Epidemiologist Grad Intern

Are you a current graduate student or a recent post-grad looking for hands-on experience? Do you want to use your data skills to make a real-world impact? Join our Assessment, Evaluation & Epidemiology team to help build a healthier community! The health department is seeking a talented graduate student or recent post-graduate intern. In this role, you will work as an Epidemiologist Grad Intern - Epidemiologist I with our Assessment, Evaluation, and Epidemiology (AEE) program. This is a Temporary (.40 FTE) paid internship opportunity focused on designing and building exciting, interactive Public Health reports and dashboards. This position is funded for up to 6-months and budgeted for a starting salary ranging from $36.95 - $39.55 hourly.

This is a professional classification that works under the direction of an Epidemiology Supervisor.  The successful candidate participates in the design and management of surveillance systems and collects and analyzes data regarding diseases of public importance. The classification interacts with a culturally diverse population of clients, educational institutions, governmental agencies, community-based coalitions, and health department staff to collect and analyze epidemiologic data and communicate findings.

Distinguishing Characteristics
This position is the first level of the epidemiologist series and performs entry to intermediate level data collection and analysis under the direction of a supervisor. The Epidemiologist I differs from the Epidemiologist II in the level of complexity of the work and decision-making authority. Work assignments typically include a description of overall objectives, with some specificity regarding how to proceed with the work. Unusual problems or complex situations are discussed with the supervisor.

Position Series

• Epidemiologist I
• Epidemiologist II
• Epidemiologist III
• Epidemiology Supervisor

• Program Analyst II, III
• Project Manager
• Assessment, Evaluation & Epidemiology Director

• Collects, manages, and interprets public health data.
• Analyzes data using statistical methods and techniques to identify patterns, trends, and emerging issues.
• Prepares and presents findings from epidemiologic investigations and analyses to diverse audiences through reports, dashboards, and other communication tools.
• Assists in the design, implementation, and management of data collection tools and surveillance systems.

• Collects, manages, and interprets epidemiological and other public health data from a variety of sources.
• Engages with clients, community-based organizations, and partners –including occasional meetings outside of regular business hours to gather qualitative and quantitative information.
• Conducts literature reviews and secondary data searches to support public health assessments, surveillance, and program evaluation activities.
• Assists in the design, implementation, and management of data collection tools and surveillance systems for monitoring diseases and health indicators of public importance.
• Analyzes public health, medical, and social services data using statistical methods and other appropriate statistical techniques to identify patterns, trends, and emerging issues.
• Prepares and presents findings from epidemiologic investigations and program evaluation results to diverse audiences in both community and professional forums.
• Develops concise and comprehensive written reports, dashboards, and data summaries based on analyses, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and appropriate interpretation of data.
• The work you do might require you to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid Claiming Program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Adheres to all workplace and trade safety laws, regulations, standards, and practices.
• Understands and properly follows established procedures in preventing and responding to unsafe or emergency situations. Identifies and reports potentially unsafe practices or conditions.
• Operates equipment, tools, machinery, and vehicles safely and understands processes for reporting an accident or injury.
• Understands and applies knowledge and skills necessary to successfully perform assigned emergency response role during an emergency.

This Entry-level intern position within the Assessment, Evaluation, and Epidemiology (AEE) will provide epidemiological support, assessment, evaluation and data analysis in building reports and dashboards. 

Essential functions of the job may include:

• Assisting with the development of reports and dashboards to provide the public with visualizations to track the health of the community.
• Assisting with the development of automation code to generate, clean, and use as inputs to the dashboards.
• Experience coding in R or Python. Experience with SQL is a plus. 
• Assisting with the collection of epidemiologically important data.
• Analyzing the data using appropriate statistical methods.
• Performing library research and data searches.
• Assisting with the development of presentations from epidemiological investigations and program evaluation results to community and professional forums.
• Educate program staff on data utilization for planning and evaluation.
• Preparing draft reports based on the analysis of collected data.
• Participating in the design and management of surveillance systems for diseases of public importance.
• Complete timely data requests as needed.

