Epidemiologist with Data Analysis Skills Salary in San Diego, California

Job Description for Epidemiologist

An epidemiologist is a research scientist who studies the relationship between the spread of communicable diseases and the cultures and vectors in which these illnesses spread. The epidemiologist collects data to cover a variety of cultural factors and then helps to find ways for populations and cultural groups to stop, or at least impede, the spread of the disease.

He or she is typically interested in a variety of often seemingly unrelated items, which may involve diet, living arrangements, hygiene habits, socialization, and sexual behavior. The epidemiologist normally seeks to find factors, even genetic ones, which make populations or cultures susceptible to certain illnesses. The epidemiologist collects his or her data through observation and experimentation, and he or she then will typically report findings to both the academic sector and public health media.

Many epidemiologists find employment in public health. Because care for the seriously ill can be a drain on the economy and resources of a community or state, an epidemiologist can be an important part of improving healthcare and devising preventative strategies. These can include dietary and behavioral recommendations, as well as data supporting sometimes controversial items, such as vaccination. An epidemiologist will typically have a post-graduate degree in epidemiology, with undergraduate work related to biology, medicine, or public health policy. Most of these scientists work in computer labs or offices during the business week, but fieldwork is often a duty of this job. (Copyright 2019 PayScale.com)

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