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How to Become an Epidemiologist: Career Guide & Opportunities

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How to Become an Epidemiologist

Introduction

If you’re wondering how to become an Epidemiologist, you should know that Epidemiology is a pivotal branch of medicine focusing on the investigation of how and why illnesses affect different demographics. It plays a crucial role in devising strategies for disease prevention by leveraging insights gained from illness patterns. Epidemiologists, akin to statisticians, operate in government agencies, meticulously scrutinizing health trends and patterns. This knowledge is crucial for those considering how to become an Epidemiologist.

They serve as consultants in hospitals, providing insights on infectious diseases and strategies for prevention. Their goal is to mitigate adverse health impacts through robust research, community engagement, and health policy formulation. Epidemiology stands as a cornerstone in identifying and enhancing public health outcomes. These areas are particularly relevant for those considering how to become an Epidemiologist.

Skills Required

Eligibility and Courses

Stream

Graduation

Post-graduation

Candidates must first finish and pass a class 12 test that is recognized by the state.

Candidates must now hold a bachelor’s degree in Epidemiology, such as BDS, B.Sc. in public health, etc.

Candidates interested in learning more about the field can consider pursuing a postgraduate degree.

To get into college, the candidate should aim for a score of at least 50-60%.

Students should try for a high GPA to get accepted into a good PG college or placement.

To be considered for a relevant position, the individual must maintain a high GPA.

Candidates can now choose to study biology in class 12 if they so choose. After that, they will be able to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program.

They can enroll in Epidemiology courses such as a Diploma in Clinical Pathology, Bachelor Of Science (BSc) In Public Health. They can then enroll in a postgraduate program.

They can pursue M.Sc. in Epidemiology/M.Sc. in Clinical Research & Healthcare Management.

Courses for epidemiology

Diploma courses

Undergraduate courses

Postgraduate courses

Diploma in Clinical Pathology

Bachelor Of Science (BSc) In Public Health

M.Sc. in Epidemiology

Diploma in Health Statistics

B.Sc. in Clinical Research & Healthcare Management

M.Sc. in Clinical Research & Healthcare Management

Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Management

BPMT in Community Medicine/Health Inspector/ Emergency Medical Services

M. V. Sc. Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine

Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences

Masters of Veterinary Sciences

Top Colleges

College name

Location

MJRP College of HealthCare and Allied Sciences

Jaipur

National Institute of Epidemiology

Chennai

Central University of Tamil Nadu

Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu

Public Health Foundation of India

Delhi

SRM University 

Kanchipuram

Homi Bhabha National Institute

Mumbai

Christian Medical College

Vellore

Savitribai Phule Pune University

Pune

JawaharLal Nehru University (JNU)

Delhi

Internships for epidemiologists- Internships can assist you in learning how to become an Epidemiologist by providing industry knowledge and helping you through the process. Internship jobs may be discovered on several different recruitment sites, where recruiters look for the best applicants. Candidates with a strong medical history and realistic expertise are preferred by healthcare experts. Students in their last year of college are also eligible for the internship. The following are some of the benefits of an Epidemiology internship-

  • You must take pleasure in your job. An internship also allows you to assess if you enjoy the work.
  • Collaboration with others in your profession is considered essential by the majority of individuals. An internship may help you do exactly that, and it’s the fastest method to meet new individuals in your profession.
  • Someone with internships and experience is far more likely to be hired than someone with a simple CV and no experience.

Entrance Exams

Exam name

Conducting Body

Level  of exam

Mode of exam

Number of questions

CUCET (Central Universities Common Entrance Test)

National Testing Agency

All India Level

Computer-based Test (Online)

100 MCQs

GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)

IIT Kharagpur

All India Level

Computer-based Test (Online)

65

SRM JEE (SRM Joint Entrance Exam)

SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST)

University Level

Online

125 MCQs

AMUEE (Aligarh Muslim University Entrance Exam)

Aligarh Muslim University

University Level

Offline

100 MCQs

Work Description

Epidemiologists are physicians who specialize in the research and prevention of infectious illnesses. Their responsibilities include researching disease transmission to create detection and control methods. Epidemiologists undertake the following duties regularly-

