Mission
Biostatistics is the branch of statistics responsible for proper collection, analysis, and interpretation of data generated in the biological, public health, and biomedical sciences. Biostatisticians must rely on a broad framework of mathematical, statistical, and scientific principles that will enable them to learn from data properly and reliably. The Biostatistics Graduate Program at 91吃瓜网 (VU) comprises a Master of Science (MS) program and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. We are committed to training flexible thinkers to be well-versed practitioners of modern biostatistics who will become leaders in academia, industry, and government. To that end, our curriculum aims to strike a balance between theoretical rigor, methodological proficiency, and functional aptitude. Students have learning goals in four broad domains: statistical theory, practice of biostatistics, written and verbal communication, and community engagement.
Rankings and Numbers
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15th
in the 2026 US News and World Report聽list of聽听(rankings explained)
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5
Fellows of the聽 on the faculty. All the officers of the Mid-Tennessee ASA chapter are from our department, and some national representatives are as well. See our ASA activities page for more details.
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All
incoming PhD students are funded!
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45
primary faculty members
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16
MS students
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28
PhD students
Recent conferences in Nashville:
- (Joint Statistical Meetings) 2025 (attendance: more than聽5,000)
- 听(Association of Clinical and Translational Scientists) 2025 annual meeting
- Institute of Mathematical Statistics聽听(New Researchers Conference) 2025
The department hosted聽聽and led the organization of聽听(more than 1200 participants) and聽 (450 attendees), all with glowing reviews. Members regularly present talks and workshops around the world, including at conferences such as ENAR and JSM.