Biostatistics and data science research

The Department of Biostatistics & Data Science has a diverse array of statistical and data science research areas available to our faculty and students. A major strength and component of our department is the Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials (CCCT), which has a more-than-40-year history of successfully coordinating large multicenter clinical trials and providing comprehensive services for these endeavors. Our  Center for Spatial-Temporal Modeling for Applications in Population Sciences (CSMAPS) is a collaborative and innovative hub which aims to uncover hidden patterns and dynamics within public health data, providing crucial insights across a myriad of public health fields - including infectious disease control, cancer research, mental health research, environmental health, health disparities, chronic disease management, and implementation sciences. We also recently established the Center for Big Data in Health Sciences (CBD-HS), which hosts several Big Data research projects, including development of predictive models and heterogeneous data integration methods for Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR) data, insurance claim data, and data from public databases or data repositories.

Our faculty’s research interests and efforts include:

• Clinical Trials
• Experimental and Adaptive Designs
• Survival Data Analysis
• Longitudinal Data from Observational and Epidemiological Studies
• Bayesian Methods in Public Health
• Bioinformatics/Computational Biology
• EHR/EMR, Insurance Claim and Healthcare Data Modeling/Analysis
• Imaging Data Analysis
• GIS/Spatio-temporal Data Analysis
• Risk and Disease Progression Modeling
• Unstructured Data Analysis
• Big Data Analytics
• Data Management, Harmonization and Integration
• Data Visualization and Software Tool Development
• Missing Data
• Stochastic Processes
• Nonparametric statistics
• Time Series Data
• Casual Inference
• Statistical Genetics
• Machine Learning Methods

You can see the research interests for each of individual faculty members on our faculty website.

Degree programs

Designed for professionals working in health care or industries related to public health, research, and biostatistics, the coursework consists of data science, data analytics and predictions, analytic methods, and data management. We offer the following degree programs:

Master of Science (MS)

The MS in Biostatistics and Data Science is a minimum of 36 semester credit hours and is generally a two-year program for full-time students. Training is offered in research design, basic statistical theory, data analysis, computer applications, and statistical consultation. The program emphasizes fundamental statistical approach and methods and computational skills and provides the basis for doctoral level biostatistical studies.

Admission Requirement: Complete multivariate calculus.

• Master of Science in Biostatistics

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Ph.D. in Biostatistics and Data Science is a minimum of 48 semester credit hours and is generally a four-year, full-time program beyond the Masters of Science degree or a five-year, full-time program beyond the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Prepared to become independent investigators, graduates emerge with a full understanding of the development and application of biostatistical analyses to tackle human health and disease crises. The Ph.D. curriculum is designed to allow students to prepare themselves to assume senior statistical positions in governmental or private health research agencies or follow careers in teaching and research.

Admission Requirement: Complete multivariate calculus and a semester of linear algebra.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Biostatistics

Certificates offered

Taking a class or getting a certificate is a great way to enhance your current career skills, or help you decide if pursuing a degree in public health is the right choice for you. Non-degree or certificate courses can count towards a degree program, as long as the courses taken align with the requirements described in the degree program planner.

For non-degree seeking students:

• Data Science Certificate
• Applied Biostatistics in Public Health Certificate
• Advanced Data Science Certificate

For degree-seeking students

• Data Science Certificate
• Applied Biostatistics in Public Health Certificate
• Advanced Data Science Certificate

Center for Biostatistics Collaboration and Data Services

Our new Center for Biostatistics Collaboration and Data Services will provide opportunities for our faculty and students to collaborate and interact with biomedical and health science investigators to address scientific questions using their statistical and data science skills.

Consulting Areas

• Biostatistics consulting and data analysis services
• Data management services
• Data science services

Contact

Dr. Vahed Maroufy
(713) 500-9588
[email protected]

Seminar Series

Faculty Lists

• Primary Faculty
• Secondary/Adjunct/Cross Faculty (eligible for PhD student dissertation supervisor)
• Other Secondary/Adjunct/Cross Faculty
• Retired and Emeritus Faculty

Staff Information

Administrative Staff

Research Staff

Students

Alumni

• 1970: First MS student in Biometry awarded
• 1973: First PhD student in Biometry awarded
• 2009: First MPH student in Biostatistics awarded
• 2019: First Data Science Certificate awarded
• 2022: First Advanced Data Science Certificate awarded
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) approved our MS/PhD degree name change to “Biostatistics and Data Science”