duke university statistics phd

G-STA-PHD - Statistical Science - PhD

Degree designation.

The Department of Statistical Science at Duke University offers graduate study leading to PhD and MS degrees in statistical science. The PhD program offers thorough preparation in the theory and methods of statistics, with major emphases on modern, model-based statistical science, Bayesian and classical approaches to inference, computational statistics, and machine learning. A hallmark of the program is the integration of interdisciplinary applications into teaching and research, reflecting the department’s broad and deep engagements in leadership and innovation in statistical science and its intersections with many other areas, including the biomedical sciences, computational sciences, data and information sciences, economic and policy sciences, environmental sciences, engineering, machine learning, physical sciences, and social sciences. The rich opportunities for students in interdisciplinary statistical research at Duke are complemented by opportunities for engagement in research in summer projects with nonprofit agencies, industry, and academia.

For an up-to-date faculty list and description of graduate programs in statistical science visit the website at stat.duke.edu .

Welcome to Statistics at Duke  Box 90251 | Duke University | Durham, NC 27708-0251 Fax: 919-684-8594

Andrew Cron & Mike West are recipients of a 2011 Yahoo! Faculty Research and Engagement Program award

Dr. David Dunson wins 2010 COPSS President's Award

Undergraduate Placement Exams

• Dr. Alan Gelfand delivers 15th P. C. Mahalanobis Memorial Lectures
• NSF Awards $3 Million To Triangle Scientists To Improve Federal Data
• BEST Award for Student Research 2010/11
• Departmental Graduation Reception
• Faculty News
• The 2010/2011 BEST Award

James Scott "A new look at logit likelihoods" Fri, January 13, 2012 03:30 PM Old Chemistry 116.

Edo Airoldi "Statistical analysis of populations with interacting and interfering units " Fri, January 20, 2012 03:30 PM Old Chemistry 116.

Lester Mackey "Divide-and-Conquer Matrix Factorization " Mon, January 23, 2012 04:30 PM Old Chemistry 116.

David Dahl "TBA " Fri, January 27, 2012 03:30 PM Old Chemistry 116.

Fabrizia Mealli "TBA " Fri, February 10, 2012 03:30 PM Old Chemistry 116.

Scott Holan "Bayesian Multiscale Multiple Imputation With Implications for Data Confidentiality " Fri, February 17, 2012 03:30 PM Old Chemistry 116.

Fabrizio Ruggeri "TBA " Fri, February 24, 2012 03:30 PM Old Chemistry 116.

Feng Liang "TBA " Fri, March 02, 2012 03:30 PM Old Chemistry 116.

David Donoho "TBA " Fri, March 16, 2012 03:30 PM Old Chemistry 116.

Michael Hudgens "TBA " Fri, March 23, 2012 03:30 PM Old Chemistry 116.

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Ph.D. in Biostatistics Program Details

In general, the Ph.D. in Biostatistics includes the following components:

• First year that focuses on basic statistical theory and methods, communication and the biomedical context
• Second year includes more advanced inference and theory of linear models, along with specialized training in categorical data analysis, survival analysis, generalized linear models, and analysis of correlated and longitudinal data
• Five elective courses to broaden the breadth of knowledge with two courses in a ‘cognate’ field such as epidemiology, biology, biophysics, environmental health, genetics, etc., to complement the student's biostatistical area of interest

Important Components

Students are required to complete two research rotations before making a decision on a dissertation advisor. Each research rotation will have a predefined beginning and end, typically starting at the beginning of a semester and lasting until the semester’s end. During each rotation, the student will work with a faculty member on a methodological problem that is of interest to both the student and the faculty and that can be completed within the rotation period. The primary goal of the rotations is to provide students with exposure to different research areas and the ability to evaluate fit with potential dissertation advisors. The student’s initial advisor will assist the student in identifying faculty for research rotations. To balance between having sufficient theoretical knowledge to make the rotations productive and informative and the need to be able to affiliate with a dissertation advisor around the beginning of the third year, students are strongly encouraged to start the research rotations at the end of their first year. Students coming into the program with an appropriate theoretical background may be able to begin research rotations earlier with the approval of the DGS.

