Defining success: What should qualifying exams in biostatistics really measure?

Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center 

Doctoral training in biostatistics aims to develop independent researchers capable of advancing statistical methods and to prepare collaborative scientists to lead interdisciplinary teams in study design, data analysis, and ethical decision making. Qualifying exams are commonly used to assess theoretical mastery and applied competence before students advance to dissertation research. Yet across biostatistics programs, the structure, content, and expectations of qualifying exams vary, and it remains unclear whether current exam models accurately reflect the skills needed in contemporary methodological research or in real world collaborative practice.

This talk will examine the core competencies expected of PhD trained biostatisticians, review the predominant qualifying exam formats used across programs, and evaluate the degree to which these formats align with evolving methodological and collaborative demands of the field. I will highlight gaps between exam objectives and professional expectations, raise questions about how qualifying exams might be modernized, and invite a broader discussion on evidence informed approaches for assessing doctoral readiness in biostatistics.