Making Sense of Data
Biostatisticians play a unique role in safeguarding public health and improving lives through quantitative research.
By combining across quantitative disciplines, biostatisticians are able to collaborate with other biomedical researchers to identify and solve problems that pose threats to health and to quality of life.
From assessing the health consequences of air quality to designing and evaluating new cancer studies, biostatisticians develop new methods to ensure that policies are based on evidence of benefit—whether targeted to populations or to individuals in need of care.
Transformative Research
Our students work alongside faculty who are leaders in both statistical theory and its application to health research, in collaboration with laboratory and clinical scientists around the globe.
Take a look at a few out of the projects our faculty are working on.
Professor Francesca Dominici is a renowned expert in analyzing huge data sets to ferret out hidden environmental causes of disease. Her latest study is the first to analyze noise exposure near airports and its impact on cardiovascular disease.
CELL PHONES & MOOD DISORDERS
Assistant Professor JP Onnela and his group are developing methods for analyzing and modeling social and biological networks. They are also currently using cell phone communication and sensor data to investigate social and behavioral functioning of individuals with mood disorders. JP has been awarded the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award in 2013.
Associate Professor Curtis Huttenhower received a Presidential Early Career Award from the White House in part for his work on the Human Microbiome Project – analyzing role that microbes play in maintaining health and immune function, as well as in disease.
DIGGING FOR RESEARCH GOLD IN EMR
Professor Tianxi Cai is working with electronic medical records to develop a framework to help researchers use large datasets to better understand the genetic basis of complex diseases.
The Next Step
Our graduates are thriving in a wide range of careers in academia, industry, the government, and beyond. See where a degree in Biostatistics has taken them.
Miguel Marino PhD ’11
Assistant Professor at the Oregon Health & Science University
Lynne Peeples SM ’04
Science Journalist for The Huffington Post
Michael Wu PhD ’09
Faculty Member at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Sunni Mumford SM ’06
Investigator at the National Institutes of Health
Melody Goodman PhD ’06
Assistant Professor at the Washington University in St. Louis
James Signorovitch PhD ’07
Vice President at The Analysis Group