Biostatisticians are statistics experts who use their skills in a wide range of biological disciplines. They may be involved in areas such as:

• epidemiology (the study of disease incidence and patterns)
• population genetics
• gene sequence analysis
• the development and analysis of clinical medical trials

Biostatisticians must have excellent problem solving and analytical skills, with a focus on working with numbers and statistics to examine biological issues. They should also have a strong background in working with computers to organize and interpret information. Biostatisticians often collaborate with other scientists on a larger project, and should be able to work well both independently and as part of a larger team of people. Biostatisticians should be able to focus on the details of a project while retaining an accurate ‘big picture’.