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Proposal:
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The School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics proposes to establish a Ph.D. in Biostatistics. Biostatistics is one of the core disciplines in public health that teaches students analytical methods for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting scientific data collected in public health and medical research. Knowledge of biostatistics is foundational for students in public health disciplines, and all top-tier Schools of Public Health have a doctoral program in biostatistics. Although the department offers a Master of Public Health in Biostatistics, it does not offer a Biostatistics Ph.D. program. The lack of a Ph.D. program in biostatistics has negatively affected the department’s ability to attract high-caliber faculty, secure large federal training grants, and maintain national rankings.
The Ph.D. in Biostatistics is designed for students with a strong quantitative background and an interest in public health and biomedical research. The program emphasizes biostatistical methodologies and their application in public health, equipping students with skills to analyze big health data, apply machine learning, and develop applied biostatistical methods for medical and epidemiological studies. The program aims to produce future scholars and leaders in public health and biomedical data science, addressing a workforce shortage in these fields. |