Students, with counsel of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), are expected to decide on the dissertation advisor around the beginning of the third year only after they have completed two research rotations. This timing would allow students sufficient time to develop their dissertation proposal and to pass the oral preliminary examination of their dissertation proposal by the end of the third academic year.

Once the dissertation advisor is selected, the student should work with the advisor to form dissertation committee as soon as the dissertation topic is decided. The dissertation committee must be appointed and approved by the associate dean at least one month (30 days) before the preliminary examination can take place. The committee consists of at least four members with one member, usually the dissertation advisor, designated as chair and majority of members from the student's major research area. At least two members of the committee, including the chair, must have primary or secondary faculty appointments in the Biostatistics & Bioinformatics department. One member of the committee must be from outside the student's main area of research. This designated "minor area representative" could be from another department or program, or from a different research subfield within the degree-sponsoring department or program. The minor area representative should not be directly involved in the student’s area of research focus. A majority of the committee members must be Duke faculty, while all committee members must have a current appointment on the Duke Graduate Faculty (whether employed by Duke or not). This committee, with all members participating, will determine a program of study and administer the preliminary examination.

Before the end of the third year (the end of the third spring term if you enter the program in the fall), PhD candidates will submit a short written proposal on their anticipated area of thesis research to be presented and discussed at the oral preliminary exam. The proposal usually consists of literature review, research questions, and proposed research methods on how the PhD candidates plan to complete the research. It is recommended that the candidate meets with the dissertation committee regularly and has the committee’s approval for the presentation of the preliminary exam. Successful completion of the preliminary exam qualifies the student as a PhD candidate in Biostatistics.   A candidate who fails the preliminary examination may be granted a single re-examination upon recommendation of the dissertation committee and approval of the Associate Dean no sooner than three months and no later than six months after the date of the first examination. The detailed procedures for the preliminary examination can be found  here .

All Duke biomedical PhD students are required to complete 18 contact hours of Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) training. RCR training is provided by the Office of Biomedical Graduate Education (OBGE). The required curriculum differs for students matriculating in Fall 2020 or later and those who matriculated prior to Fall 2020.

• Requirements for students matriculating in Fall 2020 or later  
• Requirements for students who matriculated prior to Fall 2020  

Distinguishing Features

The Duke program offers several novel features that extend the training of our students beyond that found in a traditional biostatistics program. The core curriculum contains the following novel courses:

• A course sequence ( BIOSTAT 703 and BIOSTAT 706) emphasizing biomedical concepts and communication
• A survey course of modern inferential techniques and theory ( BIOSTAT 911 ) targeted specifically to advanced graduate students
• A student-led seminar, Current Problems in Biostatistics ( BIOSTAT 900 ). Students explore topics in blocks that involve student presentations and invited talks from faculty and other experts in the field

The Department of Population Health Sciences develops critically-thinking, creative, and collaborative research scientists that are passionate about improving healthcare for all. The doctoral program equips students with the knowledge and tools they will need to research and work alongside health systems, government agencies, non-profits, industry, and others pursuing improved health of populations.

Admission Deadlines

Application Deadline : The application for 2023-2024 admissions  to the Population Health Sciences PhD program has opened, and will close on November 30, 2023.

Successful applicants will find a close fit with a departmental  faculty  advisor who shares their research interests. The DPHS Education leadership team identifies potential matches early in the admissions process, so those offered admission to the program can be assured of a strong match with a faculty advisor. 

Also, please note that the  online degree application requires you to identify potential mentors from our department. You will have an opportunity to contact these potential mentors after you hear whether you have been accepted to the doctoral degree program.  

Some guidance on how to identify those faculty members. 

