This document discusses biostatistics and statistics as an emerging career opportunity. It defines statistics as the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data to analyze population characteristics. Biostatistics applies statistical tools to data from biological sciences and medicine. Statistics is used across many fields including business, health, physical sciences, environment, and government. The document outlines typical job duties of biostatisticians and where they work. It recommends pursuing degree or certificate courses to become a statistician or biostatistician and lists the skills required for these careers. Salary ranges and opportunities in various industries are also mentioned.

1. Biostatistics and Statistics:
An Emerging Career Opportunity
Dr.Kumud Sarin
(Ph.D,PDFGenetics,DU)
Educational Consultant
www.drkumudsarin.in
www.ibri.org.in

2. Statistics : Concept
• The mathematics of the collection, organization, and
interpretation of numerical data, especially the analysis of
population characteristics by inference from sampling.”
• Statisticians collect and analyze data, then calculate results
using a specific design. They draw conclusions and make
decisions in the face of uncertainty.

3. Bio-Statistics : Concept
• The tools of statistics are employed in many fields:
business, education, psychology, agriculture, economics,
… etc.
• When the data analyzed are derived from the biological
science and medicine, and the term used is biostatistics.

4. Business
Physical
Sciences
Economics, Engineering,
Marketing,
Computer Science
Health &
Medicine
Genetics, Clinical Trials,
Epidemiology,
Pharmacology
Astronomy,
Chemistry, Physics
Areas where
STATISTICS
are used
Environment
Agriculture,
Ecology, Forestry,
Animal Populations
Government
Census, Law,
National Defense

6. What & Why is Statistics
• Statistics: - science of data
»
- study of uncertainty
• Biostatistics: data from: Medicine, Biological sciences
(business, education, psychology, agriculture,
economics...)
• Modern society:
– - Reading, Writing &
– - Statistical thinking: to make the strongest
possible conclusions from limited amounts of
data.

7. Bio-Statistics : Study Requirement
• Collecting data on subsets of the population (samples) can give valid
information about the whole population.
• Knowing what has happened in the past can help answer questions
about the present and future.
• Knowledge helps plan future tests, determines resource allocation,
and improves quality.
• Study the safety of nuclear power plants
• Evaluate the environmental impact of pollution
• Determine the effectiveness of new drugs
• Estimate the unemployment rate
• Analyze consumer demand for products
• Plan and analyze agricultural experiments

9. What Can I Do With A Degree in Statistics
• Business and Industry: Manufacturing -Build products
and deliver services that satisfy consumers and increase the
corporation’s profit margin. Engineering -Make a consistent
product, detect problems, minimize waste, and predict product life
in electronics, chemicals, aerospace, pollution control, construction,
and other industries.
• Statistical Computing- Work in software design and
development, testing, quality assurance, technical support,
education, marketing, and sales to develop code that is both userfriendly and sufficiently complex

10. Health and Medicine
• Epidemiology-Work on calculating cancer incidence rates,
monitor disease outbreaks, and monitor changes in healthrelated behaviors such as smoking and physical activity.
• Public Health- Prevent disease, prolong life, and promote health
through organized community efforts, including sanitation, hygiene
education, diagnoses, and preventative treatment
• Pharmacology-Work in drug discovery, development,
approval, and marketing, to ensure the validity and
accuracy of findings at all stages of the process.
• Genetics-Label possible indicators of genetic
abnormalities, such as birth defects and early aging, or
breed desirable characteristics in plant offspring

11. Statistics And Biostatistics Encourage
Investigators To Become
thoughtful &
independent
problem solvers

13. Learning and Research
• Education-Teach students, assess teacher effectiveness, or develop
statistical models to represent student learning.
• Science Writing & Journalism-Work with mass media, universities,
and corporations to produce news briefs, articles, news releases,
and other reports
• Government-Work in regulations for stock trading, pollution, and
drug approvals, or testify in court proceedings, congressional
hearings, and lobbying arguments
• Survey Methods-Collect data in the social sciences, education, law,
forestry, agriculture, biology, medicine, business, and e-commerce,
and for the government

