PhD Biostatistics

Major Focus Areas of the PhD Program in Public Health with a Concentration in Biostatistics

Students can choose to focus their dissertation research in a specific focus area. Students identify and develop their focused research under the supervision of their major professor and the Doctoral Program Committee. Methodology focus areas include Bayesian statistics, environmental and spatial statistics, semi-parametric statistics, longitudinal and clustered data analysis, mixed effects and multilevel modeling, missing data analysis, survival data analysis, survey methodology, and causal inference. The methodology foci may transcend application focus areas such as modeling of HIV/AIDS clinical trials and management, HIV dynamic modeling, health risk assessment, quality of life and well-being, miss-classification in quality control charts and clinical diagnosis, social behaviors and mental health, clinical trials, evaluation of clinical and health outcomes, and modeling of biological systems. Examples of possible plans of study for each focus area are available on the Department website and the Department Doctoral Student Handbook. 

Overview of Requirements for Doctoral Program in Public Health with a Concentration in Biostatistics

The Doctoral Program in Public Health with a Concentration in Biostatistics usually involves two years of course work or more depending upon student’s previous Biostatistical training, followed by a doctoral dissertation.  Time required for completing a dissertation is commonly between two to four years. The following is an overview of the requirements for the PhD program in Public Health with a Concentration in Biostatistics:

Coursework

The USF Graduate School requires a minimum of 90 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree for the doctoral degree. For students with a prior master’s degree, a total of 50-57 credit hours beyond the master’s degree are required, including 18 hours of required coursework in Biostatistics and a minimum of 18 credits of dissertation. The remaining credits are made up of course electives, which may or may not be within the department and shall be determined jointly by the student and the major professor/doctoral committee. Coursework in other departments or colleges may be required as determined by the Study Plan and approved by the student's doctoral committee. In addition, the overall coursework must include a minimum of 13 hours at the 7000 level and three Advanced Interdisciplinary Doctoral Seminars.

For a listing of the courses offered by the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, see the COPH website.  The Department Doctoral Student Handbook provides more information about doctoral program coursework.  The following is a summary of program requirements for the Doctoral Program in Public Health with a Concentration in Biostatistics.

Students are required to complete and submit the Department Doctoral Plan of Study Form by the end of the second semester after enrollment into the program.  The student should meet with their Major Professor and Doctoral Program Committee to select courses and complete the Plan of Study form.  The Department Plan of Study outlines the Department and College requirements for successful completion of the doctoral program including required coursework and other requirements. A signed copy of the Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs and the Department Academic Coordinator by the last day of classes in the Spring semester.  The student should retain a copy for his/her records.  After initially completing the Department Doctoral Plan of Study Form, the student should meet with his/her Major Professor at least annually to review the Plan of Study and update it as needed.  Each time the Plan of Study is revised, a copy of the revised Form should be submitted the COPH Office of Academic & Student Affairs as well as the Department.  At the conclusion of the student’s doctoral program, a final version of the completed Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the COPH Office of Academic & Student Affairs and the Department.  More information about doctoral program coursework is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminars in Public Health

Teaching

In addition to coursework, each doctoral student is required to demonstrate proficiency in teaching by serving as TAs for graduate and/or undergraduate level courses and/or other relevant teaching experiences and coursework. The purpose of the teaching requirement is to equip students with experience and proficiency in effective communication in a classroom setting as well opportunities to develop skills necessary for effective classroom management and student mentoring.  TA’s should maintain responsible and professional conduct during all interactions with faculty and students.  The TA should not meet with students in their homes, isolated locations, or late nights for their own personal safety.  The TA should promptly report any suspicious or dangerous student behavior to the course instructor and campus police, if necessary.  More information about the teaching requirement for the doctoral program is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

Other Departmental Requirements

Public Health Seminars

Departmental, College and USF Health seminars, guest lectures (e.g., Dean’s Lecture Series) are held throughout the academic year and these seminars are an important part of a student's academic training and professional development.  Each doctoral student is expected to attend all seminars but is required to attend at least two seminars per semester.  Students should include documentation of attendance at the seminars with the Department Annual Student Progress Report.

