Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists research diseases in populations of humans as well as animals, focusing on how, when, and where these diseases occur. Interestingly, epidemiologists never seek to prove the cause of diseases, instead preferring to prove that certain risk factors are strongly correlated with certain diseases, according to a publication from Cornell University’s Pesticide Management Education Program. For example, epidemiology has proven that cigarette smokers are much more likely to develop lung cancer, but cannot definitively say that cigarettes cause lung cancer. This is because human health is complex, and there are many factors that can affect the causation of certain conditions. It is therefore more accurate to research the associations of certain things to the development of certain diseases rather than state that any one thing causes any one disease. Many epidemiologists conduct research at universities, non-profit organizations, hospitals, and with government entities such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Some even work in communities with a health protection service to combat disease outbreaks, such as when health organizations quickly moved to warn people about the spread of the H1N1 virus.

Employment positions for medical scientists, which include epidemiologists, are expected to see a 20 percent growth in opportunities by 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Budget increases for government-funded research and development will boost the medical scientist occupation, although researchers should expect plenty of competition for positions as the number of advanced degrees awarded continue to grow. Epidemiologist degrees in particular are on the rise as more people discover the highly rewarding career field. The medical scientist position is also particularly recession-proof due to the long-term nature of most research projects, although the recession may result in budget cuts for the project.

Prospective epidemiologists must earn a minimum of a Master of Public Health degree from an accredited program of study. Those looking to advance their careers in the healthcare sector should consider enrolling in a MPH program, which will open up more opportunities in highly rewarding and specialized research fields. The national average annual salary for epidemiologists is $64,500, although there are very few full-time epidemiologists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most are active physicians or professors who conduct research as a side project.