Job Outlook

The national job market for epidemiologists is extremely strong. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for epidemiologists is expected to increase by 24 percent% over the next 10 years, primarily due to an increase in demand for epidemiologic analysis in preventative health care, chronic disease and emergency response.

What Do Graduates Do?

Epidemiologists analyze public health trends, design and implement studies, and interpret study results for policy and program development. Beyond investigation into the causes of disease, epidemiologists also develop intervention strategies to prevent disease and promote health. Epidemiologists work at both the individual and community levels to translate medical and laboratory data into population trends. Beyond investigating the cause of a disease, epidemiologists also develop intervention strategies to prevent disease and promote health in the following areas:

• Infectious disease
• Chronic disease
• Bioterrorism/emergency response
• Maternal and child health
• Social and behavioral health
• Nutrition
• Substance abuse and/or oral health

Description of work

Epidemiologists typically do the following:

• Plan and direct public health research studies.
• Collect and analyze data to investigate health issues.
• Communicate their findings to health practitioners, policy makers and the public.
• Manage public health programs.

Common Career PathsAreas of focus (or career paths/options)

There are two common types career paths for epidemiologists:

1. Research epidemiologists typically work for universities, health departments (ex: MDH), and government organizations (ex: CDC, WHO) conducting research to better understand health issues.
2. Applied epidemiologists address health crises directly by working with governments or private industry, commonly in health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, health departments (ex: MDH), and government organizations (ex: CDC, WHO). Those in nonprofit organizations often do public advocacy work.

Examples of Positions Held by Recent Graduates of the Epidemiology MPH Program

UCare Minnesota
Healthcare Analyst

Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Inc.
Research Coordinator

Minnesota Department of Health
Senior Epidemiologist
Disease Intervention Specialist
International Health Planner
Adult Immunization Coordinator

United HealthCare Services, Inc.
Healthcare Economics Analyst

Hennepin County 
Planning Specialist – Metropolitan Health Plan

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Scientific Investigator

Regulatory and Clinical Research Institute
Epidemiologist

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
Scientific Investigator

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Minnesota
Epidemiologist/Healthcare Analyst

Genzyme
Associate Director of Epidemiology

The Lewin Group
Research Consultant

National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health
Health Scientist

State of Minnesota
Infectious Disease Epidemiologist