Biostatistician
Science & Research
Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Draw conclusions or make predictions, based on data summaries or statistical analyses.
- 2Analyze clinical or survey data, using statistical approaches such as longitudinal analysis, mixed-effect modeling, logistic regression analyses, and model-building techniques.
- 3Write detailed analysis plans and descriptions of analyses and findings for research protocols or reports.
- 4Calculate sample size requirements for clinical studies.
- 5Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, and talk with colleagues to keep abreast of methodological or conceptual developments in fields such as biostatistics, pharmacology, life sciences, and social sciences.
- 6Prepare tables and graphs to present clinical data or results.
- 7Design research studies in collaboration with physicians, life scientists, or other professionals.
- 8Write program code to analyze data with statistical analysis software.
- 9Provide biostatistical consultation to clients or colleagues.
- 10Review clinical or other medical research protocols and recommend appropriate statistical analyses.
- 11Prepare statistical data for inclusion in reports to data monitoring committees, federal regulatory agencies, managers, or clients.
- 12Determine project plans, timelines, or technical objectives for statistical aspects of biological research studies.
- 13Develop or implement data analysis algorithms.
- 14Plan or direct research studies related to life sciences.
- 15Prepare articles for publication or presentation at professional conferences.
- 16Monitor clinical trials or experiments to ensure adherence to established procedures or to verify the quality of data collected.
- 17Write research proposals or grant applications for submission to external bodies.
- 18Design or maintain databases of biological data.
- 19Collect data through surveys or experimentation.
- 20Apply research or simulation results to extend biological theory or recommend new research projects.
- 21Develop or use mathematical models to track changes in biological phenomena, such as the spread of infectious diseases.
- 22Assign work to biostatistical assistants or programmers.
- 23Analyze archival data, such as birth, death, and disease records.
- 24Design surveys to assess health issues.
- 25Teach graduate or continuing education courses or seminars in biostatistics.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- Biometrician
- Biostatistician
- Biomathematician
- Biostatisticians
- Research Scientist
- NGS Biostatistician
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Statistical Scientist
- Statistical Programmer
- Bioinformatics Scientist
How far is this from you?
Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.
1
Entry straight after SPM
2
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
3
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
4
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
Typical entry
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Mathematics93%
Additional MathematicsMathematics
- English Language78%
English
- Computers and Electronics74%
Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies
- Medicine and Dentistry61%
BiologyChemistry
- Biology58%
BiologyAdditional Science
- Education and Training55%
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
What the work feels like
Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.
- Face-to-face discussionsOften
- Contact with other peopleOccasional contact
- Dealing with customers or the publicA little
- Handling conflict situationsRarely
- Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
- Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
- Noisy environmentAlmost never
- Time spent sittingAlmost all the time
AI and demand for this job
A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.
Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)
This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.
Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work
Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
If this interests you, these are worth a look too.
About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
O*NET occupation: Biostatisticians
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org