The biostatisticians and data managers of the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science play a collaborative role in the research studies in which they participate.
Explore department and core policies, including authorship policies.
Investigators should contact the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science as early as possible when planning a study. Once the study protocol is approved, the department can begin to help implement a study plan. To begin the process of developing the data management, sample size justification and analysis plan for a proposed grant/protocol, investigators should submit a draft of the grant/protocol itself. The specific aims and research design and methods sections are of utmost importance, but having the background and significance and preliminary studies sections are also important because they can provide valuable information for developing both the sample size justification and overall analysis plan.
The Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science can help investigators develop a budget for a study. Information required to begin the process of preparing a budget estimate includes a draft of grant/protocol, project title, primary investigator name and contact information, funding agency, submission date, funding date, length of funding, budget contact (with phone number and email address), membership status with Cancer Center (yes or no). Other information that may be needed: drafts of all data collection tools, approximate number of interviewers/data collectors (if applicable), ballpark estimate of how much money/percent of time will be available for biostatistics services.
Fees apply for certain support services offered by the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science. The fee schedule includes all expenses related to time spent by department personnel for the research project. These include use of the department’s computing facilities, systems support, software, administrative support, professional travel, supplies and telephone. These rates are based on actual costs to the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science. Rates for research projects outside of Indiana University contain an additional component to help support the educational and service missions of the department.
After the initial meeting with the researcher, the primary biostatistician on the project or a designee will prepare a detailed estimate of the funding needed based on the scope of work and the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science fee schedule (see table below). This includes determining what types of biostatistics support personnel are needed for the project (see fee schedule below for list of roles). Please contact George Eckert for further information.
| IU Rate/Hour | Outside Rate/Hour | |
| PhD Biostatistician | $175 | $210 |
| MS Biostatistician | $107 | $129 |
| Data Manager/App Developer | $81 | $98 |
| PhD Student Statistician | $68 | $82 |
| Data Entry | $27 | $33 |
The Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science holds a no-cost walk-in service. A biostatistician is available to provide brief consultations on study design, sample size and power calculations, data analysis advice, interpretation of results and statistical software. Due to remote working during the COVID pandemic, please email questions and related information to George Eckert. He will answer via an email exchange if possible, or set up a phone or Zoom meeting if necessary. If more in-depth (or potentially fee-based) support is needed, he can guide researchers to the appropriate person.