Epidemiologist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an epidemiologist. Feel free to use our epidemiologist job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an epidemiologist.
Who is an Epidemiologist?
An epidemiologist studies the patterns of disease and health risks within populations, societies, or cultures. An epidemiologist may study the effects of diseases on certain populations or track specific diseases. He or she aims to reduce public health risks by studying the patterns of diseases or multiple diseases. Many epidemiologists can make predictions about the likelihood of disease occurrence and devise prevention strategies.
A majority of epidemiologists hold a bachelor’s degree or higher degree in one of the sciences. Graduate studies include studying chronic and infectious diseases, psychology, biochemistry, and genetics. They also study toxicology, biostatistics, and the administration of health services. A solid background in science and good math skills in probability and statistics are essential, as much of the work of epidemiologists is dependent upon the interpretation of data.
An epidemiologist can specialize in specific areas, in addition to the ones listed above. An epidemiologist may specialize in one area of interest, such as cancer prevention or reproduction. There are many specializations. However, some people take on more general work depending on their interests.
One of the key features in determining public policy is epidemiology. Individual epidemiologists may be trained in different areas. Most often, epidemiologists are employed by government agencies to research public health issues and help to set public health policy. Public health experts are employed by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Centers for Disease Control(CDC). This position can also be held at a private research center, or university, or as a consultant to both public and private agencies. Some people work in government law enforcement agencies, helping to create plans for dealing with terrorist attacks that could cause a lot of injuries or use chemical weapons.
A wide variety of epidemiologist jobs are available in many settings. An epidemiologist may work at a hospital, research facility, or university. There are many jobs for epidemiologists available at the local, state, and federal levels. Epidemiologists also focus on the health and well-being of the entire population rather than the individual.
Private research firms, medical schools, and colleges often employ research epidemiologists. Their research aims to control or eliminate infectious diseases. Some epidemiologists are focused on specific areas of the body such as the treatment of infections in the brain. Others focus on a specific disease like AIDS.
Hospitals are home to clinical epidemiologists. They can be either practicing physicians with specialized training or they may work solely as epidemiologists. A clinical epidemiologist’s job is to teach hospital staff how to control infectious diseases and plan for possible outbreaks. The development of guidelines for routine treatment and control of diseases in hospitals is another requirement. Hospital-based epidemiologists often receive certification from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and are recognized as professionals in infection control.
You can get training to become an epidemiologist in several ways. An epidemiologist’s job requires at least a Masters’s in public health. Many epidemiologists go on to earn a Ph.D. or M.D. degree.
You can open up new career possibilities by continuing your education. Many universities require that their professors have a Ph.D. To administer drugs, epidemiologists must be licensed doctors to conduct clinical trials. The license is not required for epidemiologists to practice medicine.
Different jobs require different duties depending on where they are employed. A small-town or city’s epidemiologist will be required to perform many duties. An epidemiologist may be responsible for providing health education and designing programs that target specific populations. These positions include managing the annual influenza vaccination schedules and making sure that all children at school are properly vaccinated.
Epidemiologist Job Description
Below are the epidemiologist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an epidemiologist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an epidemiologist include the following:
- Analyzing and collecting statistical data
- Planning, directing, and working on clinical research
- Supervising clinical trials
- Managing public health initiatives, which include community outreach programs
- Reporting writing for policymakers
- Learning about various public health issues and how to prevent them.
- Share any pertinent findings with other professionals such as doctors and policymakers at the local and national levels.
- Collaborating with local authorities to create, monitor, and continually improve public health programs that benefit the public.
- Developing and implementing systems and methods for collecting, compiling, synthesizing, and extracting information.
- Designing statistical analysis plans and then executing and guiding analysis
- Providing critical analysis, thinking, advice, and recommendations about issues that are based on scientifically accepted understandings of emerging and infectious diseases in a global setting
- Providing statistical insight for the interpretation and discussion on study results
- Contributing to the study report writing or management
- Communicating analysis results via presentations and publications
- Networking with cross-sector experts and global colleagues to find out where their experience and expertise can be of benefit to you
- Collaborating with other international health partners and government agencies to help develop positions and recommendations about key policy issues
- Assisting in the preparation of progress reports and other documents that will help to evaluate program progress
- Keeping your focus on the commercial goals and delivering them, especially in the private sector.
- Directing and planning studies of public health issues to identify ways to prevent or treat them, if they occur.
- Sharing your findings with policymakers and health professionals.
- Planning, monitoring, analyzing, and seeking ways to improve public health programs.
- Supervising technical and professional staff
The following are other important tasks:
- Participating in Research and Lab Work
An epidemiologist’s role is to collect and analyze data about contagious diseases. All types of data are used by epidemiologists, including observational data and interviews, surveys, blood samples, and tissue samples. While most of the data is provided by external sources to epidemiologists, a lot of it is often derived from their research or lab work. The responsibility of epidemiologists is to present the results of their research and laboratory work with the authorities to create appropriate public health policies for disease.
- Be a disease surveillance expert
An epidemiologist’s most important function is to monitor the spread of disease. Disease surveillance is the ability to keep track of rapidly evolving diseases. Pandemics are often caused by viral diseases that rapidly evolve. Epidemiologists have to identify new flu strains and assess their potential risk and virulence. Disease surveillance includes monitoring for new diseases and assessing the health risks.
