing scientific reports and manuscripts.
- The capacity to plan, evaluate, and report on research projects in a group setting.
- Competent with SAS programming language and statistical software.
- The ability for problem-solving.
- A strong foundation in math and science.
- Flexibility and ability to communicate.
Essential Skills
Biostatisticians need the following skills for success in this field:
- Mathematical Skill:
Biostatisticians use mathematical techniques to collect and analyze numerical data for research studies. Having a solid understanding of mathematics will aid you in selecting the best methods and sample sizes for data collection. Biostatisticians commonly use applied data analysis, derivatives, calculus, trigonometry, algebra, and statistics in their work.
- Bioinformatics:
This skill is essential because it helps biostatisticians to evaluate enormous amounts of data from scientific investigations, genetic testing, or other sources. This can be used to anticipate how patients react to various treatments or the best treatment approaches.
- Business acumen:
Biostatisticians with a solid grasp of a company’s core operations are better equipped to pose pertinent questions during the data analysis process, develop novel uses for the data, and use the findings to solve problems.
- Management Skills:
Biostatisticians must devise a project’s most effective and useful data collection methods. They choose the research subjects to get better outcomes. They also establish and follow a completion date for the project. Aside from that, they make sure recognized clinical and medical standards carry out the project and examine and implement data management plans to guarantee proper data gathering and usage.
- Research design Skills:
Biostatisticians should be familiar with the process of planning a study to collect the most accurate and relevant data possible. A good research design considers the study’s objectives, the population being studied, the methods of data collection, and the expected outcomes. it might be difficult to determine how to collect and evaluate data in a way that will answer the study question without a carefully thought-out research plan,
- Organization Skill:
As a biostatistician, you might need to manage a lot of data and ensure everyone on the team has access. Strong organizational abilities allow you to manage your workload while ensuring everyone has access to the materials needed to complete their projects.
- Data analysis:
Biostatisticians use their knowledge of data analysis to evaluate data and search for patterns. They make plans to streamline processes using this information to predict upcoming events. They also identify processes that could be improved using their proficiency in data analysis.
- In-depth Scientific Knowledge:
A broad understanding of the medical, biological, genetic, environmental, agricultural, and pharmaceutical domains is necessary for a career in biostatistics. With their scientific training, biostatisticians can conduct research studies, plan clinical trials, coordinate scientific data gathering, and utilize statistical methods to analyze data.
- Ability to communicate:
Biostatisticians need to be skilled communicators to conduct research and collect data. They interact with researchers, statisticians, scientists, policymakers, and test volunteers. They also take charge of meetings, present in front of an audience, talk at conferences, and participate in debates on science and research. The ability to speak clearly and express complex ideas in simple terms is essential. Because they must produce extensive research papers, statistical analysis plans, and reports on medical analyses, biostatisticians must also possess strong writing skills.
- Flexibility:
Biostatisticians may shift their focus from one project to another or modify their approach when necessary. For instance, if a clinical trial you’re analyzing for is stopped before it’s completed, you could have to analyze current data rather than collect new data. You can operate productively while making quick modifications if you are adaptive.
- Collaboration Skill:
Biostatisticians are members of a broader team that includes data scientists, engineers, programmers, and other professionals. You can develop in your profession and take on managerial duties by collaborating successfully with others.
- Statistical programming languages:
Biostatisticians use a variety of statistical programming languages to create models and evaluate data. They may use well-known data analysis programs like SAS, R, or Python. Additionally, some biostatisticians might create their own data analysis tools using computer languages.
- Problem-solving Skills:
Biostatisticians study data to identify potential issues using their problem-solving skills. They recognize possible problems and look for solutions using statistical methods they are familiar with. For example, biostatisticians can use their problem-solving skills to identify the root cause of a study’s failure, produce the desired results and modify the study accordingly.
- Analytical Skill:
Biostatisticians use their analytical talents to interpret data and create predictions. They must also evaluate the validity of the research methodologies to determine the advantages and disadvantages of a study’s design. To do this, you must assess the variable generation’s sample size and the randomness of the variable generation.
Analytical talents include the capacity for rational thought, attention to detail, and problem-solving. These abilities allow biostatisticians to identify patterns in data and understand how diverse components interact.