• What excites you in your research field? 
• What is a productive area that fits your values and your career plans? 
• Who is engaged in research that is complementary to your interests?

About the PhD in Population Health Sciences

The Duke PopHealth PhD program prepares researchers to formulate important research questions, design studies to answer them, organize resources to carry out relevant studies, and analyze the results to contribute scientific and policy insights. Our coursework, experiential learning, and professional development help prepare PhD students to be leaders in the population health field.

Our faculty are world-renowned for their expertise and strengths in the following areas:

• Health Measurement. Learn more
• Implementation Science. Learn more
• Health Policy
• Health Services Research
• Health Economics

Why Choose Duke for a PhD in Population Health Sciences?

The department, which is part of the Duke University School of Medicine, offers Ph.D. candidates a unique and rich setting in which to acquire that foundation and then use it to complete their studies and dissertation research. Ph.D. students can:

Access Duke's  PopHealth DataShare , which provides access and consultation to large data sets from federal and state government sources as well as a private insurer

Tap into Duke PopHealth’s partnerships with world-class institutions like  Duke Cancer Institute ,  Duke Clinical Research Institute ,  Duke Global Health Institute , and  Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy

Connect with Duke PopHealth’s  Center for Health Measurement , the  BASE Lab ,  QualCore , and  INTERACT  (Implementation Science Research Collaborative) – which each offer specialized research support.

Enjoy proximity to Duke Health, which provides most of the health care in Durham County. Students can also connect with the Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center and  ADAPT Center .

Secondary Menu

Data science.

• AI for Social Good
• Interdisciplinary Research in Data Science
• Machine Learning
• Security & Privacy

We are excited to show you what’s happening at the Duke Eye Center and in the field of ophthalmology. This year, we’ve got some truly amazing stories to share about the incredible work our team is doing. We hope you find these stories as inspiring. It’s the passion and dedication of our team that makes all this possible.

Read VISION 2024

What's Inside

The New Face of Vision Rehabilitation

Equipping occupational therapists to empower low vision patients.

Today, more than seven million Americans suffer from blindness or low vision — defined as the loss of sight unable to be corrected with prescription glasses, contacts, or surgical interventions.

Making Duke GO

Building a program with the power to transform people’s lives and economies worldwide..

Recent statistics on global blindness are dramatic and tell a complex story. A story that begins with 36 million; the number of people around the world who are living with blindness. Most of these individuals —  nearly 90 percent —reside in low resource countries where corrective medical treatments are not readily available.

New Vice Chair Appointments for Faculty Affairs and Clinical Operations

Vice chair for faculty affairs.

Sharon Fekrat, MD, FACS, FASRS,  professor of ophthalmology and neurology, has been appointed Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs.

The Promise of Gene Therapy

Bringing hope to patients with inherited retinal disease.

Inherited retinal degenerations are genetic diseases that cause irreversible blindness. Developing treatments for these conditions is a challenging task, particularly because they are caused by mutations in over 300 genes that lead to varying types and severity of vision loss.

The Gift of Sight Paid Forward

Looking back, Mark Stavish knows how fortunate he was.

Cancer-Free and Seeing Clearly After Eye Cancer Surgery at Duke Health

Less than three years ago, Daryl Johnson was diagnosed with eye cancer that threatened not just his eyesight, but potentially his life. Thanks to the expertise of Jason Liss, MD , his oculofacial plastic surgeon at Duke Health, today Johnson enjoys spending peaceful afternoons on his back porch in La Grange, NC.

New Faculty

Christopher Dermarkarian, MD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, joined Duke Eye Center as a member of the Oculofacial and Orbital Surgery Division.

Capturing a Bright Future

Pioneering early detection of pediatric retinal disorders.

In pediatric ophthalmology, early detection of retina-related disorders is the key to unlocking a future full of possibility for young patients. Yet, all too often children do not recognize, or are unable to, articulate their vision problems and our current screening methods may not recognize retinal issues. This leads to delayed diagnoses and long-term negative impacts on their eyesight.

