Biostatistics Director

Taking “number crunching” to a whole new level, a Biostatistics Director uses mathematical principles to analyze and decipher numerical data in a healthcare-related field. Simply put, a Biostatistics Director analyzes information from various areas of the healthcare field — ranging from pharmaceutical companies to hospitals — to identify trends related to healthcare issues.

For example, if you work as a Biostatistics Director for a large pharmaceutical company, you likely collaborate closely with Research and Development Scientists to create new medications. Using the data provided, such as the type of illness, causes, and severity, you analyze how effective a certain type of medication is. Taking it one step further, you participate in the development process, determining the effectiveness of the medication based on data from clinical trials. The information you find, or which comes as a result of your supervision, is then provided to the Food and Drug Administration for eventual approval of the medication for use by the public.

A strong background in mathematics, statistics, biostatistics, chemistry, and biology is necessary for this position, as are excellent communication skills. As the Biostatistics Director, you likely report to the company’s executive team, meaning your work is evaluated by others based on how well you communicate the findings of your team. The education for this graduate-level position includes coursework in epidemic outbreaks, data analysis techniques, designing clinical trials, and advanced probability.

If you enjoy working with numbers, have a knack for scientific research, and love to solve mysteries, this position may be perfect for you.