How to Become a Biostatistician
Individuals interested in Biostatistics can follow the steps below to become a Biostatistician:
- Step 1: Pursue relevant Education:
Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in math or another quantitative subject is the first requirement for becoming a biostatistician. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational qualification for biostatisticians. A bachelor’s degree in science, health, mathematics, or statistics is the best preparation for a postgraduate study in biostatistics. Calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and abstract algebra courses are recommended for you to take.
After receiving your bachelor’s degree, consider pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree. Because many specialized research roles need postgraduate study, having extra, higher-level degrees will help you stand out from other competent candidates.
A master’s degree in biostatistics may need two to three years to complete, depending on the number of credits required.
Moreso, after receiving a master’s degree, many biostatisticians go on to get a Ph.D. in the field. With a Ph.D., you can work in academic, research, and executive positions in governmental, pharmaceutical, and academic institutions.
- Step 2: Apply for an internship:
Your college can help arrange internships with research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare facilities if necessary, and also with research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare facilities. Normally, the research and development department is where you will intern.
The skills you develop during an internship will enable you to comprehend the real-world uses of biostatistics and build a network of connections that may be helpful for your future career goals.
- Step 3: Obtain Certifications:
Mostly, biostatisticians are not subject to any specific certification or licensing criteria. On the other hand, the American Statistical Association does provide the following accreditation credentials, which you can take advantage of:
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- Accredited Professional Statistician
This shows a dedication to professional ethics, continual learning, and academic and professional experience. To be eligible for a PStat certification, you must submit your resume, professional references, proof of your five years of statistics expertise, and evidence of your professional development activities.
Graduate Statistician
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- This demonstrates the dedication of aspiring statisticians and students to the statistics community. You must submit your résumé and any relevant coursework to be considered for a GStat.
- Step 4: Create a biostatistician resume:
To improve your chances of getting an interview, you should write a well-formatted functional resume that summarizes your education and experience for prospective companies. After adding your name and contact details, add areas for job experience, education, talents, and a career summary. While your resume should be modified to match the requirements of the position, it will be advantageous to highlight your familiarity with Food and Drug Agency laws and best clinical practices.
- Step 5: Apply for Biostatistician Jobs:
After completing your degree, you can begin applying for entry-level positions. Applying clinical settings, pharmaceutical companies, or research centers might be a good idea. You can submit an application for a job as a junior biostatistician. Alternatively, you can develop relevant experience by working as a clinical lab technician or research assistant.
- Step 6: Become a member of a professional association:
Joining professional organizations can be very beneficial while pursuing a career in biostatistics because they allow you access to training resources, fellowship opportunities, and available work openings. You could join some of the most well-known biostatistics professional organizations: the Biometrics Society, the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, the International Society for Clinical Biostatistics, and the American Statistical Association.
In these professional organizations, senior biostatisticians will be available for conversation; you can ask them for guidance and learn about their current research initiatives.
- Step 7: Stay current and updated in the Biostatistics field:
Biostatisticians can remain current and updated in biostatistics career paths by attending biostatistics conferences. You can listen to lectures and discussion panels at biostatistics conferences and other events on the most recent advancements in the sector. You will also have the opportunity to listen to seasoned experts talk about enhanced statistical methods and cross-disciplinary statistical research. Furthermore, you can get the chance to network with leading authorities in the field of biostatistics and get to know future employers.
Where to Work as a Biostatistician
Universities, hospitals, government organizations, research centers, instrument manufacturing businesses, and pharmaceutical firms employ biostatisticians.
They might also work for private companies that provide management advice or insurance. Numerous biostatisticians work in academia as professors and researchers for colleges and universities.
Because their work frequently requires them to perform field studies, attend conferences, and interact with clients, biostatisticians routinely travel.
Most biostatisticians work 40 hours a week during regular business hours as well. In rare circumstances, they may work late into the night and on weekends to complete projects on schedule. They might invest additional time to restart a study endeavor if it does not turn out as expected to achieve reliable results.
Biostatistician Salary Scale
Depending on the level of education, years of experience, location, and type of business, a biostatistician’s salary may vary. However, the average salary of a biostatistician in the US is $141,971 per year, although the range is $51,000 to $235,000.