Epidemiologists study and investigate disease, how they are caused, how they spread, and how they’re contained. Epidemiologists are often in charge of public health programs and are responsible for informing the public about various diseases and disease prevention.
Research Epidemiologists conduct studies and researches the nature of diseases and how they are spread. Learning about how they are transmitted, their life cycles, what factors increase the risks of contracting a disease, etc. All this information help the epidemiologists understand how to combat outbreaks of diseases.
An Applied Epidemiologists typically work for state health agencies, and respond to disease outbreaks, studying the disease and determine what caused it and how to contain it. They then are responsible for instructing the public on how to contain the outbreak and minimize the risks of getting the disease.
A position as an Epidemiologist requires a master’s degree. Some positions will require a PhD or an MD. Be sure to look into the degrees being offered in many locations.