2023 Education News
The year of 2023 was one of growth for the Department of Biostatistics. In spring of 2023, we graduated the first class of our Public Health Data Science (PHDS) Track for the MS in Biostatistics program. This new program focused on creating a path for students that would combine more traditional training in biostatistical theory, methods, and applications with principles of statistical learning and data management. This cohort of 49 students helped us pave the way for continued improvements in the program as data science for health becomes key to translate data into improved health outcomes. We have continued to make improvements to its curriculum according to both industry and student feedback, bringing in more courses and electives, such as P8124 Graphical Models for Complex Health Data. In fall of 2022 and 2023, the PHDS track had the largest share of enrolled students in the Biostatistics MS program. Our own faculty member, Dr. Jeff Goldsmith, was appointed to the role of Associate Dean for Data Science to provide leadership in this growing field and to help expand educational programs in data science.
The 2003 MS and MPH graduates have already begun making their mark. Many of our graduates are continuing their studies at across 15 doctoral programs, ranging from our own Biostatistics Department Yale to the University of Texas and beyond. Other Master’s graduates report having found jobs at 63 companies so far, including Merck, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Cleveland Clinic, and even the National Basketball Association! You can see a full list of where our graduates are going in the 2023 Student Data page.
When we look at our employed students by sector, as shown in the graph, the largest portion (27%) have gone on to work in the Hospital & Healthcare industry, followed by Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology (22%). In addition, there is a quickly growing portion of our alumni who are heading into the technology spaces. We, as a department, are committed to ensuring that our students are thoroughly prepared for a diverse range of future employment opportunities. Our goal is to equip our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their careers, wherever their paths may lead.
We continue to promote undergraduate interest in biostatistics through the SIBDS@Columbia and BEST summer programs. In 2023, we hosted 10 and 13 students respectively for these synergistic programs, engaging students in the fundamentals and research of biostatistics and providing opportunities for hands-on biomedical analysis. The programs offer students the chance to work closely with faculty mentors on research projects, and they present their results to their fellow students and the wider school in a poster session. These programs represent our continued commitment to providing opportunities for students to explore their interest in biostatistics and data science. Several graduates from these important pipeline programs have joined graduate programs at Columbia and other peer institutions. For example, two alumni of our BEST program joined our PhD program in Fall 2023.