Biostatistics

Welcome from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Biostatistics at University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), the home of experts in statistical application for biomedical research and public health informatics in the State of Nebraska.

The department was established in 2010 with a mission of developing innovative biostatistical methods to advance the knowledge of biomedicine and public health; providing leadership in the application of biostatistical sciences and support in study design and data analysis in collaboration with investigators for cutting-edge scientific studies; and fostering the next generation of biostatisticians by offering state-of-the-art graduate education.  

The department currently has 14 faculty members and 8 master-level biostatisticians who are actively engaged in research planning, data analysis, and interpretation of research results for team science research projects across the University of Nebraska (NU) system. The department leads the Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) core for Great Plains IDeA-CTR network, the Biostatistics Resource Center (BRC) for the Buffett Cancer Center, and the Center for Collaboration on Research Design and Analysis (CCORDA) to provide statistical consultation, mentoring, and analysis support in manuscript writing and grant development for investigators in the NU system as well as in local research communities.

The department faculty have built expertise in the areas of statistical theory, Bayesian models, joint modeling of longitudinal and survival data, clinical trial design, machine learning, causal inference, statistical genetics, biomarker discovery, microbiome data analysis, and electronic health data.  Some faculty members also hold a secondary appointment in UNMC College of Medicine to strengthen research collaboration.

The department has developed a full-fledged graduate education in Biostatistics by offering the following degree and certificate programs:

  1. PhD in Biostatistics
  2. MS in Biostatistics
  3. MPH with concentration in Biostatistics
  4. Graduate certificate in Biostatistics

All the programs except the PhD have an online version with the curriculum exactly matched with the on-campus program to offer flexibility for working students to pursue a degree or certificate in Biostatistics. All our graduates from the program were well placed in industry, government, or research institutes.

We are excited about what we have accomplished, and we will continue to look for new opportunities to strengthen the program to meet the increasing societal demand for biostatistics and biostatisticians.

     

Ying Zhang, PhD

Professor and Chair