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Matthew Spittal |
BCA Masters graduate,
University of Melbourne |
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Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
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I am currently employed as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. While I had completed a PhD in psychology, I wanted to retrain as a statistician and work in population health research.
The Master of Biostatistics gave me the opportunity to achieve both those goals. The programme has a strong focus on the theoretical underpinnings of the major statistical methods that are used in health research and this is closely linked with the correct interpretation of the parameters that arise from the application of each method. The programme places this in the context of health research, drawing on problems applied to experimental and observations studies. Completing the degree has allowed me to work on interesting and rewarding problems in a wide range of areas. |
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Ben Cheah |
BCA Masters graduate,
Macquarie University |
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2011 Fulbright NSW Scholar
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My background is in neuroscience, in particular clinical research and motor neurone disease. There is increasing awareness amongst neuroscientists that we need to be smart about how we handle study design and data analysis, especially given the low incidence and prevalence of neurological disorders. Biostatistics enables us to maximise the value of every patient and every test that we perform on each patient.
I originally enrolled in the BCA program because statisticians are able to shed a different light on research that often differs to what conventional scientists may offer. Biostatistics training also endows scientists with the ability to think in a very clear, logical manner. As someone who aspires to working in full-time academia, the BCA course has also broadened my scope for conducting research in the future, as I hope to develop novel statistical methodologies, in addition to undertaking neuroscience research. |
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Chee Lee |
BCA Masters graduate,
University of Sydney |
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Medical Oncologist
at St George Hospital and Research Fellow, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney |
I started and completed the BCA Masters while undergoing clinical training in medical oncology. Without any formal previous training in statistics or mathematics, the BCA program provided a formal teaching in theory and application of statistics in research of public health, clinical epidemiology and clinical trials. The courses are well designed, highly relevant, practical and taught well through distant learning programs.
I am now a medical oncologist at St George Hospital and a research fellow at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, the University of Sydney. The skills learnt through the BCA program have been essential to my ongoing clinical and research career. |
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Andrew Hayen |
BCA Masters graduate,
University of Sydney |
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Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics,
School of Public Health, Screening
and Test Evaluation Program, University of Sydney |
I am currently a senior lecturer in biostatistics at the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney, where I am employed by the Screening and Test Evaluation Program. Although I already had a PhD in statistics, I found the BCA Master of Biostatistics degree to be valuable in helping me change my career focus from theoretical statistics to working in public health and epidemiology.
The course was practical and engaging, and enabled me to gain an academic position in biostatistics on graduation. I now do both methodological and applied research with a particular focus on screening and diagnosis, and use the skills and knowledge from the BCA degree underpin my work. |
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Gabrielle Davie |
BCA Masters Graduate,
The University of Melbourne
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| Biostatistician/Senior Research Fellow - Injury Prevention Research Unit (IPRU), University or Otago |
Ever since taking an epidemiology undergraduate paper while completing my Mathematics and Statistics degree, I have been interested in the confluence of health and statistics. After a few years as a Research Assistant in an Epi & Biostats unit I enrolled in the BCA Masters Degree. The BCA’s programme was an obvious choice for me – renowned lecturers, wide range of courses and distance taught so I could fit it in around full-time work. Even though working full-time and studying part-time was challenging, it was encouraging to see how applied the courses were and have opportunities to apply the course material to my work.
I am currently a Biostatistician/Senior Research Fellow in the Injury Prevention Research Unit (IPRU) at the University or Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. The BCA papers I took have given me knowledge and resources that I find extremely valuable in my consulting, teaching and research. |
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Robin Turner |
BCA Masters graduate,
The University of Sydney |
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| Research Fellow in Biostatistics, Screening and Test Evaluation Program, Sydney School of Public Health |
I completed the BCA Masters as part of the NSW Health Biostatistical Officer Training Program. The masters provided training in the application of statistics to public health and epidemiological research and broadened the statistics skills I had gained during my PhD. I found the courses to be well designed and enjoyed being taught by leaders in the field across a range of universities.
I am now a Research Fellow in Biostatistics in the Screening and Test Evaluation Program at the Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney. The skills learnt during the masters have been essential to my ongoing research and career. |
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Penny Robinson |
BCA Masters graduate,
Monash University |
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Biostatistician, Women’s Health Research Program, Monash University |
Prior to enrolling in the BCA course, I studied Biomedical Science at Monash University, followed by Honours in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. While doing my Master of Biostatistics, as the course was part-time, I worked part-time as a Research Assistant, and also did some tutoring in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Survival Analysis.
