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Career Details

15-2041.01 - Biostatisticians


Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
30,000
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
40,100
Estimate
Change in Employment
+10,100
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+33.8%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Write research proposals or grant applications for submission to external bodies.
  • Teach graduate or continuing education courses or seminars in biostatistics.
  • Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, and talk with colleagues to keep abreast of methodological or conceptual developments in fields such as biostatistics, pharmacology, life sciences, and social sciences.
  • Prepare statistical data for inclusion in reports to data monitoring committees, federal regulatory agencies, managers, or clients.
  • Prepare articles for publication or presentation at professional conferences.
  • Calculate sample size requirements for clinical studies.
  • Determine project plans, timelines, or technical objectives for statistical aspects of biological research studies.
  • Assign work to biostatistical assistants or programmers.
  • Write program code to analyze data with statistical analysis software.
  • Write detailed analysis plans and descriptions of analyses and findings for research protocols or reports.
  • Plan or direct research studies related to life sciences.
  • Prepare tables and graphs to present clinical data or results.
  • Monitor clinical trials or experiments to ensure adherence to established procedures or to verify the quality of data collected.
  • Draw conclusions or make predictions, based on data summaries or statistical analyses.
  • Develop or use mathematical models to track changes in biological phenomena, such as the spread of infectious diseases.
  • Design surveys to assess health issues.
  • Develop or implement data analysis algorithms.
  • Design research studies in collaboration with physicians, life scientists, or other professionals.
  • Design or maintain databases of biological data.
  • Collect data through surveys or experimentation.
  • Analyze archival data, such as birth, death, and disease records.
  • Review clinical or other medical research protocols and recommend appropriate statistical analyses.
  • Provide biostatistical consultation to clients or colleagues.
  • Apply research or simulation results to extend biological theory or recommend new research projects.
  • Analyze clinical or survey data, using statistical approaches such as longitudinal analysis, mixed-effect modeling, logistic regression analyses, and model-building techniques.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mathematics
  • 93%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 English Language
  • 78%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 74%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Medicine and Dentistry
  • 61%
    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
 Biology
  • 58%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 Education and Training
  • 55%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 51%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Administration and Management
  • 50%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computer data input devices
  • Computer data input scanners
 Computer printers
  • Computer laser printers
  • Plotters
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Mainframe computers
  • Personal computers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Operating environment software
  • BashHOT
  • LinuxHOT
  • Microsoft operating system
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
  • Shell scriptHOT
  • UNIXHOT
 Development software
  • C++HOT
  • Extensible markup language XMLHOT
  • JavaScriptHOT
  • Microsoft Visual C#
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • PHP: Hypertext PreprocessorHOT
  • Practical extraction and reporting language PerlHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • RHOT
  • Software development tools
 Data management and query software
  • Clinical trials database software
  • Data mining software
  • Database software
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • MySQLHOT
  • Oracle softwareHOT
  • Patient monitoring systems
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Data visualization software
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • Insightful S-PLUS
  • MinitabHOT
  • SASHOT
  • STAT! Systems QD Clinical
  • StataCorp Stata
  • STATISTICA
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • Tibco S-PLUS
  • Wolfram Research Mathematica
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Graphics software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Wytheville Community College