Biostatistics

One term of practical experience, required of all MS Theory and Methods and MPH students, enriches and supplements the more traditional academic aspects of the program, and may provide a view of career opportunities after graduation. The practicum may be fulfilled during the school year or over the summer. Arrangements are made on an individual basis in consultation with faculty advisors who must approve both the proposed practicum project prior to its initiation, and the report submitted at the conclusion of the practicum experience.

Practicum Opportunities in the Department of Biostatistics

The Department of Biostatistics offers many practicum opportunities through participating in a faculty member’s research project or one affiliated with a biostatistics data coordinating center such as the DCC jointly housed in the New York State Psychiatric Institute, the Statistical Analysis Center, or the Biostatistics Center for Clinical Trials Management.

The BCCTM, for example, offers one or two term internships for Department of Biostatistics students and other Mailman School students who want to pursue a career in clinical trials research.

The Division of Statistical Genetics may also offer practicum opportunities for students interested in the genetics of complex diseases and its many other research areas.

Mailman School Practicum Resources

The Office of Career Services is an invaluable resource for identifying additional local, regional, national and global internship opportunities for Mailman students.

The Student Travel Fund may help support students on domestic or global internships within its guidelines. The Office of Career Services administers grant applications for both the Student Travel Fund Domestic Internships and Student Travel Fund Global Internships.

Practicum Examples

Students have found practicum opportunities working in the pharmaceutical industry, local and state Departments of Health, through an internship with the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes of Health.

Some examples of successful student practica in biostatistics include:

• Statistical Analyst/Data Manager in Respiratory Health Research: Examined the association of in utero exposure to air pollution on the health and development of newborns in a multi-site, international, longitudinal cohort study conducted by an academic research center.
• Statistical Consultant/Data Manager in Neurology Research: Joined an academic research team conducting a longitudinal study to evaluate the association between cerebral stroke location and fatal cardiac outcomes.
• Research Analyst on a psychiatric epidemiology study: Assessed trends in adolescent and young adult use of a recreational drug by gender, ethnicity, and geographic area and examined the effect of changes in legislative policy regarding the drug on its usage.
• Statistical Analyst /Data Manager with the Department of Health: Analyzed data from the World Trade Center Registry to evaluate the association between respiratory syndromes and pediatric post traumatic syndromes, and the events of 9/11.
• Statistical Consultant/Analyst with a health promotion research group: Analyzed data from a randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a brief focused educational intervention with physicians on increasing recommendations for colorectal cancer screening in comparison to a service-as-usual control.