I now work in the Women’s Health Research Program at Monash University, as the group’s biostatistician. In addition, I have been able to continue my teaching, assisting with coordination of “Population Health” for first year medical students.
Since I started full-time work, there has been lots of talk of me doing a PhD at some point. I didn’t want to consider it at first (after 8 years of continual study) – but now its something that I’m considering … when the time is right. |
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Eugene Zilberg |
BCA Masters graduate,
University of Melbourne |
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Medical Device Manufacturer
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I have been working for a medical device manufacturer Compumedics for many years developing mathematical algorithms and software for processing of physiological signals and intelligent treatment devices, primarily in the field of sleep medicine.
I found almost all subjects in the Master of Biostatistics program to be extremely useful in filling the gaps between the practices of biomedical engineering and their clinical outcomes, as well as challenging and enjoyable due to the sound mathematical foundations. The key practical benefit of the BCA program for myself is probably the capability to plan, supervise and analyse clinical trials, that enables to appropriately evaluate performance and safety of the diagnostic and treatment products and eventually prepare product submissions to the regulatory organisations. |
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Kris Rogers |
BCA Masters graduate,
University of Sydney |
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Biostatistician,
The 45 and Up
Study, The Sax Institute |
I was employed by the NSW Health Biostatistical Officer Training Program towards the end of a PhD in Biology, which gave me the opportunity to complete a Master of Biostatistics through the BCA.
Studying statistics with the best biostatisticians quickly filled in the gaps in my knowledge and then expanded my understanding of epidemiological studies and how to turn data into useful information.
I now works as the Biostatistician with The 45 and Up study, the largest cohort study in Australi. Every day I get to work with some of the best health researchers in Australia. I am able to make a substantial contribution to planning the next steps in The 45 and Up Study as well as collaborating with researchers using 45 and Up data. |
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Alicia Stein |
BCA Masters Graduate,
Monash University
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Senior
Epidemiologist,
CSL Limited |
After completing my undergraduate degree in biological sciences in Argentina, a PhD in Melbourne and 21 years of research in immunology of transplantation and renal disease I was ready for a change.
I found the biostatistics course challenging and stimulating. It gave me a real insight into the field and vastly increased my skills.
I’m now working as a Senior Epidemiologist at CSL where I’m involved in making evidence-based decisions for health policy. I’m still using many of the course materials in my day-to-day work. My only regret is that I wish I’d taken the Bayesian Statistics unit as well!”. |
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Kevin McGeechan |
BCA Masters graduate,
The University of Sydney |
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| Lecturer, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Sydney |
I was originally working in General Practice Data Management and needed to update my skills. The Masters of Biostatistics was delivered completely online, and this was what attracted me to the course. As a Biostatistician you'll be asked many different questions and you'll need to have the knowledge to confidently address these. The Masters course provided me with both the depth and range required. The area is highly specialised and as such there are many opportunities for people with such a qualification. |
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Aiden O'Loughlin |
BCA Masters Graduate,
The University of Sydney
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| The School Of Medicine - University of Western Sydney |
I was training to be a cardiologist when I started the program. Cardiology is one area of medicine which is fortunate to have a strong tradition of high quality clinical trials which address key areas of practice.
The Master of Biostatistics course has given me a comprehensive understanding of clinical trial design, analysis and interpretation of trial results. This has allowed me to successfully incorporate the available evidence into my clinical practice. It also has enabled me to design, implement and analyse clinical research programs both on my own and in collaboration with others. |
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Mohammad Siahpush |
BCA Masters Graduate,
The University of Melbourne
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Professor, Department of
Health Promotion - Social and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of
Nebraska Medical Center |
I have a degree in sociology (PhD 1990) and a Masters degree with the BCA (MBios UMelb). Although I had quite solid quantitative training in my postgraduate years in the 80s, I was always looking for an opportunity to learn statistics/biostatistics more formally and systematically. I was very happy to hear about the BCA in 2001 and signed up to do the course immediately.
Biostatistics in my view is a set of specialized statistical techniques appropriate for analysing data from biomedical and public health sciences and epidemiological studies. I am essentially a public health researcher and use biostatistics to analyse survey data and population based cohort studies. I also give a lot of statistical advice to my colleagues from the health behavioural and social sciences area who conduct a lot of experiments.
I think anyone who does health research and is responsible for data analysis should have a firm grounding in biostatistics. Sloppy data analysis and using common statistical software without a sound knowledge of statistical assumptions and techniques does not contribute to scientific progress. The BCA provides very rigorous training in most essential techniques that data analysts need to know. |
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Edward Tong |
BCA Masters Graduate,
The University of Queensland
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I work in healthcare acquired infection (HAI) research, primarily in risk factor studies. My colleagues and I estimate the economic cost of HAI and implement statistical process control for the surveillance of HAI in all Queensland public hospitals.