Algorithm Aids in Early Detection of Age-Related Eye Disease

Duke University researchers created a computer program that determines, with 94% accuracy, if a person's age-related macular degeneration will worsen within a year.

The deep learning algorithm, featured in an Oct. 19 study in JAMA Ophthalmology, analyzes detailed eye scans to predict if the common eye condition will progress to a more severe stage known as geographic atrophy (GA).

This faster foresight could streamline clinical trial recruitment and aid rollout of targeted treatments designed to preserve the vision of older adults.

Healing Collaborations

Advancing ocular oncology through the power of partnership.

Ocular Oncology is a distinct subspecialty of ophthalmology which focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cancers that impact the eye, orbit (eye socket) and eyelids.

BONUS: Research Round-Up

Retinal Imaging and Alzheimer’s Disease

Advancements in Optical Coherence Tomography and Neurodegenerative Disease

Optical Coherence Tomography and Eye Care

In the October 19, 2023 issue of New England Journal of Medicine article, “ Optical Coherence Tomography and Eye Care,” Cynthia A. Toth, MD, professor of ophthalmology and biomedical engineering explains the invention, translation, and use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in clinical care in ophthalmology.  The article aims to communicate how and why the novel OCT technology has revolutionized eye care; and to salute James G. Fujimoto, PhD; David Huang, MD, PhD and Eric A.

Preterm Infant Retinal OCT Markers of Perinatal Health and Retinopathy of Prematurity Frontiers in Pediatrics

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a powerful imaging modality that has recently been adapted to the infant population and provides noninvasive, high-resolution, cross-sectional imaging of the infant eye at the bedside with low stress relative to conventional examination.

Duke University Blue Devils

W : Proksch, Owen (3-0) L : Jordan Little (0-2) S : Beilenson, Charlie (9)

Game Recap: Baseball | 4/21/2024 6:32:00 PM

No. 7 Duke Rallies to Stun No. 23 Virginia Tech

• AJ Gracia   hit a two-run home run to left field in the top of the first, 2-0.
• Ben Miller   hit a solo home run to left center field in the top of the third inning, 3-0.
• Virginia Tech took the lead in the bottom of the third inning, 5-3.
• The Hokies add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, 7-3.
• In the top of the sixth inning,  Devin Obee   flew out to right field to score  Alex Stone   from third, 7-4.
• Virginia Tech added a pair in the bottom of the sixth, 9-4.
• In the top of the seventh inning, Miller reached on a fielder's choice to score  Macon Winslow   from third. Stone reached on a fielder's choice to score Miller from third.  Logan Bravo   hit a three-run home run to left center field, 9-9.
• The Hokies take the lead in the bottom of the seventh, 10-9.
• Wallace Clark   hit a solo home run to center field in the top of the eighth, 10-10.
• Gracia hit a solo home run to right field in the top of the ninth inning. Obee hit a two-run home run to center field, 13-10. 
• With the win on Sunday at Virginia Tech, Duke clinched its fourth consecutive ACC series win and third top-25 series victory on the year.
• The series victory for the Blue Devils on Sunday also marked the first win in Blacksburg, Va., since 2018.
• Graduate  Zac Morris   extended his hitting streak to 10 games, finishing the day 2-for-5.
• Freshman  AJ Gracia   finished the day 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI. Gracia's first home run was a two-run shot to left field. In the top of the ninth inning, Gracia hit his second home run of the day, a solo shot to right field for his 10th of the year. He is now one home run from tying the freshman single season record of 11 and one RBI shy of tying  Joey Loperfido 's freshman RBI record of 43.
• The Blue Devils improved to 190-62 (.754) when scoring first and 207-43 (.828) when scoring three-plus runs an inning since 2016.
• Graduate  Ben Miller   extended his hitting streak to 17 games on Saturday, hitting a solo home run to left field.
• Duke used a new season high 13 pitchers in the victory over Virginia Tech on Sunday.
• Graduate  Charlie Beilenson   collected his ninth save of the season, working the final inning in Blacksburg, Va.
• Sophomore  Owen Proksch   improved to 3-0 on the season, working the eighth inning and striking out one batter.
• "I am extremely proud of our competitive fight tonight. It was super sloppy for big chunks of the game. We didn't give in and were competitive and tough enough to fight through them. You have to win different ways. We had to win sloppy this weekend. The exciting thing about that is there are things that we can clean up and be better. Being able to come out of this with a series victory speaks volumes to our ability for one, because I still don't think we have played our best baseball yet and I know we didn't this weekend. You also have to be able to have the fight to stay in ballgames when you aren't playing well, being down 9-4 and fight your way back into that ballgame is pretty special." – Head coach  Chris Pollard   on Duke's 13-10 victory over Virginia Tech on Sunday.
• Duke continues a four-game road stint traveling to Buies Creek, N.C., to face off against Campbell. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Jim Perry Stadium.

