Biostatistics PhD
Program Code: G-BST-PHD
Degree Designation: Doctor of Philosophy
Department: Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
Website: biostat.duke.edu/education-and-training/phd-biostatistics
Program Summary
The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics offers a doctoral degree in biostatistics. The doctoral program is offered through the Duke University Graduate School.
As biomedical research becomes increasingly quantitative and complex, individuals with exceptional analytic skills, a strong foundation in human biology, and the ability to communicate statistical principles effectively to multidisciplinary research teams are needed. Demand is high for individuals formally trained in biostatistics.
Duke University Medical Center is a world-class medical research institution that provides an ideal setting for training biostatisticians to gain exposure to state-of-the-art biostatistical methodology in the context of cutting-edge science research. Duke’s Doctorate in Biostatistics Program is unique in its balanced focus on three core competencies: statistical methodology, biology, and communication. All faculty members in the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at Duke are actively engaged in research, with projects collectively spanning a broad array of biomedical research areas. Faculty members actively practice what they teach and are dedicated to ensuring that students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed as biostatisticians.
Academic Requirements
In general, the Doctorate in Biostatistics includes the following components:
The first year will focus on basic statistical theory and methods, communication, and the biomedical context.
The second year includes more advanced inference and theory of linear models, along with specialized training in categorical data analysis, survival analysis, generalized linear models, and analysis of correlated and longitudinal data.
Five elective courses are required to broaden the breadth of knowledge. Two of those courses are chosen within a ‘cognate’ field, such as epidemiology, biology, biophysics, environmental health, genetics, etc., to complement the student's biostatistical area of interest.
Distinguishing Features
The Duke program offers several novel features that extend the training of our students beyond that found in a traditional biostatistics program. The core curriculum contains the following novel courses:
A course sequence (BIOSTAT 703 and BIOSTAT 706) emphasizing biomedical concepts and communication.
A survey course of modern inferential techniques and theory (BIOSTAT 911) targeted specifically to advanced graduate students.
A student-led seminar, Current Problems in Biostatistics (BIOSTAT 900). Students explore topics in blocks that involve student presentations and invited talks from faculty and other experts in the field.