14. Social Statistics and Natural Resources
• Law-Analyze data in court cases, including DNA evidence, salary
discrepancies, discrimination law suits, and disease clusters.
• Consulting-Work on a temporary basis on a variety of projects
including quality improvement, pharmaceuticals, ecology, and
engineering.
• Agriculture-Study chemical pesticides, hydrogeology,
veterinary sciences, genetics, and crop management in
order to ensure optimal yield.
• Ecology-Address questions about the earth’s natural
environment, including animal populations, agricultural
protections, and fertilizer and pesticide safety.

15. Examples of BIOStatistics
Where do Biostatisticians work:
1. Academic fields
2. Government (e.g.: FDA)
3. Non-profit organizations
4. Pharmaceutical companies or Contracted
Research Organizations (Local CRO – PPD,
Chiltern, Quintiles)
Typical Activity of a Biostatistician:
1. Sample size requirement
2. Analysis plan at design stage
3. Randomization
4. Sampling design
5. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive and inferential
statistics analysis

17. “I became involved with statistics because
mathematics did not provide the avenue to cross
into other areas of science and continue to learn
about topics that interested me. I have stayed in
statistics because of the diversity that it offers and
because of the rational approach it provides to
seek solutions to problems.” Dan Mowrey

22. Typical Job duty of Biostatistician
Duty of Biostatistician:
•Write/review Statistical Analysis Plan
(SAP).
•Write/review statistical section of
protocol including sample size
calculation, develop randomization
schedule, mock up table shells/listing
shells, provide specifications to
programmers.
•Quality control the table from SAS
programmer, and review listings.
•Validate deliverables.

23. How Do I Become A Statistician
or Biostatistician?
• By pursuing degree courses or Certificate/Short
term courses conducted by various institutes.
• Short term courses along with job or any
other degrees courses.
• Short term courses enhance the technical
capabilities raise the job prospects.
• Institutes providing short terms courses are many
but the best curriculum I found in Indian
Biosciences &Research Institute www.ibri.org.in

24. Skills Required and Opportunities
• Quantitative Skills-Statistics, Mathematics, Science
• Problem Solving Skills-Analysis, Teamwork
• Communication Skills-Verbal, Written
• Computer Programming Languages
• Foundation in Field of Application
• Diversity -Pure Research, Interdisciplinary Teams
• Advancement-Experience, education, and communication
skills lead to professional advancement
• Versatility-Challenging and Exciting Fields of Application

25. Why Biologists, Health And Medical Experts,
Paramedical Professionals Refer Statistics?
• It is primarily because of nature of measurement which
is linked to their daily jobs.
• Anatomy experts most often measure height, weight, length,
circumference, width, breadth of organs of human and
other organisms.
• Physiologists do the same as anatomists.
• Quite a significant number of assessment techniques are employed
by biochemistry and microbiology experts.
• Pathologists have their own assessment techniques.
• Counting occurrences in terms of numbers, and frequency
calculations are frequently required by health professionals

27. Salary Range

29. Statistics in... Business & Industry :Research
and
Development - Experimental Design - Quality - Management Business Analysis -Market Research
A Final Word...
“I encourage young people who want to have
interesting work which can make a positive
difference to the quality of our lives is to
consider statistics as a career.”

30. Train yourself in Biostatistics & Statistics for
‘Statistical thinking is today’s necessary a
qualification for efficient working as ability for
research, analysis and innovations in all arenas.’
Join Certificate Courses in Biostatistics,
Epidemiology& Research Methodology at
IBRI,Noida www.ibri.org.in

31. Further Details: Contact Dr. Kumud Sarin
www.drkumudsarin.in ; www.ibri.org.in
e-mail: director@ibri.org.in ; kumud.sarin@gmail.com