Biostatistics (BSPH)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Public Health
Abstract
The doctoral program in biostatistics is designed for students with a strong quantitative background and an interest in public health and biomedical research. The program emphasizes biostatistical methodology as well as the practice of biostatistics and data science in public health. It will address the workforce shortage in the field of biostatistics while producing future leaders and scholars in public health and biomedical data science. This will be achieved through: 1) advanced training in biostatistical modeling, machine learning, big data computing, epidemiology and public health data science, 2) experiential learning through research opportunities at research centers and institutes within UMD; 3) fostered biostatistical thinking and enhanced data science skills necessary for future careers in academia, pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry, government agencies, and other healthcare and public health administration professional organizations.
Contact
Jamie Trevitt, PhD, MPP
Director of Graduate Studies
Associate Clinical Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
School of Public Health
University of Maryland, College Park
Email: jtrevitt@umd.edu
Website: sph.umd.edu/epib
The PhD in Biostatistics program has a two-part application process. Applicants must submit the SOPHAS application (sophas.cas.myliaison.com), the centralized application service for schools and programs of public health, and the UMD Supplemental application. Both applications must be submitted, complete with all required documents and verified by the scheduled deadline. Applications will be reviewed once both the SOPHAS and UMD Supplemental applications are complete.
GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- A Bachelor's degree
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
- Transcripts from all previous coursework
- English proficiency test score (TOEFL, IELTS or PTE) (international applicants)
- Statement of purpose and objectives
- Response to personal experiences question(s)
PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
- SOPHAS application & UMD Supplemental application
- A master's degree is not required; however, advanced graduate training in mathematics, biostatistics, statistics, or data science is strongly recommended.
- Statement of purpose, including career and educational goals, professional experience, and research interests. Applicants must identify the faculty member(s) with whom they wish to work, provide justification for that interest, and contact the relevant faculty member(s) prior to submitting an application.
- Applicants should preferably have completed three semesters of calculus, including multivariable calculus and linear algebra.
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Three letters of recommendation
- A writing sample (e.g., published manuscript, master's thesis, or research paper). If the submitted manuscript is not sole- or first-authored, applicants must describe their specific contributions to the work.
- Official GRE scores are optional but recommended. If submitting, scores must have been taken within the past five years and should be reported to SOPHAS (ETS code: 0485).
Note for applicants with foreign credentials:
- The SOPHAS application requires that applicants submit a WES credential evaluation.
- The UMD supplemental application requires uploading unofficial transcripts issued in the original language with a literal English translation. Visit the Graduate School website for additional information
- Evidence of English Language proficiency is required if the applicant does not hold a degree from a U.S. institution or from one of the English-speaking countries listed on the Graduate School website. Language scores must be submitted both to SOPHAS and the UMD supplemental application.
For detailed instructions on how to apply, please visit the School of Public Health Website: sph.umd.edu/graduate-application-process
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline |
|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | |
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | January 8, 2027 |
| International Applicants | |
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants | January 8, 2027 |
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Program website: sph.umd.edu/phd-biostatistics
Application Process: sph.umd.edu/apply
Admissions FAQ: sph.umd.edu/graduate-application-faqs
Our faculty in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics includes individuals with multi-faceted interests in biostatistics, epidemiology, and bioinformatics. Biostatistics faculty apply statistical techniques including survival and longitudinal analysis, computational statistics, statistical analysis of genomic and proteomic data, machine learning, neuroimaging statistics, (network) meta-analysis, missing data analysis, Bayesian hierarchical methods, and bioinformatics to analyze and interpret health data. Epidemiology faculty have research interests and expertise in the epidemiology of infectious disease and chronic disease with particular focus in the areas of HIV/STIs, cancer, health disparities, cardiovascular disease, obesity/physical activity, and sexual and reproductive health. Additional areas of specialization include social and behavioral determinants of health, aging, cultural competency, and community-based interventions.
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter-Pokras | Olivia | Full | B.S., Tulane University; M.H.S., Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health | Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology Professor Emeritus, Biostatistics |
| Cruz-Cano | Raul | Associate | B.S., Autonomous University of Chihuahua, 1999; M.S., University of Texas at El Paso, 2002; Ph.D., University of Texas at El Paso, 2005 | Associate Research Professor, Biostatistics |
| Dallal | Cher | Full | B.A., University of California at Berkeley, 1998; M.P.H., Yale University School of Public Health, 2002; M.S., University of Southern California, 2005; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 2009 | Associate Professor, Epidemiology Associate Professor, Biostatistics |
| Dyer | Typhanye | Full | B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1995; M.P.H., California State University, Long Beach, 2002; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 2009 | Associate Professor, Epidemiology Associate Professor, Biostatistics |
| He | Xin | Full | B.S., Peking University, 2003; B.A., Peking University, 2003; Ph.D., University of Missouri, 2007 | Associate Professor, Epidemiology Associate Professor, Biostatistics Graduate Director, Epidemiology Graduate Director, Biostatistics |
| Kleinman | Dushanka | Full | B.S., University of Wisconsin; D.D.S., University of Illinois-Chicago College of Dentistry; M.Sc.D., Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine | Professor, Epidemiology Professor, Biostatistics |
| Lee | Mei-Ling | Full | B.S., National Taiwan University, 1975; M.S., National Tsing Hua University, 1977; M.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1978; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1980 | Professor, Epidemiology Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Professor, Biostatistics |
| Liu | Hongjie | Full | B.M., Shanghai Medical University, 1993; M.S., UCLA School of Public Health, 1998; Ph.D., UCLA School of Public Health, 2002 | Chair, Epidemiology Chair, Biostatistics Professor, Epidemiology Professor, Biostatistics |
| Lushniak | Boris | Full | B.S., Northwestern University, 1981; M.D., Northwestern University, 1983; M.P.H., Harvard University, 1984 | Professor, Epidemiology Professor, Biostatistics |
| Ma | Tianzhou | Full | B.S., University of Toronto, 2010; M.S., Yale University, 2013; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 2018 | Assistant Professor, Epidemiology Assistant Professor, Biostatistics |
| Nguyen | Quynh | Full | B.A., Stanford University, 2005; M.S.P.H., UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, 2009; Ph.D., UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, 2011 | Associate Professor, Epidemiology Associate Professor, Biostatistics |
| Trevitt | Jamie Lynn | Graduate Teaching | M.P.P., Georgetown University, 2006; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 2010 | Assistant Clinical Professor, Biostatistics |
| Turpin | Rodman | Associate | B.S., Howard University, 2008; M.S., Howard University, 2012; Ph.D., University of Maryland School of Public Health, 2018 | Assistant Research Professor, Biostatistics |