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Doctor of Philosophy – Biostatistics

Summary

The Doctor of Philosophy program in Biostatistics gives students deep expertise in the theory and practice of biostatistics and bioinformatics and positions them to play an important role in safeguarding public health and improving lives through quantitative research.

This degree is offered at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health under the aegis of the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Visit the Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

About

As a student in the PhD in Biostatistics program, you will:

work alongside faculty who are leaders in both statistical theory and its application to health research;
learn to work with big data and use powerful statistical tools to drive discovery using complex datasets;
conduct original research in collaboration with laboratory, clinical, and biomedical scientists from around the globe to identify and solve problems that threaten the lives and health of people everywhere;
join a community of leading scientists and educators in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area—home to Harvard Medical School, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and many world-class hospitals—where collaboration with eminent laboratory and clinical researchers is a natural part of the educational experience.

On Campus (Fall start) • Full-time (3 years)

Curriculum

BST 230: Probability I
BST 231: Statistical Inference I
BST 232: Methods I
BST 233: Methods II
BST 236: Computing I
EPI 201 Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods I
BST 270 Reproducible Data Science
HPM 548 Responsible Conduct of Research

BST 234: Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms
BST 235: Advanced Regression & Statistical Learning
BST 238: Advanced Topics in Clinical Trials
BST 239: Health Survey Samples
BST 240: Probability II
BST 241: Statistical Inference II
BST 244: Analysis of Failure Time Data
BST 245: Analysis of Multivariate & Longitudinal Data
BST 249: Bayesian Methods in Biostatistics
BST 258: Causal Inference: Theory and Practice
BST 282: Introduction to Computational Biology & Bioinformatics
EPI 511: Advanced Population & Medical Genetics

Competencies

Applying innovative probabilistic and statistical theory and computing approaches to the development of new biostatistical or bioinformatics methods, and publishing this original research in academic journals
Providing leadership in the design, conduct, and analysis of collaborative research studies in medicine and public health
Applying modern statistical and computational methods to effectively analyze complex medical and public health data, including the development of new software for nonstandard problems and simulation methods
Collaborating and communicating effectively with research scientists in related disciplines
Teaching biostatistics or bioinformatics effectively to health professionals, research scientists, and graduate students

Our Community

The Department of Biostatistics hosts a variety of extracurricular seminars, working groups, and lectures focused on specific public health problems, creating opportunities to expand their knowledge while connecting with faculty and fellow students. It also participates in Data Adventure Day, when statistics students across Harvard help introduce high school students to the discipline.

For those looking to expand their ability to present statistical analysis to others, the department offers workshops designed to help students hone their public speaking and writing skills.

In addition, the department guarantees full funding for all admitted PhD students for four years, provided they make satisfactory progress. In practice, many students require a fifth year to complete the doctoral program, and financial support for this 5th year will be available with approval of the department.

Harvard Chan School research support through the Countway Library of Medicine and academic coaching and tutoring for students seeking additional help with either an overall transition to graduate school or specific subject matter.

Beyond academics, the school is home to more than 40 official student organizations focusing on public health issues, cultural affinities, and extra-curricular interests. These groups and other offices throughout the school plan events on campus and around Boston.

Career Outcomes

With a PhD in biostatistics, you will be prepared for a high-impact career in academia or a research or leadership role in government or within the health care, pharmaceutical, or biomedical industries. You will also be positioned to play an important role in safeguarding public health and improving lives through quantitative research.

Eligibility Criteria

All candidates for admission to the PhD in biostatistics program must have a strong background in mathematics—with college-level coursework successfully completed through multivariable calculus and at least one semester of linear algebra—as well as knowledge of at least one computer programming language.

We strongly encourage additional coursework in quantitative areas including probability, statistics, numerical analysis, and advanced calculus or real analysis, as well as in biology, computational biology, and genetics (if interested in bioinformatics).

Experience using a statistical computing platform such as SAS, Splus, R, Stata, or SPSS is also encouraged. Knowledge of a scripting language such as Python or Perl and some familiarity with relational databases is recommended for those interested in bioinformatics.