Does a job in epidemiology sound interesting to you? This field currently offers high job demand and great salaries.
If you want to become an epidemiologist, you need to know how to research the causes of diseases in order to stop them from spreading.
Your conclusions are shared with governments and other public authorities that, in turn, inform the public.
Job Types Available
Epidemiologists need to collect a large amount of field data, including demographic data. They also examine how diseases spread in the general public and who are at the highest risk.
Furthermore, they gather more information to help people understand the causes of the disease, how to stop it from spreading, and how to treat it.
As a result, an epidemiologist usually works within a university, in the government (known as applied epidemiologist), or in a private industry, perhaps for a pharmaceutical company, health insurance firm, or something similar.
There are different types of specializations available for epidemiologists, such as infectious diseases, which is perhaps the most well-known specialty.
There are also epidemiologists working in maternal and child health, bioterrorism and emergency responses, environmental health, chronic diseases, occupational health, injury, oral health, and even substance abuse.
Duties
This demanding job comes with quite a few duties. Firstly, you need to plan, organize, and supervise studies researching public health problems. This research needs to conclude with methods on how to prevent the spread of diseases, as well as how to treat them.
An epidemiologist also needs to collect and analyze public health data. This might include but is not limited to surveys, observations, blood samples, personal interviews, and any other resources that might help the epidemiologist discover what causes the disease and how to treat it.
Once the research is completed, you need to communicate your conclusions to the public, starting with public officials and health care providers.
Lastly, an epidemiologist needs to offer management and supervision for public health programs, as well as analyze the results and improve such programs.
The daily duties of an epidemiologist differ according to the organization that employs them. You might be able to get a job focused on research or the application of other people’s research to public health problems.
On a general note, you might have to review and evaluate scientific information if you choose to apply research to a public health issue.
It is important to assess the rigor of the research and analysis of the study design. You must then assess the viability of the interpretations.
Finally, if the research is rigorous, you need to develop ways to apply it to real-world public health issues by generating strong arguments in line with scientific evidence.
Eligibility
In order to get a job in epidemiology, you need to have a master’s degree or a postgraduate certificate in this field.
Any individual who already has a bachelor’s degree in a scientific field is eligible to apply for certification in epidemiology.
Requirements and Education Needed
In order to become an epidemiologist, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in a scientific field and then a master’s degree in epidemiology. Public health master’s degrees are also relevant. There is a need for deeper insight into statistics, biology, and public health.
This is all knowledge that will help you conduct relevant research. Medical informatics, multiple regression, and biomedical research, along with the practical application of collected data and information are also highly desirable.
Typical Payscale/Salaries
Many official reports indicate that there is a shortage of qualified individuals for applied epidemiology, and many others estimate that the job prospects are going to increase by 24% in the next decade.
Therefore, it is safe to assume that the number of jobs in this field is going to increase, thus offering better job opportunities.
In the US, the average salary for epidemiologists is $96,980 per year. You can also click here for more statistics for epidemiologists.
Depending on your experience, certification, other skills you have, and education, you can earn up to $116,178 as of 2020.
How To Apply
There are numerous websites that offer jobs in epidemiology. It also depends on your location. Some general information and listing can be found at Academic Positions.
Other general job boards, such as Indeed, might also offer helpful internships and full-time positions as an epidemiologist. You can also check out Jooble for public health jobs and other epidemiology-related jobs.
Summary
All in all, getting a job in epidemiology might be quite demanding, but it is definitely worth it if you have a passion for this field.
The prospects for future job opportunities are also positive, and the salaries are more than enough to motivate you to look for your dream job right now!