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All Departments: PhD Time to Degree Statistics

Purdue announces new head of the Department of Statistics

Xiao Wang, J.O. Berger and M.E. Bock Professor of Statistics (Purdue University Photo/Alisha Referda)

Purdue University College of Science named Professor Xiao Wang as head of the Department of Statistics, effective Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

After a competitive search, Purdue University has announced Xiao Wang , J.O. Berger and M.E. Bock Professor of Statistics, will take on the role of head of the Department of Statistics, effective immediately. Wang joined Purdue University as an assistant professor in 2009 and has served as interim head since August 2023.

“Professor Xiao Wang brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision for future growth,” said Lucy Flesch, Fredrick L. Hovde Dean in the College of Science.

“His dedication to innovative statistical education and research aligns perfectly with the department's rich history of excellence,” said Flesch.

Wang will lead a dynamic department with 37 faculty members and 374 driven undergraduate and graduate students. This community of learners is a testament to the rich legacy of the Department of Statistics at Purdue University, which was formed in 1968, developing from a thriving program in the Division of Mathematical Sciences within the College of Science.

With this historical foundation as a springboard, Wang's vision for the department is poised to shape its future trajectory. His expertise in nonparametric statistics, functional data analysis, and machine learning will infuse the department with fresh perspectives and cutting-edge methodologies.

Wang received his PhD in statistics from the University of Michigan in 2005. His research interests lie in nonparametric statistics, functional data analysis, and machine learning, with particular emphasis on developing methods for high-dimensional and complex data. Wang is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) and a Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA). Currently Wang serves as an associate editor for Journal of the American Statistical Association (JASA), Technometrics, and Lifetime Data Analysis.

"As the newly-appointed head of the Department of Statistics at Purdue, I am honored to inherit a legacy of excellence. My vision is one of innovation, where we not only uphold our traditions but also pioneer new pathways in statistical education and research. My aim is to empower our students to lead the charge in the dynamic field of data science, shaping the future of statistical inquiry and application,” said Wang.

He added, “In our data-driven era, statistical proficiency is imperative across all disciplines. Beyond analysis, fostering a collaborative environment enables students to apply their skills to real-world challenges, empowering them to drive meaningful impact in our increasingly data-centric society.”

  About the College of Science   Purdue University’s College of Science is committed to the persistent pursuit of the mathematical and scientific knowledge that forms the very foundation of innovation. More than 350 tenure-track faculty conduct world-changing research and deliver a transformative education to more than 6,000 undergraduates and 1,750 graduate students. See how we develop practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges with degree programs in the life sciences, physical sciences, computational sciences, mathematics, and data science at www.purdue.edu/science .   Writer: Emily Kinsell, [email protected] Contributor: Jennifer Jeffries, [email protected] Sources: Lucy Flesch, [email protected] Xiao Wang, [email protected]

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