Summer Institute for Training in Biostatistics (SIBS)
USF Health - College of Public Health - Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Biostatistics is a growing field that has become indispensible in advancing medicine and improving health. Yet nation-wide there is a critical shortage of biostatisticians with postgraduate-level training. The Summer Institute for Training in Biostatistics (SIBS), funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) is a program to stimulate undergraduate students’ interests in pursuing a graduate program in Biostatistics. It also exposes the students to exciting career opportunities in health-related fields.

The application of Biostatistics is deeply rooted in daily life situations as illustrated in the headlines such as:  

  • Dark chocolate may make one’s blood vessel more flexible, hence reducing the risk of heart attacks
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the ambient air may have long-term impact on cardiovascular diseases
  • Hormone replacement therapy for post-menopausal women increases the risk of cancer; a compelling evidence which led to early stop of the Women’s Health Initiative study
  • Low birth-weight is related to higher adulthood mortality and morbidity
  • How effective is the swine flu vaccination?

If you ever wonder how scientists collect and analyze data to gather evidences and  address questions and hypotheses that arise from our daily life, the SIBS is for you! If you ever wonder what careers can both cultivate and benefit from your interestes and skills in quantitative sciences and health, the SIBS is for you!

The USF SIBS will be offered for a fourth time with a revised date of June 24  - July 31, 2013. Application for admission to the summer 2013 program will begin November 15, 2012 and end on March 15, 2013.  Early application is strongly encouraged as review of applications and offer of acceptance are on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. 

The program features...

  • Living and studying on the Tampa campus of University of South Florida
  • Field visits to various healthcare service and research settings; hands-on training and lectures with top biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and clinicians; analyses of real data sets from landmark studies  
  • College credits (up to 3) that can be transferred back to the participant's home institution
  • Access to university computing systems, libraries and other facilities.
  • A wide variety of extracurricular activities  
  • Tuition and fees, living, food, and traveling all paid for by the program 

Participants in the program will...

  • Meet expert biostatisticians, clinicians, and epidemiologists who are actively conducting medical, health, and clinical research, learn about their work, share their passion and professional experience, and hear their life stories 
  • Learn about exicting opportunities for graduate studies, a professional career as a biostatistical scientist in health-related fields
  • Learn the principles of biostatistics from experts in the field
  • Gain hands-on experience in analyzing real data collected in landmark clinical trials and observational studies
  • Participate in field work in clinical and health research settings  

Who is eligible?

  • US citizens or permanent residents
  • Undergraduate students and recent graduates
  • Strong background and interest in mathematics, sciences, or other quantitatively oriented fields of study
  • Minority students are strongly encouraged to apply
  • Enrollment is limited up to 12 students

Financial Support

  • Fees and tuition are paid for by the program
  • Housing, meals, expense of traveling to and from the program are also paid for by the program
  • Some extracurricular activities are covered by the program

SIBS Students & Faculty 2011

                 SIBS 2011 Students & Faculty

                 SIBS 2010 Students & Faculty

SIBS Student Testimonies

"SIBS allowed me to explore an application of math I had never considered before.  The professors are very helpful, and the research project at the end of the semester was exciting because it tied everything we learned together" - Kenneth Qian, Junior,  University of Arizona, AZ

"SIBS USF was an amazing experience!  It was especially exciting to have access to several research centers and learn about some of the leading edge research that is being conducted.  We learned a lot and had a lot of fun as well." - Paul Chimenti, Senior, SUNY Fredonia, NY

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USF College of Public Health is the parent organization for the Summer Institute for Training in Biostatistics (SIBS).

The department home for SIBS is Epidemiology and Biostatistics.