How To Become A Research Biostatistician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a research biostatistician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Mark Fridline Ph.D.

Biostatistics is a field of study that uses statistics to analyze the living environment. Biostatisticians can track the frequency of birth defects in a population and identify any environmental causes, analyze the environmental effects of pollution, and more. Research biostatisticians use these skills in a lab setting, often when conducting clinical trials.

Research biostatisticians are involved in every aspect of a clinical trial or experiment, from designing the trial to ensuring that proper procedures are followed during the trial to analyzing and recording data. They can help test the efficacy of a new medicine, try a new form of therapy for chronic disease, and more.

Research biostatisticians usually have an advanced degree such as a bachelor's or above in biostatistics or a related field. They need to know a lot about statistics, including hard skills such as data analysis and R language, and about whatever field they are working in, such as medicine or public health.

What general advice would you give to a research biostatistician?

Dr. Mark Fridline Ph.D.

Associate Chair, University of Akron

There are tremendous prospects that follow a degree in Statistics. The career path, and foremost, you have chosen has many possible opportunities in many possible fields. The skills you have learned in this major can be applied to almost any industry (business, medical, government, engineering, sports, etc.), so take some time to figure out what industry interests you the most. This is where I would start my job hunting efforts.

ScoreResearch BiostatisticianUS Average

Salary

6.9

Avg. Salary $88,264

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.3

Growth rate 31%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.22%

Asian 22.75%

Black or African American 5.06%

Hispanic or Latino 7.59%

Unknown 4.95%

White 59.43%

Gender

female 57.14%

male 42.86%

Age - 35

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35

Stress level

4.3

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a research biostatistician

Explore research biostatistician education requirements

Most common research biostatistician degrees

Bachelor's

74.2 %

Master's

12.9 %

Doctorate

9.7 %

Start to develop specific research biostatistician skills

Skills	Percentages
SAS	17.97%
Statistical Analysis	12.75%
Study Design	9.72%
Research Projects	9.34%
Stata	8.70%

Complete relevant research biostatistician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New research biostatisticians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a research biostatistician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real research biostatistician resumes.

Research research biostatistician duties and responsibilities

Manage investigator initiate and cooperative group correlative studies to identify biomarkers to ascertain tumor burden and clinical outcomes in lymphoma.
Conduct multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify significant factors collectively associate with disease status.
Apply advanced statistical methods include but not limit to logistic, regression, non-parametric methods and basic procedures.
Collaborate with a colleague to design and synthesize sequence selective DNA binding agents direct to interact irreversibly with specific genes.

Apply for research biostatistician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a research biostatistician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams