| Whenever you read a news article about a | | | | manufacturers, research hospitals, government |
| breakthrough in the medical world, the latest wonder | | | | agencies and universities. So the next step is to find |
| drug or the progress of a flu, a biostatistician had his | | | | employment there. |
| or her hands in it. In fact, one could say that if the | | | | Now it's time to focus on one's post-graduate |
| profession didn't exist, medical research would have | | | | education. While it's encouraged to take basic |
| had to think it up. | | | | chemistry and biology during one's undergraduate |
| A biostatistician is a type of statistician who | | | | years, one starts to truly concentrate on relevant |
| specializes in the medical and health care field. They | | | | health-related courses here along with not forgetting |
| are responsible for analyzing clinical or survey data | | | | more advanced statistical principles. This is where |
| using statistical approaches, applying research or | | | | many post-grads usually leave their campus behind |
| simulation results to extend biological theory or | | | | and go to full online education. They'll have to do so |
| recommend new research projects and provide | | | | in order to hold down their job and still advance for |
| statistical consultation to clients or colleagues. | | | | their Masters or PhD. |
| In other words, if some form of research requires | | | | Entry level positions start in the $30,000 range. The |
| sampling the population for a result, a biostatistician | | | | Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are |
| will decide how data is collected and how large a | | | | somewhere slightly over 20,000 biostatisticians in the |
| sample they need. They then actually design the test | | | | working U.S. Because of their rarity and the |
| procedure, analyze what they collected and report | | | | importance of their work, average salary is estimated |
| the results. This procedure can be applied to testing a | | | | to the $70,000 range. The top 10% earns well into |
| new drug for dangerous side effects to determining | | | | the $120,000 range. Those with PhD's who work on |
| how far a disease has spread over the world. | | | | highly critical research are known to earn considerably |
| Those interested in entering the field need strong | | | | more. |
| high school grades in biology, chemistry and especially | | | | What must always be remembered is no form of |
| mathematics. For their undergraduate program they | | | | medical or health care research, whether in the lab or |
| should look for on campus or online colleges with top | | | | out in the field, is considered valid unless the numbers |
| statistical departments and be ready to devote most | | | | back it up. While many top research scientists can |
| of those four years on learning its basic theories. | | | | crunch their share of numbers, they still need the |
| Due to the scarcity of the number of applied | | | | biostatistician to do the final confirmation of their |
| mathematicians in the working world, finding | | | | results. Therefore, as long as there is anything from |
| employment should not be too difficult if one | | | | testing the latest version of a flu vaccine to finding a |
| graduates with solid grades. The main organizations | | | | true cure for cancer, there will be work for these |
| hiring statisticians are drug and other health-related | | | | professionals. |