Qualifications
Nearly all epidemiologists hold at least a master’s degree, while a large number also have Ph.D. or M.D. degrees. The majority of applied epidemiologists have a master’s in epidemiology, public health, or biochemistry. Research epidemiologists have a graduate degree in biochemistry, medicine, or statistics. The programs in epidemiology include classes in biology, medicine, biostatistics, and public health. There is a strong focus on survey design and statistical methods. After you graduate, you will need to complete the certification process by the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology.
A Ph.D. is a requirement for academic research careers. It is also useful for career advancement in other areas. Find postgraduate courses in epidemiology.
You can work as an information officer or analyst if you don’t hold a relevant MSc. This will allow you to develop your skills in data management and statistics management. Then you can continue studying to become an epidemiologist. You can also move into epidemiology if you have worked in public health and public protection.
If you’ve got a degree in life sciences and you are interested in working in a clinical setting in the NHS Scientist Training Programme, you may be eligible to apply for a spot on the STP, which focuses on infection science. The three-year-long, workplace-based training program leads to higher-ranking scientist positions in the NHS. You will also be studying for an accredited Masters’s in clinical science (infection sciences) as part of your training.
Essential Skills
- Communication
The findings and opinions of epidemiologists are shared with health officials and the general public. They should be able to explain their findings in writing or verbally. Epidemiologists must communicate clearly and accurately their ideas to ensure that public health officials make the most informed decisions.
- Collaboration
When conducting studies or developing public health plans, epidemiologists often collaborate with other professionals. They work with fellow epidemiologists to share their ideas and develop policy proposals. They share their findings to help other communities.
- Attention to detail
Epidemiologists pay attention to every detail during their research. Because their findings can have a significant impact on public health decisions, they mustn’t miss any crucial details. To ensure they have covered all points and provided accurate information, epidemiologists always review their work multiple times.
- Critical thinking
The epidemiologists collect data and information, analyze it, and then draw their conclusions. They apply their critical thinking skills and make sure public health officials are based on reliable data. Also, epidemiologists are often called upon to quickly respond to public health crises. They use their critical thinking skills and adapt to the situation.
- Statistics and Mathematics
An epidemiologist has a solid understanding of mathematics and statistical analysis, which they use to develop experiments and analyze results. They are skilled at analyzing large data sets to make recommendations for health policy.
- Knowledge of computing
The software will handle the majority of statistical work. Online programs allow you to perform complex calculations and use some of the most advanced algorithms. The epidemiologist must be able to use these resources. It is also important to understand how computers work in the healthcare industry because almost every doctor, hospital, and insurance provider uses computers to manage the majority of their administrative tasks,
- Ability to actively learn
Information in epidemiology is constantly changing. It is possible to treat dozens of diseases that could have caused a major outbreak of disease a decade ago. Epidemiologists who wish to succeed should be flexible and open to learning. This will allow them to take something from each case, patient, and the project they work on. A current knowledge base can help you recognize patterns that may indicate a future disease crisis.
- Organizational Skills
Overtime is a common feature of an epidemiologist’s week. This is because many obligations do not directly relate to patients. One example is that a professional in this field could spend many months studying a single pattern. Professionals must be organized to save time. This means being organized and able to keep track of your real agenda.
However, it is possible to work in this field even if you don’t have all the skills mentioned.
How to Become an Epidemiologist
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree
A bachelor’s degree is required for epidemiologists who are interested in becoming doctors. These degree programs take on average four years to complete. The coursework usually includes biology, chemistry, and calculus. To graduate from many of these programs, you will need to participate in a long practicum.
- Earn a master’s degree
A master’s degree is required for epidemiologists. There are many related specializations and fields that you can choose from, but the most common is a master’s in public health with an emphasis on epidemiology. Most institutions offer a Master of Science in Public Health or MSPH.
An MSPH degree is more appropriate for someone who wishes to pursue a career as a researcher, while MPH programs are more focused. The average time to complete these programs is two to three years.
The coursework of both degree programs can be overlapped. Course topics may include epidemiological research, clinical trials design, biostatistics, and society and health.
- Pursue a doctoral degree
A doctoral degree is required if you wish to work in academia, or for research or clinical positions at a higher level. For epidemiologists who are involved in research or as professors, a Ph.D. is common. These degree programs often include concentrations in a specific field.
- Apply for internships
Internships are a great way for you to get practical experience in your chosen field. Many degree programs include internships as part of their curriculum. Internships in government or health facilities are another option if you are looking for work outside of school.
The role and tasks of your internship will vary, but you will have valuable experience with statistical software, creating reports, and working alongside experienced professionals.
- Gain experience in public health
Experience in community health is a great way to gain practical experience. You can use the skills you have acquired during your studies to get a job in a nonprofit organization or a health department. You might also be interested in research and want to work as a coordinator for studies at an academic center.
Where to Work
Most epidemiologists work in the public sector because they are often beneficial to a large population. Their work focuses on preventing diseases that could harm the economy and overall wellbeing.
Epidemiologist Salary Scale
An epidemiologist earns an average of $82,023 annually. This amount can vary depending on the individual’s education, experience, and specialization.