Other Department Activities

Doctoral students are also expected to attend Dissertation Concept Presentations, Proposal Defenses, and Dissertation Defenses of other doctoral students in the Department to provide encouragement and support.  Students should also attend other Department and College events and activities as their work schedules permit.

Annual Student Progress Report

All doctoral students will submit an annual progress report to the Department Doctoral Program Director(s) that will be reviewed by the Department faculty. The report will be used to assess the student’s progress through the program.  The report should be submitted to the Department by June 30th of each year.  An overall assessment and recommendations for modifications to the student’s plan of study from the Department faculty may be given to the student’s Major Professor and the student. 

The Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics Annual Student Progress Report and more information about the Annual Student Progress Report can be obtained from the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and the Department website. 

Time Limits for Completion of Doctoral Program

On average, the doctoral program requires four to five years for completion following the Master’s or other advanced degree.  The USF Graduate School requires completion of all requirements for the doctoral degree within a specified period of time from the date of enrollment into the program.  Students should consult the USF Graduate School catalog for the specific time limits which apply to them.  In addition, the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics reserves the right to dismiss a student at any time because of failure to make satisfactory, continuous progress toward completion of the degree.

Doctoral students successfully completing the Biostatistics PhD program in the Department will possess a defined set of competencies. These competencies should be used to guide the student and the students Doctoral Program committee in planning a program of study. Competencies can be met through previous academic or work experience or through a combination of planned course work and other scholarly experiences. Download the College PhD Student Competency Form at: http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/For%20Faculty/COPH%20College-wide%20PhD%20competencies.pdf.

In addition to the overall PhD degree competencies graduates with a concentration in Biostatistics will have:

1. General knowledge of public health with respect to health policy, healthcare management and delivery, community health, and environmental health;
2. In depth knowledge of epidemiology evaluation of healthcare outcome and system; Special knowledge in a chosen field of public health where the student has interests in conducting biostatistical applications;
3. In depth knowledge of the history of biostatistics with respect to its role in medicine and public health;
4. Skills to search and review health literature to understand substantive research questions;
5. Skills to search and review statistical literature to understand the limitations and strengths of key methodologies;
6. Ability to articulate research needs for evaluating methods, improving existing methods, and developing new methods;
7. Ability to translate a substantive research question into statistical question and identify biostatistical methods to address it;
8. Ability to design and carry out a research study plan for an application project, including an analysis plan;
9. Clear understanding of the role a Biostatistician plays in enhancing scientific integrity with respect to data collection, analysis, reporting, and interpretation;
10. Experience and skills in consultation and collaboration with researchers of diverse background;
11. Ability of effective communication, including effective presentation of findings at professional meetings and seminars, teaching introductory biostatistics courses, and interpreting statistical analysis for lay persons;
12. Exposure to leadership development in a team environment;
13. Experience in scientific writing, including developing applications for pre- or post-doctoral fellowships, manuscript preparation, participating in developing research grant proposals; and
14. Knowledge of funding opportunities from federal, local governments, and non-profit sources.

Advising and mentorship of doctoral students is a comprehensive process that evolves throughout the Doctoral Program. Upon admission, an initial advisor is appointed for each student. The student then selects a Major Professor and assembles a Doctoral Program Committee which will provide guidance  and oversight for the coursework phase of the Doctoral Program. After successfully passing the Qualifying Examination, the student will have a Doctoral Dissertation Committee which will provide expertise and guidance for the dissertation. More information about each aspect of the advising process is provided in the sections below.

The Advisor

Upon admission an advisor of full-time Biostatistics faculty from the Department is appointed by the Department for each doctoral student. The Advisor will provide general orientation to the doctoral program and guidance in the initial selection of classes. Each Program Advisor will serve in this capacity for a maximum of two semesters from the time of entry into the doctoral program. By that time (i.e., by the end of the second semester in the program), doctoral students are expected to select a Major Professor and form a Doctoral Program Committee.

The Major Professor

As the student's research interest develops, usually by the end of the second academic semester, the student will select a Major Professor. If the Program Advisor is in agreement, she/he may become the Major Professor if appropriate, or the student may ask another full-time, departmental Biostatistics faculty member to serve as the Major Professor. Students must have a Major Professor in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress in the doctoral program. If a student is unable to have a full-time Biostatistics faculty member from the Department to serve as his or her Major Professor by the end of one year from the date in which they entered the doctoral program or at any time point thereafter in the program, the student may not be permitted to continue in the doctoral program.

