Brazilian soccer player Roberto Carlos probably never expected that his near-impossible goal would become a mathematical study.
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Biostatistician
Biostatisticians design research studies and analyze data related to human health, animals or plants. The healthcare, biomedical, and pharmaceutical fields employ biostatisticians who are responsible for analyzing genetic data, disease occurrence, and medical imaging data. These biostatisticians develop clinical trials to assess drug treatments. Other academic and government biostatisticians analyze data of populations exposed to environmental chemicals and conditions to understand their risks and effects.
Low-end Salary:
$46,000/yr
Median Salary:
$99,571/yr
High-end Salary:
$140,498/yr Education:
A bachelor's degree is sufficient for entering the field of Biostatistics as an assistant. However, most Biostatisticians have M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in Biostatistics, Statistics, or Applied Mathematics.
Math Required:
Algebra I and II
Trigonometry
Calculus I and II
Applied Data Analysis
Survey and Research Methods
Mathematical Statistics
Biostatistics
When Math Is Used:
Biostatisticians collaborate with researchers as they design studies, helping them find the best approach to data gathering given the question the researchers are trying to answer. These statisticians provide advice on such topics as sample size and data collection (what methods will be used to gather the data).
Once the raw data have been gathered, biostatisticians use statistical software to turn the data into useful information. They use standard statistical procedures and terms to help researchers pinpoint which results were significant and which were inconclusive, warranting further study. Biostatisticians sometimes find themselves cleaning up an imperfect data set to help researchers glean conclusions from it.
Potential Employers:
Biostatisticians may be hired by a number of different employers. For instance, they may work at universities or large health care institutions. They may be employees of federal or state government agencies, such as the Department of Health and Human Services. Or they may work in private companies' research and development groups.
Facts:
Biostatisticians research topics such as the association between a psychotropic drug and weight gain or the relationship between heart disease and smoking.
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Quote Of The Day
"It was my mathematics education that prepared me for the rigors of designing and implementing the programs for large-scale simulations… and for the logical thinking and planning necessary to debug and develop the components of computer operating systems."
Computer Scientist
Figures represent salary potential.
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Mathematical Association of America