Program Structure
Our PhD program is organized to move students quickly from strong foundations into research. You will complete most core coursework in Year 1, formalize advising early, and use rotations to identify a great fit for dissertation work.
- Year 1: Majority of core coursework (Applied: 718, 719; Theory: 905, 906, 920, and/or 911, as scheduled), two research rotations (BIOSTAT 908; one each semester), BIOSTAT 900 doctoral seminar each semester, plus professional development (BIOTRAIN 701 and BIOSTAT 910). Advisor affiliation typically happens in late April/May.
- Summer after Year 1: Full-time research (additional rotation(s) if still selecting an advisor, or independent research with your advisor).
- Year 2: Finish the remaining core and five electives , form the dissertation committee within 6–12 months of advisor affiliation (no later than the start of Year 3), continue BIOSTAT 900 , and begin preliminary exam preparation.
- Year 3: Complete the oral preliminary examination (NIH/NSF-style written proposal + oral defense) by the end of the spring semester; continue dissertation research.
Coursework Requirements
- Core: BIOSTAT 718, 719, 905, 906, 911, 920.
- Seminar: BIOSTAT 900 (every semester).
- Responsible Conduct of Research: BIOTRAIN 750-754 sequence (OBGE).
- Career Development and Prep: BIOSTAT 910, 916.
- Electives: Five electives (15 graded units); students must complete at least seven graded Duke courses in total (required + elective). Each elective must be B- or higher to count.
Foundational master’s-level knowledge (e.g., applied methods, programming, probability, inference) is treated as a prerequisite rather than required PhD coursework. Most PhD students do not enroll in 700-level courses; if gaps are identified during onboarding, targeted coursework may be assigned to address these gaps. Students who do not begin taking PhD core theory courses (905, 906, 911, 920) in Year 1 will sit for the Master's Level Theory Exam (MLTE) in late May/early June (with an August retake option).
Rotations, Advising, & Teaching
- Research rotations (BIOSTAT 908): Two in Year 1 (one per semester).
- Advisor affiliation: By late April/May of Year 1 (no later than the summer after Year 2).
- Committee formation: Within 6–12 months of advisor affiliation; no later than the start of Year 3.
- Teaching assistantships: Two semesters (assignments determined by the DGS; duties may include grading, precepting/sections, tutoring, and office hours).
Oral Preliminary Exam & Defense
- Oral Prelim: NIH/NSF-style written proposal + oral defense by the end of Year 3 spring semester (committee-approved ≥ 30 days prior).
- Dissertation & defense: Dissertation features substantive methodological contribution (often ~3 publishable papers); final public defense followed by committee deliberation.
Why this model?
- Depth + relevance: The theory sequence builds durable tools; applied core focuses on models and data structures common in modern biomedicine.
- Early research immersion: Rotations and early advising get students onto publishable work sooner.
- Professional growth: BIOSTAT 900/910/916 builds communication and career readiness alongside research.
Important Components
Students are required to complete two research rotations before choosing a dissertation advisor. Each rotation has fixed start and end dates, usually beginning at the start of a semester and ending at the close of that semester. During each rotation, students collaborate with a faculty member on a methodological problem of mutual interest that can be finished within the rotation period. The main purpose of these rotations is to expose students to different research areas and help them assess their compatibility with potential dissertation advisors. The student’s initial advisor will help students identify faculty for rotations. Students are strongly encouraged to start their research rotations in their first year.
Students, with counsel of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), are expected to decide on the dissertation advisor around the beginning of the second 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 chosen, the student should collaborate with them to form the dissertation committee as soon as the topic is decided. The dissertation committee must be appointed and approved by the associate dean at least one month (30 days) prior to the preliminary examination. In most cases, committee formation should occur within 6-12 months of affiliating with an advisor. The committee consists of at least four members, with one member, usually the dissertation advisor, designated as chair, and most members from the student's main research area. At least two members, including the chair, must have primary or secondary faculty appointments in the Biostatistics & Bioinformatics department. One member must be from outside the student's primary research area, called the "minor area representative," who can be from another department or program, or a different research subfield within the main department or program. The minor area representative should not be directly involved in the student’s research focus. The majority of the committee members must be Duke faculty, and all must hold a current appointment on the Duke Graduate Faculty, whether employed by Duke or not. This committee, with all members participating, will decide on the program of study and oversee the preliminary examination.
Before the end of the third year spring semester, PhD candidates must submit a brief written proposal outlining their anticipated thesis research area for presentation and discussion during the oral preliminary exam. This proposal typically includes a literature review, research questions, and proposed research methods detailing how the candidate plans to complete the research. It is advisable for the candidate to meet regularly with the dissertation committee and obtain the committee’s approval for the preliminary exam presentation. Successfully passing this exam qualifies the student as a PhD candidate in Biostatistics. A candidate who fails the preliminary exam may be eligible for one re-examination, subject to the recommendation of the dissertation committee and approval of the Associate Dean, no sooner than three months and no later than six months after the initial exam. Detailed procedures for the preliminary examination are available 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.
Distinguishing Features
Three things make our PhD distinctive: an integrated core that pairs depth in theory with modern applied training, early research immersion with clear advising timelines, and a student-led research culture with intentional professional development.
- Integrated core that balances depth & relevance. Students complete a coordinated core across applied (BIOSTAT 718, 719) and theory (BIOSTAT 905, 906, 911, 920), with most core courses finished in Year 1 and all core by the end of Year 2.
- Early research immersion & advising model. Two research rotations in Year 1 (BIOSTAT 908) help students identify fit; advisor affiliation typically occurs in late April/May of Year 1, the dissertation committee is formed within 6-12 months (no later than the start of Year 3), and the preliminary exam (NIH/NSF-style proposal + oral) is completed by the end of Year 3 spring.
- Student-led research culture & professional formation. The doctoral seminar (BIOSTAT 900) builds presentation and collaboration skills; BIOSTAT 910/916 provides structured career development; and OBGE’s BIOTRAIN 750-754 sequence delivers Responsible Conduct of Research training.