Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists study the patterns, causes and effects of diseases in groups of people

As an epidemiologist, you'll investigate the source of outbreaks of disease, how they're transmitted and how to stop and prevent further outbreaks. Your focus is on disease in communities and populations as a whole, rather than on individuals.

Your work may involve gathering health-related information in the field, conducting surveys and studying samples of the population that include healthy and unhealthy individuals. You'll analyse the data and report findings that inform public health policies and global strategies to help prevent future outbreaks and epidemics of a disease.

It's also possible to apply epidemiology in a clinical setting. You'll study the disease in individual patients and focus on how the disease has developed. This area of work is usually carried out by medically qualified epidemiologists or clinical scientists working in infection science.

Responsibilities

Tasks vary depending on the focus of your work, for example, whether you are focused on fieldwork or research. However, you'll typically need to:

• develop and implement methods and systems for acquiring, compiling, synthesising, extracting and reporting information
• design statistical analysis plans, then perform and guide analysis
• provide critical analysis and thinking, advice and recommendations on issues based on accepted scientific understanding of infectious and emerging diseases in a global context
• work with specialist statistical computer software when analysing data and use statistics and model-building to find out how diseases occur
• provide statistical insight in the interpretation and discussion of study results
• contribute to study reports, either by writing the report or managing others
• communicate analysis results through presentations and publications
• use qualitative and quantitative methods when conducting research, planning and programming information for use in developing health policy
• network with cross-sector specialists and global colleagues to identify where their expertise and experience can benefit or enhance your approach
• collaborate with government agencies and other global health partners to assist in the development of positions and recommendations on key policy issues
• support international health diplomacy strategies and activities, such as the planning, coordination and hosting of international conferences and workshops related to diseases
• assist in the formulation of progress reports and related documents to assess programme progress
• maintain focus and delivery against commercial objectives, especially if working in the private sector.

Salary

• Entry-level roles in the NHS or working for Public Health England (PHE) include information analyst or information officer. Typical starting salaries are between £27,055 and £32,934 (Band 5 of the NHS Agenda for Change - pay rates).
• With experience, salaries can rise to between £33,706 and £40,588 (Band 6). Advanced and senior posts are in the region of £41,659 to £54,619 (Bands 7 to 8a).
• Specialist registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) or the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR), together with project management and strategic vision, can lead to salaries of around £80,000 to £120,000.
• Salaries for epidemiologists working in research posts in universities usually follow a nationally agreed pay spine. For details, see the University and College Union (UCU) - Salary scales.

Working hours

Working hours in a research setting are typically 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, although you may need to be flexible. Evening or weekend work may be a feature of work in a clinical setting.

Some opportunities exist for part-time work or job sharing.

What to expect

• The working week is varied, and you'll need to be able to switch tasks easily. You'll tend to work independently on specific projects and then report your research outcomes to the wider team.
• In the UK, work is generally office-based. You may need to travel to attend or present at international conferences.
• Fieldwork in epidemic locations requires periods of overseas living, sometimes in unpleasant and infectious settings.
• Self-employment is rare but freelance work can be an option if you work as an independent consultant in the field.
• Career breaks are possible, but you'll need to keep up to date with developments in the field.

Qualifications

You'll usually need a postgraduate degree, either a Masters or a PhD, in epidemiology or a related subject, such as public health, statistical science or biological science, to work as an epidemiologist.

Postgraduate course providers look for graduates with a good degree, normally a 2:1 or above, in a quantitative science. Relevant subjects include:

• biological sciences
• mathematics
• medicine
• statistics
• healthcare sciences
• biomedical sciences
• microbiology
• molecular biology
• nursing
• physiology.

A PhD is usually a minimum requirement for a career in academic research and is useful for career progression in other areas of work. Search postgraduate courses in epidemiology.

If you don't have a relevant MSc, you could work as an information analyst or officer, developing your skills and knowledge in data and statistics management, and then take further study to progress into an epidemiologist role. It's also possible to move into epidemiology after working in public health or public protection.

If you have a degree in life sciences (e.g. biomedical sciences, biology, microbiology or biochemistry) and want to work in a clinical setting, you can apply for a place on the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) specialising in infection science. This three-year, full-time workplace-based training programme leads to more senior scientist roles in the NHS. As part of your training, you'll also study for an approved and accredited Masters degree in clinical science (infection science).

