By Erin Jester
Biostatistics is a rapidly growing field at the intersection of data science and health.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the job outlook for biostatistics and related professions will grow much faster than average over the next decade. With a median wage above $100,000, biostatistics has appeared on Forbes’ list of best master’s degrees.
Is biostatistics right for you? Three faculty members from the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Department of Biostatistics share their insights and advice for potential students.
How are biostatistics and statistics different?
Biostatistics and statistics seem similar on the surface, and to an extent, they are. Both areas of study use the same foundational concepts to collect, analyze and interpret data. The difference is the context. Statistics tends to be more abstract and theoretical, whereas biostatistics applies statistical concepts to problems in biology, clinical medicine and public health.
“One of the appealing aspects of biostatistics is that the work directly contributes to improving health outcomes and advancing scientific discovery,” said Lixia Wang, Ph.D., a clinical assistant professor and director of the online Master of Science in Biostatistics program.
Biostatisticians help design clinical trials, analyze complex health data, develop predictive models and generate evidence that supports medical and public health decision-making. Their work is highly interdisciplinary, collaborating with clinicians, researchers, epidemiologists and many other professionals across health-related fields to answer questions that affect lives. The more scientific and technological advances become available, the more data exists and the more questions there are to answer.
And while data analysis is increasingly automated in the artificial intelligence era, biostatistics may be a more durable career path, said Jonathan Fischer, Ph.D., a clinical assistant professor of biostatistics.
“Statistics is great for generalizability, but it’s also an increasingly competitive space with AI,” Fischer said. “AI doesn’t know how to analyze data sets in nonstandard and cutting edge situations — you need a person to do that. It helps speed up the process but it’s not able to replace the intellectual component.”
Who should consider a biostatistics degree?
Anyone who wants to apply computational and mathematical methods to solving problems in the realm of public health can benefit from biostatistics training, from undergraduate pre-health majors to medical doctors who want to expand their research tools.
The idea that you must first be a mathematician before you can become a biostatistician is increasingly outdated, said Sophie Berube, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Biostatistics.
“The real advantage of biostatistics is that you can take people from all over — social scientists, biologists, practicing clinicians — and channel their expertise into something that is very powerful,” she said.
What programs are offered?
The department offers a Ph.D. program, in-person and online master’s programs and an undergraduate certificate that will be offered for the first time in Fall 2026.
The undergraduate certificate emphasizes the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of biostatistics, and provides an introduction to some statistical methods and software that can make students more competitive for graduate programs.
Jobs in the field tend to require advanced degrees, but the department is hoping to cultivate early interest with the undergraduate certificate.
“People sometimes don’t know about biostatistics until it’s almost too late,” said Fischer, who made his way to biostatistics after completing a Ph.D. in statistics with a research focus on biological data.
The master’s program offers two concentrations: biostatistical methods and practice, which provides a strong theoretical foundation and broad understanding of biostatistical methods, including courses in theory, survival analysis and clinical trials; and health data science, which focuses on methodological and computational aspects of data science in public health, and covers topics like machine learning and data visualization techniques.
Established in 2017, the online master’s program was the first of its kind in the country. The program is fully asynchronous, designed for students who want rigorous quantitative training while maintaining flexibility.
“We serve a diverse population of students,” Wang said. “While many are working professionals who are balancing graduate education with full-time employment and family responsibilities, we also have many full-time students.”
The online master’s program can be especially valuable for people actively working in healthcare, clinical research, public health, pharmaceuticals, health informatics, data analytics and related areas who want stronger skills in statistical modeling, data analysis and evidence-based decision-making.
The Ph.D. program goes beyond the teaching of advanced biostatistical techniques, preparing students to develop new methods to apply to public health and research challenges.
“There are so many problems out there that need biostatistical analysis,” Fischer said. “A Ph.D. opens up those pathways.”
What careers are available?
Alumni of PHHP’s biostatistics programs have gone on to careers in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, healthcare systems, academic research institutions, consulting groups, public health organizations and beyond. Common job titles include statistical analyst, data scientist, clinical trial statistician, health data analyst, epidemiology analyst, outcomes researcher and, of course, biostatistician.
The federal government is a major employer of biostatisticians. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hires biostatisticians to design drug safety and efficacy studies, assure validity of clinical trials and analyze regulatory decision-making in its Office of Translational Sciences. Biostatisticians are needed at the U.S. Census Bureau to collect, analyze and interpret massive data sets used in public health research.
Infectious disease-focused nonprofit organizations, such as the Gates Foundation, the Clinton Health Access Initiative and the Carter Center, all employ biostatisticians in their efforts to eradicate disease and improve health outcomes across the globe.
Plus, Berube said, “Those jobs can be surprisingly lucrative.”