4 reasons to consider becoming a Biostatistician

Biostatisticians take on the responsibility of statistical aspects of both preclinical and clinical research studies. It’s their job to advise pharmaceutical companies on the number of participants to recruit at each stage of a clinical trial and the duration in order to find that perfect balance between reliability and costs. Biostatisticians therefore have the chance to work on some of the most impactful studies and in return benefit from high job security.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted a 30% increase in demand for mathematicians and statisticians in just a 10-year period – far faster than most professions - and with the global clinical trial market booming these professionals will be highly demanded by clinical research organisations and pharmaceutical companies. With that in mind, here are four reasons why you should consider becoming a biostatistician.

Work in a booming industry

The symbiotic relationship between clinical trials and pharmaceuticals assures that growth in one translates into growth for the other, and since it’s been a decade of growth for Pharma, clinical research is a great place to take your career. Whether you’ve got a bachelor’s degree in biostatistics, statistics or mathematical degree or have advanced to get a master’s degree in a related area this is a great field of work to bring your number-crunching skills and analytical mind-set.

Develop a strong medical expertise

Though it’s often overlooked, biostatisticians are involved in the preclinical stage of a trial. These professionals are consulted when addressing the feasibility of clinical research and therefore are not confined to analysing the data as many people would believe. It’s their role to raise any biostatistical issues that would impede the progress of the clinical trial, such as whether the sample is reflective of the population and how to limit errors in reporting.

Therefore, biostatisticians play an important role in the lead up to a study and the many personnel involved - including physicians - rely on them for their medical expertise. Additionally, as you refine your knowledge of more complex issues clients will depend on you to report the statistics in a way that they understand, asserting your position as the expert in the room. If you’re working in a multifunctional team it will also be up to you to explain statistical reasoning to colleagues who don’t come from a statistical background, such as clinical research assistants.

Develop your communication and interpersonal skills

Being key contributors to the success of clinical research, biostatisticians are involved right from the point of case report form (CRF) development where they’ll coordinate with clinical trial managers, investigators and data managers. Later in the process, they participate in the statistical analysis and interpretation of data, sometimes presenting this under the supervision of the senior biostatistician. This requires both a combination of written communication when writing up reports and verbal communication when presenting findings in client and investigator meetings. A biostatistician job is a great career to build up these skills and develop confidence in talking in front of healthcare professionals and clinical research personnel.

Help bring life-changing treatments to market

Though the various stages of a clinical trial mean that it can take 12 years for a drug to make it to market - with only 1 in 1,000 being successful - biostatisticians experience huge satisfaction knowing that their work is helping to develop potentially life-changing treatments that will be administered to patients some years down the line. But it won’t necessarily all be about the long-term gain, just take the development of a coronavirus vaccine as an example. Never has there been a tighter deadline for a drug to pass through the stages of a clinical trial and the biostatisticians working on Covid-19 projects around the world are at the forefront of one of the most impactful moments in drug development.

Apply for a biostatistician job with ICON

Join us and you’ll be working alongside a bright and enthusiastic team who will ensure you have an exciting career because at ICON it’s people that set us apart. As one of the leading the CROs, operating in 40 countries, you’ll get the chance to work on some of the most exciting and ground-breaking projects in the pharmaceutical market. Find our latest biostatistics jobs here and start your application or take a look at these 5 reasons why you should consider a career in clinical research.