How to Be Field Epidemiologist - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jun 13, 2022 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

Professional Organizations

FAQ

Links

The cause of the emergence of Epidemiologists is the growing need for public health professionals to understand, track and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Epidemiologists have the expertise to monitor cases, develop strategies for containing outbreaks, and conduct research to better understand the transmission and control of infectious diseases. The effects of Epidemiologists have been profound.

Through their work, they have been able to identify risk factors, develop control strategies, improve public health systems, and reduce morbidity and mortality rates. Furthermore, their research has paved the way for effective treatments and vaccinations, which have allowed us to better manage illnesses like influenza, polio, and measles.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelor's Degree. To become a field epidemiologist, you must have at least a bachelor's degree in a field related to public health or biostatistics. Common undergraduate majors for aspiring field epidemiologists include public health, biology, and epidemiology.
Consider Graduate School. While a master's degree is not necessary to become a field epidemiologist, it can help strengthen your resume and provide you with additional job opportunities. A graduate degree in public health, epidemiology, or biostatistics can give you an edge in the competitive job market.
Gain Relevant Experience. Relevant experience in public health is essential for those interested in becoming field epidemiologists. This can be done through volunteer work, internships, research positions, or even hands-on experience in the field.
Obtain Certification. Although certification is not required to become a field epidemiologist, it may help you stand out from other applicants. The American Board of Preventative Medicine offers certification in the specialty of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Look for Job Opportunities. Once you have the necessary educational background and experience, you can start looking for job opportunities as a field epidemiologist. These jobs can be found through online job boards, professional networks, or directly through employers.

The proper training and education of epidemiologists is essential to ensure the success of their profession. Having a skilled and capable epidemiologist is essential to identify, analyze, and prevent the spread of diseases. To become a successful epidemiologist, individuals must complete a degree in epidemiology or a related field, such as public health or biology, and have experience with research.

they should be knowledgeable about data science and statistics, as well as have excellent communication and problem-solving skills. With this combination of qualifications, epidemiologists can then be employed in a variety of public health settings, such as hospitals, universities, or government agencies. The knowledge and experience gained from these settings will allow the epidemiologist to better identify potential risk factors for specific diseases and to implement effective strategies for prevention and control.

By having a skilled and capable epidemiologist, we can help protect the public from the spread of infectious diseases and ultimately save lives.

You may want to check Molecular Epidemiologist, Surveillance and Evaluation Epidemiologist, and Data Analyst Epidemiologist for alternative.

Job Description

Design and implement epidemiological studies to investigate the causes and spread of disease.
Develop and implement disease surveillance systems to track the spread of disease.
Analyze data from public health databases to identify trends in disease occurrence.
Collect and analyze data from laboratory and clinical tests to identify patterns of disease.
Collaborate with other professionals to develop and evaluate public health policies.
Prepare reports, summaries, and presentations to share research findings with other professionals, policy makers, and the public.
Provide education and training about disease prevention, control, and treatment.
Participate in the implementation of public health programs and initiatives.
Monitor infectious diseases in the community and take appropriate steps to control outbreaks.
Design and implement studies to assess the effectiveness of treatments and interventions.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Advanced knowledge of epidemiological research methodology, including study design, sampling techniques, data collection and analysis methods.
Knowledge of statistical software such as SAS and STATA.
Ability to interpret and communicate findings effectively to a wide variety of stakeholders.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to develop and implement comprehensive surveillance and epidemiological investigations.
Experience with health information systems, such as EHRs, EMRs and other public health data sources.
Knowledge of infectious diseases, chronic diseases, environmental health, biostatistics, and public health policy.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think critically.
Knowledge of ethical considerations in research, data privacy laws, and public health regulations.

In order to be a successful epidemiologist, there are several key skills that must be applied to the role. First, an epidemiologist must have a strong understanding of research methodologies, such as observational studies and clinical trials, in order to develop sound hypotheses and draw accurate conclusions. they must have a thorough knowledge of statistics to analyze data sets and identify patterns.

