The Department of Biostatistics offers students an exciting way to combine mathematical, statistical, and biological interests to contribute to important research that improves lives.

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Iowa’s biostatistics programs provide a balance of statistical theory and application. The MS prepares students in the design of experiments and analysis of data in biomedical and public health programs. The MPH provides fundamental training in public health sciences along with core biostatistical theory and methods. The PhD emphasizes developing and applying statistical methodology to solve important biological and public health problems.

The Department of Biostatistics faculty are committed to providing quality education in a supportive environment with a small student-to-faculty ratio. Students are guided by faculty members whose research interests include Bayesian modeling and inference, causal inference, clinical trials, clustering, computational statistics, epidemic modeling, high-dimensional data analysis, longitudinal data analysis, model selection, network data analysis, penalized likelihood models, predictive modeling, semiparametric and nonparametric modeling, spatial and spatio-temporal modeling, statistical genetics and genomics, statistical and machine learning, survival data analysis, syndromic surveillance, and time series analysis.

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Prospective Biostat Students

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Students from the Iowa Summer Institute in Biostatistics pose in front of the Iowa Advanced Research Laboratories.

Our people


At the Department of Biostatistics, we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, diverse community of faculty, staff, and students, all here to help you succeed.

Our Faculty Our Staff Our Students

Collage of portraits of Biostatistics faculty, staff, and students.

Our research centers

Biostatistics Consulting Center

Provides expert biostatistical consulting to health science researchers across the University of Iowa.

Visit the BCC

Clinical Trials Statistical and Data Management Center

Provides statistical and data management support for multicenter clinical trials.

Visit the CTSDMC

Biostatistics Core Alliance

An association of biostatistical groups at the University of Iowa working together to coordinate collaborative statistical support for biomedical research.

Visit the BCA