Epidemiologist Job Description: What does an Epidemiologist  do?

An epidemiologist is a healthcare professional responsible for detecting the underlying causes of a disease as well as associated risks. These individuals are responsible for identifying which demographics are most susceptible to contract the particular disease, and what methods can be adopted to prevent or contain their spread. They employ their biologic specialization and research expertise for finding potential diseases, and helping in the creation of appropriate policy measures or the development of effective vaccinations and medications. 

What Would I Do? 

If you choose to become an epidemiologist, your job will include a number of research-related tasks. The particular responsibilities might differ based on your particular job.  Some of the key responsibilities and duties that you would need to perform include the following: 

• Research about all potential diseases which have a widespread implications 
• Giving presentations to the policy makers about potential health hazards and what kind of policies can be helpful
• Suggesting policies which can be helpful for overcoming the issue, including preventive measures and treatment policies
• Coming up with a potential plan of action for any upcoming health crises
• Managing multiple health policy projects
• Conducting in-depth research about potential health crises
• Design studies to find out about potential health concerns which can impact the public at large. 
• Gather data through surveys and interviews to support your investigations. 

Am I Suited For a role as an Epidemiologist? 

An individual that possesses the following traits and has career aspirations that align with the following criteria may find themselves suitable for a job as an epidemiologist: 

• Analytical power to evaluate data and come to relevant conclusions
• Knowledge of public health policy. 
• Attention to detail for drafting technically precise reports
• Statistical expertise to gauge impact
• Effective communication skills 
• Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously 
• Ability to work with a team to come up with innovative solutions for public benefit 
• Ability to develop study programs 
• Leading research projects 
• Ability to work under pressure

Environment & Typical Day 

Every day in the life of an epidemiologist is very different. They have multiple different challenges to tackle every day. In fact, the particular tasks one performs varies based on their job designation, the role, the immediate requirements and more. However, a typical day in the life of an epidemiologist looks something like this: 

• Upon reaching their place of work, epidemiologists plan out the immediate tasks that they need to accomplish for the day. Some days can be more active and hectic than others. These tasks could include gathering information for urgent projects or responding to specific questions posed in relation to public health. 
• When planning the day, the epidemiologist would weigh which tasks are high priority, performing them first, and the less urgent ones later. 
• Conducting research in various forms and collaborating with several researchers to identify and challenges and gain solid evidence. 
• After completing the urgent tasks, they can move on to the less urgent ones, which mostly pertain to long-term studies or investigations. 
• Apart from helping provide insights, an epidemiologist will also work on creating reports or translating the gathered information into usable concise formats such as charts and presentations. 
• They will send their findings to the pertinent authorities or present them to the relevant authorities based on the project plan. 
• They will help the policymakers in designing policies which can be effective in containing or handling disease outbreaks. 
• They can also help devise plans for containing other public health hazards such as those caused by drug infiltrations by conducting studies and patterns of usage and how rapidly the usage is increasing, and what potential challenges it poses. 
• After this, they would get back to their research to further strengthen their plan of action and continue to find the best ideas for preventing and controlling the spread of diseases. 

What Are The Wages And Benefits

Salary: The salaries and benefits that are provided to epidemiologists can vary from job to job. On average, the job pays around $81729 per annum. For beginners, the annual wages could be around $41,000, and for experienced epidemiologists, the salary could be around $124,000. 

Benefits: The particular kind of epidemiology specialization and the particular organization where the individual is working will determine what extra benefits and bonuses the professional gets. Private organizations are likely to pay higher wages and better benefits than governmental or non-profit organizations. 

What Is The Job Outlook In Ottawa?

Although not much is known about the job outlook for epidemiologists in Ottawa currently, the prospects for epidemiologists in the region seem quite promising especially because during 2021- 2022 there was a significant shortage of epidemiologists in the region. The median age range for these professionals is about 38 years of age whereas the average retirement age is around 62 years. 

Canadian universities are also heavily hiring epidemiology experts and educators as professionals to further advance the study and increase the number of professionals active in this field. 

How Do I Become an Epidemiologist 

Becoming an epidemiologist in any part of the world means that you need to be very dedicated towards the domain on account of the extensive educational and other requirements that candidates need to fulfill. In order to become an epidemiologist in Ottawa, you need to fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

1. Education:

• A high school diploma 
• Bachelor's degree in public health
• A masters degree In epidemiology or in public health (with a focus on epidemiology)

1. 5 years or equivalent working experience particularly in the domains of epidemiology, public health, or health policy.
2. Research experience with a focus on public health. 
3. Experience in leading study programs or research programs.
4. Relevant training 

Where Would I Work? 

If you choose to be an epidemiologist, you would likely work in a laboratory, office, or research facility. Where that is located, or if you have any leg work to do would be dependent upon the particular place of work. However, some roles can also be remote working opportunities which means that you can work from the comfort of your home. 

Sometimes you may be required to do some field work when performing surveys or you may need to travel if the research so requires. 

How Do I Find A Job? 

In order to find a job as an epidemiologist, you can look into multiple hiring options from online postings to physical hiring practices. Some avenues for finding a job as an epidemiologist include the following: 

• LinkedIn 
• Glassdoor
• Indeed
• Online Job Boards like CSEB
• Canadian Red Cross
• Pharmaceutical Company website
• Eluta 
• University Hospitals 
• Federal Agency Websites or Job Ads
• Healthcare Facilities
• Insurance Firms
• NGOs
• International Development Organizations
• Research Organizations

Applying For A Job 

When applying for a job as an epidemiologist, it is essential to understand the particular requirements for the job and role for which you are sending in your application. Some of the key details to focus on include the following information:

• Read through the job profile closely to identify key qualities and qualifications being sought
• Draft a suitable resume and ready all supporting documents like degrees, experience certifications, etc. 
• Highlight your experiences aligned with the demands of the recruiter. Ensure that you fine tune your resume for every recruiter to make yourself stand out as the most suitable candidate 
• Highlight your educational background pertinent to the job profile including masters degree with specialization 
• Highlight personality traits and secondary skills like computer expertise or expertise in particular software programs to be used for research 
• Experiences including apprenticeships and internships in epidemiology or public health sectors. 
• Highlight how many years of experience you have. If you are a fresher, entry level jobs will be suitable for you, where you can highlight your part-time and educational experiences. 
• Include a thoroughly drafted cover letter suitable for the specific job. Tailor this for every job that requires a cover letter. 
• Include relevant references that you have worked with and have some background in the domain. This could include educators, mentors, bosses, etc. 
• Include language skills (if you know multiple languages, and the role demands it). Include any language learning certificates you may have. 

Where Can This Job Lead 

If you work as an epidemiologist, you can expect your career to be quite dynamic and challenging. For those that love an agile work culture where everyday is something new, this is an exciting domain. 

In terms of career progression, a few variables need to be considered. Firstly, the progression of your career will depend on the kind of specialization in epidemiology you consider. The path of every one of them is different. Secondly, each field brings several opportunities, so there is plenty of scope for growth. 

Starting from the position of a junior epidemiologist or junior researcher, you can be promoted to senior epidemiologist roles in time. When you reach this position, you will be incharge of leading projects, and helping authorities design policies. Apart from this, you can also get charge of managerial positions such as program manager, clinical data manager, clinical  trial manager, or project manager in certain settings.