The Biostatistics program is taught by experts renowned in Australia and around the world. The program emphasises the analysis of real - that is, imperfect - datasets, so is great preparation for working life. And studying by distance was great. It meant I was able to learn from top biostatistics experts from around the country while still enjoying online class discussions with fellow students who shared insights from their own jobs.
A career in biostatistics is a rewarding one that allows you to make important contributions to many fields of research and development. Opportunities are plentiful and determined by your own personal interests. |
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Charles Thompson |
BCA Masters graduate,
The University of Queensland
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| Senior Biostatistician, Australian Kidney Trials Network |
I am a biostatistician with the Australasian Kidney Trials Network, based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. I work in a team that contributes to the design of clinical trials in kidney disease. Later this year we will be launching our first two trials: one to assess the effect of aspirin and fish-oil in the prevention of thrombosis and the other to study the use of wound gel to prevent catheter-associated infections.
I did not have a health or statistics background and found it extremely satisfying to master concepts that grew in complexity and challenge after each unit. The program is highly valued by employers, many of whom are closely involved in its development, and it offers a great balance between theory and practice.
Biostatisticians are in huge demand, especially as the emphasis on evidence-based medicine grows and advances are made in genetics. I work with highly motivated and creative people and enjoy the feeling that the trials we create may make a big impact on medical practice and people's health worldwide. It's an engrossing experience. |
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Jeff Presneill |
BCA Masters Graduate,
The University of Melbourne
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Intensive Care Physician, Mater Hospital Brisbane Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Queensland |
Evidence-based medicine requires a reliable basis of evidence! As a practising clinician who wanted to conduct my own research, I realised that I needed to develop the relevant expertise. I was attracted to the BCA’s claim to provide a background in mathematical and statistical theory to those without a first degree in mathematics or statistics, to fill the gap between public health/epidemiology and general statistical courses. Part-time study by distance allowed me to work and study at the same time. Staff are highly competent and enthusiastic. I believe the BCA delivers on its promise to 'address the need for highly skilled biostatisticians for health and medical research’. |
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Kris Jamsen |
BCA Masters Graduate,
The University of Melbourne
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Research Fellow,
Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic (MEGA)
Epidemiology, University of Melbourne |
I was working as a Research Assistant at a biostatistics unit of a major metropolitan hospital when I started the BCA. I enrolled because I wanted to gain a more detailed understanding of the statistical techniques used in public health, as well as learn about more advanced topics, such as analysis of longitudinal data and Bayesian statistics. The BCA offered a level of rigour that adequately prepared me for a career in biostatistics and was taught by first-class biostatisticians. As a result of the skills I acquired, I am now in a Research Fellow biostatistician role where I primarily work on statistical methods, and am also enrolled in a PhD.. |
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MIchael Meyer |
BCA Masters Graduate,
The University of Sydney
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| Senior Scientist, Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG |
My background is chemistry, in particular computational chemistry and computer-aided drug design. When projects progressed, I got more and more involved in the planning and analysis of preclinical and clinical studies. At a certain point I noticed that I need a profound knowledge of biostatistics to proceed.
Distance learning in Australia offered the most appropriate way to combine studies of biostatistics with my work in Germany. The studies offered by BCA were stimulating, provided a detailed insight into statistics and covered many practical aspects relevant to my day to day work as well.
I am currently working as Senior Scientist at the Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG, where I can apply the techniques learnt from BCA in clinical trials. Also, I am giving lectures of computer-aided drug design at the Beuth-Hochschule, an university of applied science located in Berlin. Many techniques in this field are based on statistical principles. Thus, my students benefit indirectly from BCA as well. |
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Brent Carryer |
BCA Masters Graduate,
The University of Sydney
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| Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals |
I am a statistical programmer working on clinical trial analyses and methodologies in the pharmaceutical industry. I was fortunate to be enrolled in the BCA program while working in the Biostatistics unit of Pfizer Australia, which allowed me to learn the statistical methods and application of those methods employed on pharmaceutical clinical trials, while working closely with expert biostatisticians. I am currently working at Roche, and my increased knowledge from the Masters program allows me to take a greater responsibility on clinical trial analyses and provide input on design issues to my statistical colleagues. I was very impressed by the depth of knowledge and experience of the course coordinators at the participating universities and also by the commitment and contribution of industry experts from both Pfizer and Roche. |
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BCA Awarding Universities
BCA Committees
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