Minnesota: Epidemiologist, High Risk Population Surveillance, Minnesota Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance

MCEIRS Epidemiologist — High Risk Population Surveillance
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities


Description
The University of Minnesota is a premier employer and a talent magnet attracting leading faculty and staff from around the world. As one of the state’s largest employers, the University offers an unparalleled employment experience.

Duties/Responsibilities This Epidemiologist will participate in two new projects that are being developed by the Minnesota Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (MCEIRS), which is part of the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP). Primary responsibilities will focus on an MCEIRS project for surveillance of avian influenza (AI) infection among humans who are at high-risk of exposure to AI through close contact with wild birds (i.e., wildlife biologists). This project will be initiated by conducting a feasibility study to: 1) identify the study population, 2) assess the feasibility of conducting serologic testing in the study population, 3) identify IRB requirements for conducting the study, and 4) develop and pilot an exposure and demographics survey among a small group of at-risk individuals. Depending on the outcome of the feasibility study, the Epidemiologist may be involved in developing a broader serologic survey of the high-risk population.

The second MCEIRS project is a training and career development initiative. The primary objective of this initiative is to increase capacity in animal and human virologic, epidemiologic, and disease surveillance for avian influenza in the United States and globally by delivering training programs aimed at a variety of different audiences. This effort will focus initially on the development of online training modules for key target audiences, since this approach will reach the broadest range of professionals internationally in the most cost-effective way possible. Later in the project period, additional training programs may be developed, based on options identified through a systematic needs assessment, which will be conducted at the beginning of the project.

The Epidemiologist will assist other MCEIRS staff, as needed, with the training and career development initiative. This Epidemiologist will work closely with other MCEIRS staff on these two projects, including an additional Epidemiologist, the Training Coordinator for the training initiative, and Senior MCEIRS staff.
Required/Preferred Qualifications Required: A Master’s degree in epidemiology or a related field; a minimum of five years of work experience in public health, epidemiology, or a related field; experience with epidemiologic study design and analysis of epidemiologic data, excellent writing skills; ability to work collaboratively.

Desired: Development of online courses or training materials; international experience; understanding of one or more key topic areas related to avian influenza (such as pandemic influenza, wild bird ecology, laboratory testing for influenza, agricultural issues related to avian species, veterinary medicine, or public health prevention and control of influenza).

***THIS POSITION REQUIRES A SUCCESSFUL BACKGROUND CHECK***

Location
Twin Cities, MN
Employment Type
Full Time
Categories
FACULTY JOBS, Professions, Health professions

https://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=74616