On successful completion of the STP you're eligible to apply for a Certificate of Attainment from the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS), which allows registration as a clinical scientist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). See the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) for full details on how to apply. Separate schemes are available for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• the ability to analyse, summarise and interpret complex epidemiological data
• accuracy and a methodical approach to work
• excellent oral and written communication skills for communicating ideas and methods clearly and succinctly strong IT skills, including experience in using database software such as Access/SQL, spreadsheets, and statistical and graphics packages
• the ability to work independently and take responsibility for your own work and time
• good teamworking skills for working effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team and for liaising with a range of health professionals and scientific and industry specialists
• problem-solving skills to identify and find solutions to day-to-day practical problems
• multi-tasking skills when managing a range of varied tasks, while keeping to agreed deadlines
• the ability to deal with unpredictable situations and conflicting information
• experience of creating and giving presentations to groups of internal and external stakeholders
• high levels of numeracy, combined with analytical skills.

Skills in the use of statistical software packages, such as SPSS, STATA, R or Epidata, can also be helpful.

Work experience

Pre-entry work experience in a hospital, pharmaceutical company or in a statistics-related role is useful when applying for epidemiology jobs. Tailor your experience to the area of work you wish to enter.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has a list of pharmaceutical recruiters if you're interested in a role with a pharmaceutical company.

You can also get relevant experience in a public health-related role.

For free mentoring resources and experiences designed to support aspiring healthcare and legal professionals - including virtual work experience that is accepted by medical schools, see Medic Mentor.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Epidemiologists work for national, international, public and private organisations involved in the study of patterns of health and disease in populations, including the NHS and government agencies.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), an executive agency sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care, employs a large number of epidemiologists. Jobs are usually advertised on NHS Jobs or the Civil Service recruitment website. Similar positions are available at:

• Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland
• Public Health Scotland
• Public Health Wales

Epidemiologists also work for other government bodies, such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and for local authorities.

Universities and research institutions employ lecturers within the field of public health and epidemiology, as well as researchers working on specific projects.

The private sector, especially global pharmaceutical companies, also employs epidemiologists with strong commercial awareness.

Employers offering the possibility of hands-on field work include international charities targeting disease outbreaks overseas. These include:

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
• United Nations (UN)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Hospitals employ clinical scientists, specialising in infection science.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Civil Service job search
• Jobs.ac.uk
• Nature Careers
• New Scientist Jobs
• NHS Jobs and NHSScotland Jobs

Specialist recruitment agencies advertise vacancies.

Professional development

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for keeping up to date with changes and developments in the profession. If you don't already have a Masters or PhD in epidemiology, you may wish to study for one part time.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities provides training courses and events in epidemiology and public health, communicable disease surveillance, specialist microbiology and outbreak control. Search Health Protection and Epidemiology Training.

Once you've got experience working in public health, health protection or applied epidemiology, you may want to apply for the Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP). This two-year training programme is aimed at those wanting a role that involves field investigation and epidemiology and allows you to further develop your specialist skills.

Relevant training, courses and workshops are available through professional bodies such as the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) ²¹²Ô»åÌýRoyal Statistical Society (RSS). Professional bodies also offer membership, which provides a range of benefits, including useful networking opportunities with peers and keeping up to date with the latest developments. You can choose the level to suit your experience and qualifications.

Epidemiologists are expected to attend and present at national and international conferences and events, as well as publish research in peer-reviewed journals. Membership of the International Epidemiological Association (IEA) is useful for networking with others engaged in research into epidemiology. Within the private sector, you might also undertake financial and commercial training.

If you've qualified as a clinical scientist working in infection science, you'll need to undertake CPD to remain registered with the HCPC. With experience, you may be able to train to become a consultant clinical scientist via the Higher Specialist Scientific Training (HSST) programme.

Career prospects

There is a structured career path within the government unit, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, and organisations such as the NHS. Once qualified, you can progress through the grades by gaining experience and completing further study and research.

Once you've gained the right combination of skills, qualifications and experience, you can progress to a higher level role such as lead epidemiologist or field epidemiologist.

As your career develops, whether in the public or private sector, you're likely to take on a more supervisory role with responsibility for your work and the work of others.

Registration with professional bodies and many years of experience can lead to consultant epidemiologist roles. Consultant epidemiologists should be registered with the GMC Specialist Register or the UKPHR Public Health Register, depending on their qualifications and experience.

There are also opportunities to develop a career in academic research. If you've trained as a doctor, you may choose to specialise in clinical academic medicine, splitting your time between practising as a doctor and carrying out research into epidemiology.