Typical work activities of an epidemiologist

Epidemiologist:

Epidemiologists study the patterns, causes and effects of diseases in groups of people. They can either work in a research setting or as clinical epidemiologists.

Those working in research focus on the patterns and causes of diseases by using statistics and model building. They are interested in whether something occurs and also how it occurs.

Epidemiologists study samples of the population that include healthy and unhealthy individuals. They do not normally collect data directly from affected groups, but analyse data that is given to them. Their work informs public health policies and global strategies in order to prevent future outbreaks and epidemics of a disease.

Clinical epidemiologists, by contrast, study the disease in individual patients and focus on how the disease has developed; the clinical specialism is best suited to medically-qualified candidates.

Veterinary epidemiologists study diseases in groups of animals.

Typical work activities

The work of an epidemiologist can vary depending on the area they specialise in but tasks generally include:

• developing and implementing methods and systems for acquiring, compiling, synthesizing, extracting and reporting information;
• designing statistical analysis plans, performing and guiding analysis;
• performing and providing critical analysis and thinking, advice and recommendations on issues based on accepted scientific understanding of infectious and emerging diseases in a global context;
• working with specialist statistical computer software when analysing data;
• providing statistical insight in the interpretation and discussion of study results;
• contributing to study reports, either by writing the report or managing others to do so;
• communicating analysis results through presentations and publications;
• using qualitative and quantitative methods when conducting research, planning, and programming information for use in developing health policy;
• networking with cross-sector specialists with global colleagues to identify where their expertise and experience can benefit or enhance their approach;
• collaborating with government agencies and other global health partners to assist in the development of positions and recommendations on key policy issues;
• supporting international health diplomacy strategies and activities, such as the planning, coordination, and hosting of international conferences and workshops related to diseases;
• assisting in formulation of progress reports and related documents to assess programme progress;
• maintaining focus and delivery against commercial objectives especially if working in the private sector.