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Profession: Public Health

Biostatistician: Biostatisticians are more statisticians than biologists who work with researchers to design studies that may show the pattern of a disease, the effectiveness of treatments, or a given health issue’s impact on the community. They figure out the best way to collect data and then use mathematics to study what they’ve collected. Their work helps to define and answer the questions that ultimately lead to advances in disease prevention and treatment.

Salary Range: $50,520 - $91,840

Salary Notes: Biostatisticians can expect to earn from $50,520-$91,840, depending on level of education and experience.

Where you can study:
University of Vermont Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, Burlington, VT

Where you might work:
Colleges and Universities - Government Agencies - Health Care Organizations - Pharmaceutical Companies - State and Local Health Departments -

Job Outlook: Job opportunities for statisticians in general are expected to remain good, with more employment available to well-qualified statisticians with a master’s degree or doctorate.

Education, Licensing and Certification: Typically a master’s level is the minimum education required for a biostatistician. Undergraduate work should include calculus, matrix algebra, computer programming and a major in statistics.

Professional Organizations:
American Public Health Association 202-777-APHA www.apha.org
American Statistical Association 703-684-1221 www.amstat.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 800-232-4636 www.cdc.gov
International Society for Clinical Biostatistics (Denmark) www.iscb.info
Society for Clinical Trials 215-564-3484 www.sctweb.org