CONTENTS

PSI Events

PSI offers a range of opportunities to learn about statistical techniques used in the Pharmaceutical industry, as well as valuable personable skills. Sessions range from a couple of hours to all day events. Upcoming events and how to register can be found on our Events page.

Integrating large- to high-dimension data in mechanistic model: Application to modeling response to vaccination?

Date and time: Thursday 2nd April 2026 | 15:00-16:00 GMT

Location: Online via Zoom

Costs: Free

What is the benefit of attending? Be aware of new R packages allowing to integrate high-dimension markers in mechanistic models.

To register for this event, please click here.

PSI Career Young Virtual Event (Q2 2026)

Date and time: Thursday 9th June 2026 | 12:00-13:00 GMT

Location: Online via Zoom

Cost: Free

What is the benefit of attending? Network with like-minded individuals with similar experience levels, ask questions and find out more about PSI and the industry.

To register for this event, please click here.

Open-Source Lunch Bites

Date and time: The First Friday of every Month | 12:00-12:30 GMT

Location: Online via Zoom

Cost: Free

What is the benefit of attending? Open-Source Lunch Bites is a series of 30-minute monthly webinar lunch and learns designed to provide practical, bite-sized learning experiences. Each session includes a presentation/ demonstration with the opportunity to ask questions and directly interact with an expert, focusing on Open-Source skills relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.

To register for this event, please click here.

The Medical Statistician Level 7 Apprenticeship is a vital route into the profession, allowing graduates to earn an MSc while working. Visit our website to learn more about this scheme.

Unfortunately, from 2026, government funding for this scheme will be cut for anyone over the age of 21, meaning employers or individuals would be expected to pay instead. This will make it unaffordable for many aspiring medical statisticians!

PSI is launching a petition to fight this change, and we need your support. Please sign our petition here to help protect future career opportunities for yourself and others.

PSI Medical Statistics MSc Grant

Dreaming of a Master’s in Medical Statistics but worried about the costs? PSI is here to help!

We offer financial sponsorship toward course fees for students who are passionate about data and eager to launch a career in the medical statistics industry. Whether you are looking at full-time or part-time study, this is a fantastic way to kickstart your journey.

Is This for You?

To be eligible, you should:

• Be a "Home" student (UK-based).
• Have a clear vision: You should be able to demonstrate your passion for medical stats and a desire to join the industry after graduation.
• Have no other funding: This sponsorship is specifically for those who haven’t already secured other scholarships or grants.

Next Steps:

While applications for the 2026/2027 academic year are now closed, don’t let this slip off your radar!

Applications for the 2027/2028 intake will open toward the end of 2026 here. When applying, you’ll just need to share your story: your motivation, your experience so far, and where you hope your MSc will take you.

Keep an eye also on PSI LinkedIn and eNEWS for further information and key dates!

At PSI, our volunteer-led Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are the heart of the community. They are hubs where members discuss topics of mutual interest, host exclusive events, and collaborate on developing the science of that field. Whether you’re into AI, Data Science, or Historical Data, there is a group of experts waiting to welcome you.

This newsletter will focus on the Data Visualisation SIG, a group we think will help you in your university projects!

Group Objectives:

• Lead a Cultural Shift: Moving the pharma industry toward more intuitive, data-driven storytelling.
• Innovate & Explore: Applying cutting-edge static and dynamic visuals, often borrowing inspiration from entirely different industries.

Get Involved in the "Wonderful Wednesday" Challenges!

Looking to sharpen your coding skills? Every month, this SIG hosts Wonderful Wednesday:

1. The Challenge: Receive a new dataset and a creative brief.
2. The Build: Use any language (R, Python, SAS, etc.) or tool to create a graphic.
3. The Feedback: Submit your entry and join a monthly webinar where an expert panel discusses the submissions.

Of course you don't have to submit any work to attend! You can simply join the webinars to see how to handle complex data and pick up new techniques for your own coursework.

Inspiration: The March 2024 Challenge

Check out this Wheel Chart! The goal was to visualise how microbiome profiles change over time and identify the differences between Pre-Term and Term births. It’s a complex clinical problem solved with elegant design.

See how to create this yourself using R code.

PSI awards cash prizes to undergraduate students who were nominated by their University for excelling in their BSc or MSc with mathematical and statistical content. Each University can only nominate one student and the PSI Careers team are always very impressed with the nominations received.

This annual award is a great opportunity, so please encourage your institution to engage with the nomination process when it opens in Spring!

Join us at the PSI Conference 2026 in the ICC Belfast, Northern Ireland from Monday 15th to Wednesday 17th June 2026.

Registration for the conference is now open. Click the button to see more details and register now! This is your chance to see how the theories you learn in your lectures are actually used to save lives in the real world.

We know student budgets can be tight, so we’ve created a dedicated Student Day Pass specifically for Monday 15th June!

Why should you be there?

• Network: Talk directly with potential employers and industry leaders who are actively looking for fresh talent.
• Knowledge Sharing: Hear about the latest breakthroughs in medical stats before they even hit the textbooks.
• The "Interview Edge": Attending a professional conference is a fantastic talking point for your CV and job interviews.
• A Fun Day Out: Meet fellow students and early-career professionals with similar interests in data!

Ever wondered what a "day in the life" actually looks like once you swap the lecture theatre for the lab or the office? Medical statistics is a massive field with paths for every type of problem-solver.

Your Questions, Answered

Each newsletter, we’ll tackle your questions about the industry. Have a question? Reach out to us via email (careers@psiweb.org) and we might feature it in the next edition!

Where could you work?

The beauty of this career is its variety. You aren’t limited to one setting:

• Pharma: Work directly for the companies developing new medicines.
• CROs (Contract Research Organisations): Act as a high-level consultant for multiple pharma clients.
• Academia & Charities: Drive forward groundbreaking health research and public health initiatives.
• Regulatory Bodies: Help decide which new treatments are safe enough to reach patients.

Your work could range from designing the blueprint of a clinical trial to using complex data to prove a new medication actually works.

How much coding/R knowledge do I actually need?

Statistician vs. Data Scientist vs. Data Manager:

what’s the difference?

The lines can be blurry!

• Statisticians & Data Scientists: These terms are often used interchangeably. However, "Data Science" roles might lean more toward AI/Machine Learning and "Big Data," often focusing on early drug discovery. "Statisticians" are typically the architects of clinical trials, ensuring the data is robust enough for government approval.
• Data Managers: They are the guardians of the data. They ensure every record from a trial is accurate and clean. It’s a less math-heavy role but is absolutely vital for the integrity of the science.

How do I actually find a job?

Visit the PSI Careers page which details entry-level roles, internships, and advice tailored specifically for people like you.

PSI student membership

PSI student membership is free to join and has many benefits during your journey to becoming a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry: Join PSI (psiweb.org)

PSI run many webinars which are free to members (but cost for non-members), so as a free PSI Student member you can also join these events for free.

Keep your contact details up to date 

If you are finishing your studies at the end of this academic year, please remember to change your email address to a personal one on your PSI account, so you don’t miss important updates and continue to receive our regular emails. To edit your contact details, you can log into Glue Up and go to “My profile”: https://app.glueup.com/my/profile/. 

Job Vacancies

Many companies employing statisticians advertise their job vacancies on the PSI website. Career Opportunities are updated on a regular basis, and is always worth a look to see what options are available.