Epidemiologists
CAREER DEFINITION:
An epidemiologist studies the causes of diseases and injuries. They recognize and analyze patterns of disease spread in order to help develop medicine to combat it.
DAY-TO-DAY LIFE:
Epidemiologists work in both offices and laboratories, running tests inside labs and sitting at desks to examine the results. Many work either for the government, in private medicine, or doing research at a university.
WELL-KNOWN FIGURES:
Some well known epidemiologists include Edward Jenner and Robert Koch. Jenner created a vaccine for smallpox, a prevalent and highly infectious disease that killed hundreds of millions of people. Koch, who was also considered a bacteriologist, was able to determine the organisms and bacteria that caused cholera and tuberculosis, which earned him the 1905 Nobel Prize in Medicine, and allowed scientists to find better treatments for these diseases.
EDUCATION PATH:
If you are interested in becoming an epidemiologist, many get their start in college with a Bachelor’s degree in biology or public health. In general, however, many have a Master’s degree to attain a job in the field. Some also choose to further their education with a PhD.
