Doctor of Philosophy

Upon receiving a PhD degree in Public Health, the student will be able to:

• Critically evaluate public health and related literature.
• Discuss and critically evaluate the broad literature of the student’s discipline.
• Review in depth the background and research advances in the student’s specific research area.
• Apply at an advanced level the research methodology of the student’s broader discipline and, in particular, the student’s specific research area.
• Present research to colleagues and professionals on a national and international level at professional meetings.
• Teach a course in the student’s broad discipline.
• Explain the principles of research ethics and apply these principles to specific research projects.
• Design and conduct an advanced, original research project in the student’s discipline.
• Generate data to create publishable manuscripts that represent important contributions to the literature. 

• BIS 525a and b, Seminar in Biostatistics 0
• BIS 623a, Applied Regression Analysis 1
• BIS 625a, Categorical Data Analysis 1
• BIS 628b, Longitudinal Data Analysis 1
• BIS 643b, Theory of Survival Analysis and Its Applications 1
• BIS 630b, Applied Survival Analysis .5
• BIS 632b, Design and Analysis of Epidemiologic Studies .5
• BIS 646a, Nonparametric Statistical Methods and their Applications 1
• BIS 651b, Spatial Statistics in Public Health 1
• BIS 691b, Theory of Generalized Linear Models 1
• BIS 695c, Summer Rotation in Statistical Research 0
• STAT 541a, Probability Theory 1
• STAT 542b, Theory of Statistics 1
• STAT 610a, Statistical Inference 1
• STAT 612a, Linear Models 1
• EPH 600b, Research Ethics and Responsibilities SAT/UNSAT

In addition, students must choose three courses in their applied area. The applied area consists of an intended area of methodologic research applied to such areas as epidemiology, genetics, microbiology, or health policy. Examples of courses student could take if they are interested in epidemiology are: CDE 508a, Principles of Epidemiology I; CDE 516b; Principles of Epidemiology II; and CDE 619a, Advanced Epidemiologic Research Methods.

• Three courses in applied area 

Students supported by training grants may be subject to additional requirements and should discuss this with the Principal Investigator of that grant to determine whether there are grant-specific requirements.

rev. 7.17.2012

Under the guidance of the academic adviser, students choose three courses in their applied area. The applied area consists of an intended area of methodologic research applied to such areas as epidemiology, genetics, microbiology, or health policy.

Qualifying Examinations

The examination covering epidemiological methods includes both an in-class and a take home portion. One faculty member is responsible for coordinating this examination, and the examination content is developed by the overall faculty. The specialty area examination is usually developed by an expert in the field following discussions with the candidate and biostatistics advisor.

Research Requirements

In a number of courses, students gain actual experience with various aspects of research including preparation of a research grant, questionnaire design, preparation of a database for analysis, and analysis and interpretation of real data. In addition, doctoral students can gain research experience by working with faculty members on ongoing research studies prior to initiating dissertation research.

The Dissertation

The Department strives for doctoral dissertations that have a strong methodological component motivated by an important health question. Hence, the dissertation should include a methodological advance or a substantial modification of an existing method motivated by a set of data collected to address an important health question. The dissertation must also include the application of the proposed methodology to real data. A fairly routine application of widely available statistical methodology is not acceptable as a dissertation topic. Candidates are expected not only to show a thorough knowledge of the posed health question, but also to demonstrate quantitative skills necessary for the creation and application of novel statistical tools.

Research projects carried out by recent Biostatistics PhD graduates

• Bayesian Design and Monitoring of Clinical Trials
• A Latent Variable Model for Linkage Analysis
• Statistical Methods for Haplotype Analysis in Genetic Studies
• Statistical Design and Analysis for Post-Marketing Studies of Rare Adverse Events
• Spatio-Temporal Modeling of No)2 in the Presence of Multiple Data Sources with Missing Data by Design
• Estimating Density of Nymphal Deer Ticks (Lyme Disease Vector) using a Novel Dynamic Spatiotemporal Zero-inflated Regression Model
• Covariate-adjusted Response-adaptive Randomization Procedures in Multi-arm Clinical Trials with Continuous Response Variables
• Topics on Analyzing Recurrent Event Data with Sparsely Observed Longitudinal Information

Many faculty have grants which can be supplemented to provide training related expenses and stipends to students. In addition, there are some opportunities for University fellowships and for NIH traineeships for those interested in studying statistical methods with applications in Mental Health Epidemiology.

Research Training In Mental Health

Sampling of positions alumni have taken:

• Statistician - Wyeth Research
• Asst Professor Medicine, Vanderbilt University
• Abbot Labs - Biostatistician Asst
• Professor - Rush Institute for Health Aging - Rush University Medical Center - Internal Medicine Dept.
• Asst Professor at Columbia University
• Co-Director, Data Management & Statistical Analysis - Yale Univeristy - CIRA
• FDA - Biostatistician
• University of Nebraska - Asst Professor of Biostatistics - Department of Preventive and Societal Medicine
• Asst Professor - University of Alabama, Birmingham
• Biostatistician II for Medimmune Inc. Oncology Group
• Associate Research Scientist Yale University and Yale Center for Analytical Sciences
• Asst Professor Duke University
• Global Project Leader, Global Health Economics & Outcomes, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals
• Biostatistician for Yale New Haven Hospital Outcomes Center
• JP Morgan Chase - consultant in NJ
• Pfizer - Director of Clinical Evaluations
• University of Minnesota, Biostatistics Department, Asst Professor
• Asst Professor - University of Alabama, Birmingham
• Consultant for Boston Consulting Group in China
• Asst Professor, WPI, Dept of Mathematical Sciences
• Staff Affiliate at Yale University; Internal Medicine Cardiology