  1. An epidemiologist is in charge of the research and planning for public health issues such as disease outbreaks.
  2. They collect medical and health-related data, conduct in-depth studies, analyze data, and report the results.
  3. It is necessary to determine the routes of disease transmission and disease-carrying parasites.
  4. They analyze and evaluate epidemiological data and statistics to provide results that can be used to discover illness cures.
  5. To tackle public health issues, an epidemiologist must create and implement solutions.
  6. Public health strategies and methodologies must be developed and improved.
  7. They analyze the environmental impact of industrial chemicals and hazardous wastes.
  8. They analyze and interpret epidemiological data using sophisticated statistical computer tools.
  9. It is necessary to create and deliver results reports to the relevant public health authority.
  10. They should work with physicians and other public health professionals to figure out what causes sickness and how to treat it.
Job Profiles

Job name

Job description

Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists analyze data to identify patterns to better understand how illnesses develop and how they may be prevented and treated.

Veterinary Epidemiologist

They figure out what causes animal illnesses. They investigate the illness, its symptoms, and how it could spread to people and animals. They also suggest medicines to prevent the spread of disease.

Community Health Workers

They educate the public about the benefits of healthy behaviors and execute public health measures. Collection and analysis of health-related data, as well as the execution of community wellness initiatives, are common responsibilities.

Supervisory Epidemiologist

These experts were in charge of overseeing the work of a group of epidemiologists. They are responsible for a variety of activities, including budget and personnel management, pharmaceutical development supervisors, and other managerial responsibilities.

Molecular Epidemiologist

They work in the field of medicine. They are attempting to know how genetic characteristics and environmental exposures combine to cause a certain disease.

Survey Researchers & Statisticians

They create questionnaires and surveys. They gather data from their target demographic, evaluate it using statistical tools, then offer their results based on the analyzed data.

Disaster Epidemiologist

Acute and communicable illnesses, environmental and occupational health, chronic diseases, injuries, mental health, and behavioral health care are among the topics they cover. They assist us in preventing or decreasing disaster-related fatalities, diseases, and injuries.

Infection Control Epidemiologist

They study, investigate, and monitor a variety of infectious illnesses that take lives. They’ll have to come up with strategies and ways to limit illness transmission and provide recommendations on how to prevent individuals from getting the sickness in the future.

Lecturer

A lecturer’s job is critical in the educational sector since they are primarily responsible for preparing future professionals. Lecturers also serve as mentors for students who want further assistance.

Pharmaceutical Epidemiologist

They are on the lookout for social trends and behaviors that might intensify the condition. When it comes to the spread of disease-causing viruses, they may also map patterns and predict outcomes.

Nutrition Specialist

They are in charge of encouraging healthy lifestyles by advising folks on how to make well-planned food choices. They also assist in the design and organization of public health programs.

Employment sector or industry of Epidemiologist-

A career in epidemiology can be pursued in a variety of areas within the healthcare industry. The following are some of the job opportunities-

  1. Government and Private Hospitals
  2. Pharmaceutical manufacturing industries
  3. Government Health Departments
  4. National and global Disease Control centers
  5. National and global Medical Research Centre
  6. NGO
Top Recruiters

Clinics, medical colleges, nursing homes, hospitals, research institutions, polyclinics, health Centers, medical foundations, non-profit organizations, and labs are among the top recruitment areas in the field of epidemiology. It consists of both public and private organizations. The following are some of the major firms that hire-

  1. PAREXEL International Private Limited
  2. ICON Clinical Research
  3. IMD global
  4. Association of Science Society
  5. Vantage Immigration Private Limited
  6. Public Health Foundation of India
  7. Apollo Foundation, Population Services International (PSI)
  8. Indian Council of Medical Research
  9. World Health Organisation
Cons
FAQs

What is Epidemiology?

It’s a branch of medicine focusing on the investigation of how and why illnesses affect different demographics.

What do Epidemiologists do?

They operate in government agencies, scrutinizing health trends and patterns, and serve as consultants in hospitals, providing insights on infectious diseases and strategies for prevention.

What skills are required to become an Epidemiologist?

Prospective students should exhibit requisite skills sought after by leading medical professional entities.

Where can Epidemiologists work?

They can work in government agencies and hospitals.

How to become an Epidemiologist?

By studying Epidemiology and choosing from a wide range of career opportunities in the field.
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