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.

On graduation, I worked as Senior Scientist at the Revotar Biopharmaceuticals AG, where I was able to 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. I am currently a Senior Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology.

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

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.

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.

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.

After completing medicine, advanced training in clinical and laboratory haematology and a PhD, I realized that it was necessary to have the ability to collect and analyse data appropriately. The BCA masters course has provided a theoretical and practical approach to all aspects of biostatistics and formed the basis of further studies on the use of statistics in medical practice.

In addition to the course being exceptionally well run from start to finish, there was also continuing appropriate liaison with tutors and other students via web based discussions, that allowed most problems of misunderstanding to be addressed before they became issues. Additionally there was appropriate guidance regarding the major project from supervisors at Macquarie University.

This was, in summary, a well run and extensive course that has provided the methods of data collection and analysis in most aspects of biostatistics, which I highly recommend.

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 work as the Biostatistician with The 45 and Up study, the largest cohort study in Australia. 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.

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’.

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.

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.