SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Biostatisticians

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Biometrician
  • Biostatistical Consultant
  • Biostatistician
  • Research Scientist
  • Statistical Scientist
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What do Biostatisticians do?

Biostatisticians are specialized professionals who apply statistical principles and methods to analyze data related to health, medicine, and biological sciences. Their work is essential in designing experiments, clinical trials, and epidemiological studies, helping to draw valid conclusions that impact public health and medicine. Biostatisticians work with large datasets to identify trends, make predictions, and support decision-making processes in healthcare policy and research. By employing sophisticated statistical techniques, they help to ensure that studies are appropriately powered to detect meaningful effects and that the results produced are reliable and valid. With a strong foundation in both statistics and biological sciences, biostatisticians collaborate with researchers, clinicians, and public health officials to address critical questions in medicine and contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge. Their contributions are pivotal in improving treatments, understanding disease patterns, and shaping health interventions, making biostatistics a vital component of modern healthcare research.

What the work actually is

  • Draw conclusions or make predictions, based on data summaries or statistical analyses.
  • Analyze clinical or survey data, using statistical approaches such as longitudinal analysis, mixed-effect modeling, logistic regression analyses, and model-building techniques.
  • Write detailed analysis plans and descriptions of analyses and findings for research protocols or reports.
  • Calculate sample size requirements for clinical studies.
  • Read 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.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Mathematics Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities

  • Inductive Reasoning The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Mathematical Reasoning The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written Comprehension The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Knowledge

  • Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Computers and Electronics Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Medicine and Dentistry Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

Master's degree
Doctoral degree
Bachelor's degree

A normal week

  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Working with Computers
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Tools used on the job

Tools

  • Scanners Computer data input scanners
  • Mainframe computers
  • Notebook computers Laptop computers
  • Laser printers Computer laser printers
  • Plotter printers Plotters

Who it suits

Investigative

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Questions people ask

How much do Biostatisticians earn in South Africa?

Biostatisticians salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Biostatisticians do?

Draw conclusions or make predictions, based on data summaries or statistical analyses, Analyze clinical or survey data, using statistical approaches such as longitudinal analysis, mixed-effect modeling, logistic regression analyses, and model-building techniques and Write detailed analysis plans and descriptions of analyses and findings for research protocols or reports.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.