The Major Professor must be fully credentialed by the College of Public Health. The Major Professor will assist in identifying any specific deficiencies and provide guidance for completing the Plan of Study. Students should consult the USF Graduate School Catalog for more information. In special circumstances a Co-Major Professor may be assigned upon approval by the Major Professor and Departmental Chair.

The Doctoral Program Committee

By the end of the second academic semester, in collaboration with the Program Advisor (or Major Professor if selected), the student will assemble a Doctoral Program Committee. Students should follow the steps for forming a committee as outlined in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and by the COPH. In addition to the requirements of the USF Graduate School the specific Department requirements for the composition of the Doctoral Program Committee are as follows:

• The committee must consist of at least four graduate faculty,
• The Chair of the committee must be fully credentialed by the College of Public Health and be a full-time member of the Biostatistics faculty in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The Major Professor serves as the Chair,
• A minimum of three committee members (including the Chair) must be from the Biostatistics faculty from the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. All members must be credentialed by the College of Public Health,
• A minimum of one committee member should be a researcher with relevant scientific expertise who should be a full-time member of the Department faculty, COPH, USF faculty or another institute,
• The committee can include additional members as needed, who can be from outside the Department.

The Doctoral Program Committee will approve the student's Plan of Study and provide guidance for the student regarding class selection and preparation for the qualifying examination. The signed Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs.

The Doctoral Program Committee may meet at any time, but should ideally meet once per semester but at least once per academic year to review the student's progress, or to suggest changes in the plan of study. The student also may request a committee meeting at any time. The Doctoral Committee Chair may be asked to provide the department as requested by the Department Chair or the PhD program Director, or the student with an evaluation of the student's progress toward the degree. More detailed information about the advising process for doctoral students is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

The Doctoral Dissertation Committee

After the successful completion of the Doctoral Qualifying Examination but before the student reaches the dissertation stage, the membership of the student's Doctoral Program Committee should be assessed for suitability for the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. The membership of the Dissertation Committee may be the same as that of the Doctoral Program Committee if the student and/or Major Professor so desires. Students must have a Doctoral Dissertation Committee in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress in the doctoral program. If a student is unable to assemble a Doctoral Dissertation Committee within one year of successfully passing the Qualifying Exam, the student may not be permitted to continue in the doctoral program.

Requirements for Composition of Doctoral Dissertation Committee

In addition to the requirements of the USF Graduate School, the specific Department requirements for the composition of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee are as follows:

• The committee must consist of at least four graduate faculty,
• The Chair of the committee must be fully credentialed by the College of Public Health and be a full-time member of the Biostatistics faculty in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics,
• A minimum of three committee members (including the Chair) must be from the full-time Biostatistics faculty from the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. All members must be credentialed by the College of Public Health,
• A minimum of one committee member should be a researcher with expertise in the area relevant to the student's doctoral research, who should be a full-time member of the Department or College faculty or another institute,
• The committee may include additional members from outside the Department.

Changes in Doctoral Committee Membership

There may be a variety of reasons, including better suiting the needs of the student's dissertation research, to change the membership of the Doctoral Program or Dissertation Committees. Members of the Doctoral Program Committee may decide not to serve, or choose to remain on the Dissertation Committee. In the event a Major Professor is unable or unwilling to continue serving on the student's committee, the student is responsible for finding another Major Professor. Students who are unable to find a replacement of Major Professor who meets the Department requirements should confer with the Department Chairperson for available options. If no other options exist, the student may be requested to voluntarily withdraw from the program or may be honorably withdrawn in good academic standing.

The PhD candidate or Major Professor can also recommend changes. However the Major Professor and the Department Chair must approve all changes in committee membership.

In order to change the membership of a Doctoral Committee, students are required to submit the PhD Change of Committee Form which is available at http://www.publichealth.usf.edu/forms.html to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Students should consult the Department Doctoral Student Handbook, the College of Public Health Office of Academic and Student Affairs, and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website for specific information about the process to change Doctoral Committee membership.