Department of Biostatistics
The Department of Biostatistics tackles pressing public health challenges by conducting cutting-edge research and translation and by offering top-quality education and training.
655 Huntington Avenue Building 2, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02115
Prospective Students
Welcome, Prospective Students!
As a member of the Department of Biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, you will join a community of passionate and accomplished scholars committed to tackling the most pressing public health challenges of our time.
You will receive rigorous training in statistical theory, methods and computation. In addition, you will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge to tackle real-world public health issues.
Students at Harvard Chan School are integral members of our renowned community of scientists and educators. You’ll also have exceptional opportunities to collaborate across the Boston Longwood Medical Area, with institutions including Harvard Medical School, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and numerous other top-ranked hospitals.
Your experience here will prepare you for a career of influence and impact.
Biostatistics Training Grants
The Department of Biostatistics offers a variety of specialized training grants designed to equip students and postdoctoral fellows with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in statistical research:
- Training grant in quantitative sciences for cancer research
- Training program in environmental health statistics
- Interdisciplinary training in statistical genetics/genomics and computational biology
- AIDS training grant
These grants provide unique opportunities for interdisciplinary training, practical experience, and collaboration with leading experts across various fields.
Explore our training programs to find the one that aligns with your research and career interests.
Thanks to sweeping technological transformations, both cancer research and cancer care now generate large and complex data sets. Now, more than ever, cancer research presents a promising opportunity for quantitative sciences to significantly impact public health.
The mission of the Training Grant in Quantitative Sciences for Cancer Research is to provide trainees with deep interdisciplinary experience to advance cancer research.
The program draws on our distinguished faculty, consisting of quantitative scientists as well as experts in cancer research. It enables students to seamlessly participate in training and research activities across Harvard Chan School, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and other leading Harvard institutions that excel in areas related to cancer research.
The Training Program in Environmental Health Statistics prepares predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows for research careers in the application of biostatistics to environmental health.
The program is administered through the Department of Biostatistics, with active participation by faculty members from Harvard Chan School’s Department of Environmental Health and Department of Epidemiology.
Trainees receive rigorous instruction in basic biostatistical theory and methods, such as probability, statistical inference, computing, and data analysis. The program also provides training in specialized topics of particular relevance for environmental applications, such as:
- longitudinal and multivariate data analysis
- Bayesian methods
- causal inference, as well as statistical genetics
- environmental genomics
- other high-dimensional data techniques
Research and discovery in the life sciences is more interdisciplinary than ever. Therefore, it is critical to train the next generation of quantitative genomic scientists to have a strong understanding of cutting-edge methodological and collaborative research in statistical genetics/genomics and bioinformatics/computational biology. Applications include genetic epidemiology, molecular biology, and genomic medicine.
We are committed to preparing our trainees to become future quantitative leaders. As part of the Interdisciplinary Training in Statistical Genetics/Genomics and Computational Biology program, you will develop and apply advanced, scalable statistical and computational methods to manage, analyze, integrate, and interpret massive genetic and genomic datasets.
Our program promotes interdisciplinary research and teaches trainees to effectively communicate and collaborate with subject-matter scientists in genetic and genomic research.
Funding
Harvard Chan School offers comprehensive financial support to all doctoral students in good standing for four to five years, including tuition, fees, and a stipend.
This support comes from a variety of sources, including:
Diversity
Harvard Chan School and the Department of Biostatistics are deeply committed to fostering diversity at all levels. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented and minority groups, including women, individuals with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students. Race and ethnicity will not be considered in the selection process.
The diverse backgrounds and perspectives of our students greatly enrich our community’s educational and research experience. Our department proudly attracts students from all corners of the globe, creating a vibrant and dynamic community.