Internship - Epidemiology

Livingston County was named a 2025 Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press! Based solely on employee feedback, the Top Workplace title is a badge of honor for the County. With over 700 employees serving within 18 departments, 6 elected offices, and 3 Courts, Livingston County's top priority is providing effective and efficient services that improve the quality of life for all of our residents.

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of an assigned supervisor and/or department head, this epidemiology internship position participates in epidemiological investigation activities related to analyzing and interpreting illness data including communicable diseases investigations, prevention, control and assessment activities, chronic diseases, child health, and substance use disorder trends. Coordinates advanced analytical research, reviews vital records, statistics, and other related health data and prepares technical reports, proposals, articles, and presentations to communicate epidemiologic studies on existing or anticipated health issues in Livingston County.

Internship Details:

This is a paid Internship opportunity starting in May, and will run through September (this is a flexible timeframe), and is not eligible for any benefits. Average hours per week range from 16-40, and are flexible.

Benefits:

1 hour of sick time per every 30 hours worked.

Pay Rate Information:

The paid intern position is a temporary position and the pay scale is $18.40/hr. (Grade 1 - Undergraduate) and $19.69/hr. (Grade 2- Graduate).

Essential Functions:

An Intern in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following functions. These examples do not include all of the duties, which the employee may be expected to perform. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each function satisfactorily.

1. Performs analyses by using statistical techniques commonly employed in epidemiologic evaluation to interpret and analyze observed health conditions for a variety of stakeholders to support opioid and drug response, maternal and child health, communicable disease, environmental health, emergency public health preparedness and other public health program service areas.
2. Assembles, develops, and maintains epidemiological databases for analysis of public health problems and conditions.
3. Collaborates with staff to develop geographic maps that display epidemiologic trends through GIS software.
4. Identifies, maintains, and evaluates surveillance data needs, implements new, or revises existing surveillance systems, reports key findings for diseases, health behaviors, disparities, social determinants of health related to communicable disease, chronic disease, maternal and child health, environmental health, bioterrorism, substance use disorders, and other significant public health issues.
5. Expands current surveillance efforts to characterize morbidity and mortality in Livingston County to determine risk factors to guide targeted prevention efforts.
6. Assists in providing epidemiological support and data consultation in planning, developing, and writing grant applications for various program funding opportunities.
7. Provides scientific advice and technical assistance for community health assessments, program evaluation, research, presentations, publications, and other related requests.
8. Applies critical thinking to data analysis, research, policy development, quality improvement, performance management and community health planning.
9. Supports investigations of communicable and food borne disease outbreaks, chronic disease conditions, environmental health hazards, disease risk factors, or other adverse health outcomes.
10. Perform all other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Minimum Qualifications:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities and minimum qualifications necessary to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job.

Requirements include the following:

• Active enrollment in a Master's Degree program or equivalent to the completion of two years of college with an emphasis on Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• The County, at its discretion, may consider an alternative combination of formal education and work experience.
• Michigan Vehicle Operator's License.
• Skill in assembling and analyzing data, preparing comprehensive and accurate reports, and formulating policy and service recommendations.
• Strong quantitative reasoning and data analysis skills
• Ability to combine health information and data from various sources into a snapshot of a particular population's health and communicate to stakeholders.
• Thorough understanding of health equity and social determinants of health.
• Knowledge and/or experience in public health intervention planning and evaluations.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to assess situations, solve problems, work effectively under stress, and work within deadlines.
• Skill in the use of office equipment and technology, including Microsoft Suite applications, R analytical software, and additional software programs utilized by the Livingston County Health Department.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate in person and by telephone, read regular and small print, view, and produce written and electronic documents and enter data on a computer keyboard with repetitive keystrokes. The employee must be mobile in an office setting, stand, sit, stoop, and kneel, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must lift or push/pull objects of up to 15 lbs. without assistance. Accommodation will be made, as needed, for employees required to lift or move objects that exceed this weight.

The typical work environment of this job is a business office setting where the noise level is quiet and sometimes moderate.

Application Process:

Interested parties should apply to this position through this website (the Livingston County jobs site). Depending on the number of interested applicants, applicants may be contacted to complete a brief epidemiology exercise as the first step in the interview process.

The selected candidate will be required to complete a background check and drug test as part of the hiring process.