Epidemiologists :: Job Description

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Epidemiologists

Careers / Epidemiologists

Summary Description


	Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Chronic Disease Epidemiologist

2.	Clinical Epidemiologist

3.	Clinical Laboratory Scientist

4.	Clinical Researcher

5.	Communicable Disease Specialist

6.	Environmental Epidemiologist

7.	Epidemiologist

8.	Epidemiologist Advanced

9.	Epidemiology Investigator

10.	Epidemiology Professor

11.	Histopathologist

12.	Infection Control Nurse

13.	Infection Control Practitioner (ICP)

14.	Infectious Disease Epidemiology Director

15.	Injury Epidemiologist

16.	Malariologist

17.	Maternal and Child Health Epidemiologist

18.	Medical Epidemiologist

19.	Microbiologist Public Health

20.	Nurse Epidemiologist

21.	Pharmacoepidemiologist

22.	Public Health Epidemiologist

23.	Research Epidemiologist

24.	State Epidemiologist

25.	Trauma Epidemiologist

26.	Veterinary Epidemiologist

Job Tasks

	Monitor and report incidents of infectious diseases to local and state health agencies. Communicate with government agencies.

	Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease. Plan biological research. Direct medical science or healthcare programs.

	Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public. Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations. Communicate with government agencies.

	Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection and analysis. Develop methods of social or economic research.

	Oversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement. Direct medical science or healthcare programs.

	Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission. Research diseases or parasites.

	Educate healthcare workers, patients, and the public about infectious and communicable diseases, including disease transmission and prevention. Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.

	Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings.

	Identify and analyze public health issues related to foodborne parasitic diseases and their impact on public policies or scientific studies or surveys.

	Supervise professional, technical and clerical personnel. Supervise scientific or technical personnel.

	Prepare and analyze samples to study effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, or microorganisms on cell structure and tissue. Analyze biological samples.

	Plan, administer and evaluate health safety standards and programs to improve public health, conferring with health department, industry personnel, physicians and others. Establish standards for products, processes, or procedures. Direct medical science or healthcare programs.

	Consult with and advise physicians, educators, researchers, government health officials and others regarding medical applications of sciences, such as physics, biology, and chemistry. Advise others on healthcare matters.

	Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians. Instruct college students in physical or life sciences.

	Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds. Establish standards for medical care.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Epidemiologists
	Epidemiologists are public health professionals who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury in humans. They seek to reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes through research, community education, and health policy.

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Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Epidemiologists
	Epidemiologists work in offices and laboratories, usually at health departments for state and local governments, in hospitals, and at colleges and universities. Some do fieldwork to conduct interviews and collect samples for analyses. Fieldwork may bring epidemiologists into contact with infectious disease, but the risk is minimal because they receive appropriate training and take extensive precautions before interacting with samples or patients.

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Interesting Fact

The first U.S. patent, issued in 1790 to Samuel Hopkins for a potassium compound, was signed by both President George Washington and then Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.

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