Furthermore, they must have strong communication skills in order to present their findings to colleagues, policy makers, and the public. Finally, they must have the ability to work collaboratively with other medical professionals in order to ensure that appropriate preventative measures are taken. All of these skills, when combined, are essential to becoming a successful epidemiologist, and are necessary in order to effectively identify, analyze, and address public health issues.

Infectious Disease Epidemiologist, Clinical Epidemiologist, and Clinical Research Epidemiologist are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have working in the field of epidemiology?
Can you tell me about a project you have worked on that you are particularly proud of?
How would you handle an outbreak investigation?
What kind of data analysis techniques do you use in your work?
How do you stay up to date on the latest epidemiological research and findings?
What challenges have you encountered in your previous epidemiological work?
What strategies have you used to educate and inform the public about public health issues?
What methods do you use to collaborate with stakeholders and other professionals in the field?
How do you ensure accuracy when collecting and analyzing epidemiological data?
What have been your biggest successes as a field epidemiologist?

Common Tools in Industry

Epi Info. Epi Info is a public health software developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used for data entry, analysis, and statistical reporting. (eg: used to track disease outbreak in a given area)
GIS Software. Geographic Information System (GIS) software is used to analyze and visualize spatial data to gain better insights into epidemiological trends. (eg: used to map out the spread of a virus in a region)
Statistical Analysis Software. Statistical analysis software is used to analyze epidemiological data and provide actionable insights for disease control and prevention strategies. (eg: used to calculate the incidence rate of a particular disease in a given area)
Epidemiological Surveillance System. Epidemiological surveillance systems are used to collect, store, and analyze health data to identify patterns in the spread of disease. (eg: used to monitor the spread of influenza in a population)
Data Mining Software. Data mining software is used to identify and extract valuable insights from large datasets. (eg: used to uncover correlations between risk factors and disease outcomes)

Professional Organizations to Know

Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH)
American Public Health Association (APHA)
American College of Epidemiology (ACE)
International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS)
Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER)
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH)
European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO)
International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID)

We also have Community Health Epidemiologist, Biostatistician Epidemiologist, and Research Epidemiologist jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Epidemiology. The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events, including disease, in defined populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems.
Surveillance. The systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data for the purpose of disease and injury prevention and health promotion.
Public Health. The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention.
Health Promotion. The practice of promoting health, preventing disease, and improving quality of life through education and other activities.
Disease Prevention. The practice of taking measures to reduce the risk of developing certain diseases or conditions.
Biostatistics. The use of statistics, probability theory, and other mathematical techniques to analyze data related to the biological sciences.
Clinical Research. The practice of conducting medical research in a clinical setting with human subjects in order to understand the natural history of a disease or condition.
Infectious Disease. An illness caused by a pathogen such as a virus, bacterium, protozoan, or fungus that is capable of causing disease in a host organism.
Molecular Epidemiology. The application of molecular techniques to the study of health-related phenomena in populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Field Epidemiologist?

A Field Epidemiologist is a public health professional that investigates and studies the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations.

What qualifications are needed to become a Field Epidemiologist?

To become a Field Epidemiologist, individuals must typically possess a minimum of a Masters degree in public health, epidemiology, community health, or a related field. Additional qualifications may include experience in community health research, program evaluation, and data analysis.

What tasks does a Field Epidemiologist typically perform?

Field Epidemiologists typically perform tasks such as collecting and analyzing data, conducting surveys, organizing public health campaigns, developing public health policies and programs, and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.

What are some of the career opportunities available to Field Epidemiologists?

Field Epidemiologists can find employment in a variety of sectors such as government agencies, non-profit organizations, healthcare institutions, research centers, and academia.

What are the average salaries for Field Epidemiologists?

According to PayScale.com, the average salary of a Field Epidemiologist is $63,878 per year.

Web Resources

Online Certificate in Field Epidemiology - UNC Gillings School of ... sph.unc.edu
Home Field Epidemiology Iowa State University fieldepi.research.cvm.iastate.edu
How to Become an Epidemiologist | Calvin University online.calvin.edu