Medical Statistician

Overview

During a medical statistician apprenticeship, you’ll have the opportunity to work across various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, medical technology, biotechnology, food safety, environmental safety, and academia. In this role, your primary responsibility is to ensure that research studies are properly designed, conducted, analysed, interpreted, and reported with statistical rigour. This ensures that the conclusions drawn from the studies are reliable and trustworthy.

On a day-to-day basis, you’ll collaborate with regulatory bodies, ethics committees, scientists, clinical teams, and medical writers to guarantee that their work adheres to statistical standards. Strong problem-solving skills are essential for this role, as is a keen interest in staying updated on the latest methodological advancements in medical research. You may also be required to attend conferences and contribute your expertise to medical publications and statistical tutorials for colleagues in the field.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the planning of medical trials and research projects, focusing on how to collect and analyse data effectively.
• Determine the correct number of participants needed for medical studies to get reliable results.
• Write about medical research in a way that’s clear and understandable.
• Manage collecting data for medical studies, focusing on the right areas.
• Choose and use statistical methods to analyse medical research data and explain what the results mean.
• Create visual representations of medical research data for reports and presentations.
• Stay up-to-date with medical research and contribute to publications by reviewing existing scientific literature critically.
• Provide leadership and guidance on the statistical aspects of trials and studies.
• Communicate the results of medical research using both basic and advanced statistical methods in a way that’s easy to understand.
• Help yourself and others improve by sharing best practices and teaching effective methods through coaching, mentoring, and training.

What You’ll Learn

• Understanding statistical methods commonly used in medical research to effectively analyse data in studies.
• Managing projects efficiently, including meeting deadlines, handling budgets, and planning for unexpected events.
• Knowing statistical techniques for designing research studies, such as different types of study designs, randomisation, and methods for handling missing data.
• Implementing strategic approaches to managing risks and ensuring compliance in study design and data interpretation.
• Developing communication skills, both written and verbal, and strategies for influencing others.
• Learning leadership and management techniques, including coaching and mentoring.
• Understanding how to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and the role of a Medical Statistician within them.
• Implementing learning and development strategies for personal and professional growth, including giving and receiving feedback.
• Recognising the importance of continuous personal and professional development and the role of critical reflection.
• Being aware of regulatory authorities and documentation relevant to studies, such as guidelines from the FDA and other agencies.
• Understanding ethics in both clinical and non-clinical research.
• Knowing how to safely store and handle data in accordance with data protection and cybersecurity regulations.