STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
Most university statistical departments offer a few scholarships to Honours students majoring is statistics. More often YS are following their Honours degrees with post-graduate ones. There are many opportunities for Statisticians in universities and post-graduate qualificaltions are vital. For more information contact you State YS Rep or the institution you are interested in.
BIOMETRICS
Biometrics is the development and application of statistical methodologies and techniques in the biological sciences. Biometricians are employed by state agricultural departments, by agricultural/biological departments of tertiary institutions, and other institutions associated with research in biology/agriculture.
GOVERNMENT
The two most obvious government agencies that employ statisticians are the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE). There are many other government employers of statisticians. In the ABS a statisticians major role is to support surveys, provide advice on sampling techniques and programme in SAS - all new recruits are sent on courses to get them up to speed in these areas. ABARE undertakes economic research into agriculture, minerals, energy, fisheries, forestry, global climate change, land and water, international trade and economic modelling. A large component of ABARE's research is built upon various forecasting and modelling techniques and people with sound statistical and mathematical backgrounds are an essential factor in this research. Salaries for all government agencies are comparable.
BIOSTATISTICS/PHARMACEUTICALS
Biostatistics is associated with epidemiology and the medical sciences. Design and analysis of experiments of varying levels of complexity are the statistical techniques used by biostatisticans.
MARKET RESEARCH
The Australian market research industry is one of the most challenging areas that a statistician can consider entering. Market research includes survey and sample design and analysis.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
In this area YS's have recently been employed to develop customer profiles, model financial risk and forecast reserves. Development of management reporting databases (which provide regular updates of key business performance measures) is another area where statisticians are widely used and are supplementing the role of accountants.
MANUFACTURING & RETAIL
Experimental Design, Forecasting, Trend Analysis, Data Mining, Quality Control and Process Modelling are just a few of the tools applied by statisticians in this industry. One of the important characteristics required of Industrial Statisticians is communication skills. This characteristic is extremely valuable for understanding and characterising the real systems issues so that the solution can be adapted to maximum effect.
SOFTWARE
With the increased use of statistical techniques in industry comes a need for the statistical thinker who understands how to utilise modern computer and programming techniques. With all programming roles it is expected that a knowledge of commerical programming tools and application packages.
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Website design: Tilman Davies - daviet02@student.uwa.edu.au