Getting a biostatistician job.

How did you get your start doing biostatistician work, and what career moves did you make to get to your current position?

Do you need a particular educational background?

My undergrad is in Psych. Then worked 3 years in neurology research lab as histology technician (top pay was 7.41/hr). Loved the work but eventually low pay forced me to move on to Quality Assurance Auditor. Started a M.S. in biology program with goal to get out of that job and back into a lab position but with higher pay. After 1 year the data analysist (assistant statistician) quit and I was asked to help fill in; during the training period (within 2 weeks of starting the only statistician quit and I "inherited" the job of statistician). Salary increased substantially and doubled after got M.S. in biology. Pay is good but with 5 years experience I am still entry level pay and have had offers of 2-3 times salary (until they see my M.S. is in Biology and not stats or biostats at which point the interview process usually terminates). Definately suggest a degree in statistics is needed for higher paying jobs.

We have a team of recruiters who specialize in placing Biostatisticians in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry.

A lot of the biostatisticians we work with get their start with internships while they are working on their PhD. Working for a CRO (clinical research organization) is also a great way to get started.

A PhD in Biostatistics is almost a necessity in the industry. A MS in Biostatistics with significant industry experience can sometimes go as far as a PhD, but severely limits career options.

As Wilb noted, your educational background really needs to be in biostatistics to advance your career.

I had a BS in Chemistry and a PhD in physiology but made a career change. I went back to school at age 43 and earned an MS in biostatistics. My first job was in the chemical industry. I think the main reason I got the job was because the folks hiring me were not statisticians and they wanted a statistician with a strong science background. That gave me the experience to land a job with a pharmaceutical firm 6 years later. If you are going to go into statistics these days, get a PhD in the field, otherwise your chances of landing a job other than as a SAS progammer are low and your opportunity for advancement is limited. Many universities are happy to hire MS statisticians with an MS in a basic science, but they refuse to pay you for that additional experience and knowledge.

Robert Gallavan in Saint Peters, Missouri said: I had a BS in Chemistry and a PhD in physiology but made a career change. I went back to school at age 43 and earned an MS in biostatistics. My first job was in the chemical industry. I think the main reason I got the job was because the folks hiring me were not statisticians and they wanted a statistician with a strong science background. That gave me the experience to land a job with a pharmaceutical firm 6 years later. If you are going to go into statistics these days, get a PhD in the field, otherwise your chances of landing a job other than as a SAS progammer are low and your opportunity for advancement is limited. Many universities are happy to hire MS statisticians with an MS in a basic science, but they refuse to pay you for that additional experience and knowledge.

I would disagree, while obtaining a PhD will jump start your career (as in you can usually start at a higher level) it does no more than this. If you look at job listings, you will see that all industry jobs require a PhD and x years of experience or an MS and x+2-3 years experience. Essentially if you want to go to work in industry it really does not matter, the extra years spent getting a PhD could easily be spent getting job experience for more money. That being said, if you want to go into academia, well then you will most likely need a PhD.

If you simply need the Doctor tag on your name and don't want to go through the PhD process there is also a Doctor of Public Health which is more applied. Again though, the extra few years of experience gained working will cover the lack of a PhD but you need to decide whether or not you want to work in industry or academia.

I have a PhD in chemistry and want to change careers to Biostatistics. I want to do an MS in biostatistics and work in clinical research. Does this sound like a reasonable plan in terms of being able to find a statistician job?

Wilb in Pgh, Pennsylvania said: My undergrad is in Psych. Then worked 3 years in neurology research lab as histology technician (top pay was 7.41/hr). Loved the work but eventually low pay forced me to move on to Quality Assurance Auditor. Started a M.S. in biology program with goal to get out of that job and back into a lab position but with higher pay. After 1 year the data analysist (assistant statistician) quit and I was asked to help fill in; during the training period (within 2 weeks of starting the only statistician quit and I "inherited" the job of statistician). Salary increased substantially and doubled after got M.S. in biology. Pay is good but with 5 years experience I am still entry level pay and have had offers of 2-3 times salary (until they see my M.S. is in Biology and not stats or biostats at which point the interview process usually terminates). Definately suggest a degree in statistics is needed for higher paying jobs.

I am from salt lake city Utah and studying Biostat Phd in France now. I was wondering if you could tell me the job perspectives of Biostat phd vs. Biostat MS. I had a Masters in statistics and was working on entry level in research in hospitals before starting my Phd. I am first year in my phd but what I am studying makes me feel like its not related to industry needs at all.( Variable selection in Cox Model <Survival Analysis> ). My goal is to get into the pharmacutical industry doing clinical trial. I have seen a lot of jobs of requirements of only MS, and the ones needing a phd also requires you to have years of experience...which I wont have since I have dedicated those years in obtaining a phd instead of working.

MY QUESTION IS: For the clinical trial pharmaceutics type of work, is a Phd better off than a MS? As far as job perspectives go. Also you have to calculate all the years I have spent obtaining my phd vs. not working and out of the job market. Thanks!