• Advanced knowledge of standard Microsoft Office programs.
• Experience using statistical software preferably R.
• Knowledge of epidemiologic principles, practices, and techniques.
• Knowledge of common federal and state public health data sources such as those managed by the Department of Health, and social and medical services.
• Advanced mathematical and statistical skills relevant to epidemiological analysis and interpretation.
• Skilled in maintaining sensitive and confidential data and using discretion when sharing information.
• Skilled in communication: 
  1. Listens to others and communicates in an effective manner. 
  2. Asks questions in ways that enhance the clarity, quality, and reliability of information. 
  3. Understands and learns from what others say, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. 
  4. Grasps the meaning of written information and applies it to work situations. 
  5. Conveys ideas and facts using language the audience will best understand, taking into consideration the audience and nature of the information. 
  6. Writes in a clear, concise, and organized manner for the intended audience.

Job Specific Technical Skills:

• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to apply advanced epidemiologic principles, practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply advanced inferential statistics to work performed.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt epidemiologic principles of design and measurement to practice-based public health issues.
• Experience using R or Python for computational analysis of large datasets.
• Knowledge and skill working with PowerBI in dashboard development and data visualizations, with the additional knowledge of GIS software a plus.

• Knowing and managing oneself: Understands that all equity, trauma-informed, and restorative practices start with oneself. Exercises a high degree of self-reflection, personal accountability, resilience, flexibility, and adaptability. Is willing to learn, apply, and model agency values and ethical standards.
• Restorative practices and conflict resolution: Articulates through words and actions authentic commitment to create an environment in which all people are treated with dignity and respect and afforded equal opportunities and impartial treatment. Centers work inequity and trauma informed and restorative practices to achieve and maintain collaboration and teamwork and to effectively work with historically underrepresented and/or underserved populations to advance community health. Utilizes restorative practices to address harm and promote healing to strengthen relationships between individuals and social connections within communities.
• Collaboration and engagement: Provides balanced and objective information to help teammates, partners, and the public understand problems, alternatives, opportunities, and solutions. Works directly with partners within the Department, in the community, and members of the public affected by the work to obtain feedback and understand diverse points of view, concerns, and aspirations. Identifies preferred solutions together, incorporating advice and recommendations to the maximum extent possible.
• Evidence informed practices and decision-making: Applies evidence informed practices and methodologies to achieve the greatest impact in delivery of services to internal and external customers and partners. Incorporates the social determinants of health into public health work. Integrates research and evidence into the decision-making process. Seeks to systematically identify and eliminate inequities resulting in differences in health and in overall living conditions. Utilizes evidence informed practices to increase equity in systems and policy. Creates a robust culture of assessment and evaluation and continuous process improvement.
• Cross cultural communication and Engagement: Understands that cultural awareness, appreciation, and humility can only occur when you practice curiosity and open-mindedness. Operates with a high level of humility and cultural agility to achieve effective intercultural communication, engagement, and collaboration in the workplace and in the community. Is open to feedback and continuously self-reflects on one’s own actions and responses. Centers personal accountability on the Department’s mission, values, and ethical standards.

The items below are the requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values work experience, lived experience, and education and realizes that people take different paths to acquire knowledge.

• Bachelor’s degree and enrollment in a Master's Program in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, or similar field. Graduate-level coursework in statistics and epidemiology; coursework or experience in health policy is preferred.
• 1 year of experience analyzing datasets.
• Experience in public health and/or community-based health or health care systems preferred.
• Experience in a team-based, applied research setting preferred.

• N/A

Work Environment

• Work is performed almost exclusively indoors in an office environment. Exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in office environments.
• May require working beyond the normally scheduled workweek, modifying existing work schedule, or flexing hours to meet with clients and community-based organizations.

• Regularly required to sit or stand continuously.
• Regularly communicate clearly in-person, over the phone, and via written communication.
• Capable of reading physical and electronic documents and working for prolonged periods on a computer monitor.
• Fine motor skills sufficient to operate a telephone and a computer mouse and keyboard.
• This position may require lifting, carrying, pulling, or moving objects up to 10 pounds consistently, 20 pounds frequently, and exerting up to 30 pounds of force occasionally.
• May require walking/traversing up to ¼ mile (ie: from parking to the booth) at community events.
• Maintain concentration and attention for extended periods of time.
• Learn, recall, and apply specialized information.

• Duties require the use of standard office furniture and equipment (e.g., desk, filing cabinet, computer, printer, telephone, copy machine, etc.)

• Some travel may be required, and is typically local or regional, to meet with clients, conduct business, or attend training.