Job Description for Researcher in the Field of Public Health
A researcher working in the field of public health will most likely be working in an academic department of public health at a university, for a research firm,or for a large government agency such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the National Institutes of Health.
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Public Health Research
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The field of public health contains various subfields including epidemiology, health education and administration, behavioral and environmental sciences and biostatistics.
Educational Requirements
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Most public health research positions, particularly in academic settings, require a doctoral degree either in public health or a related field such as epidemiology, one of the behavioral sciences or biostatistics. Research assistants may need only a master's degree.
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Research Skills
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Public-health research skills involve knowing how to devise and implement a research and data collection strategy using quantitative and statistical analysis as well as qualitative methods such as conducting interviews, focus groups and site visits. Collected data is then interpreted and analyzed.
Writing and Dissemination
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Research results are written and disseminated via presentations and publications for both academic and public (non-technical) audiences. Knowledge of grant writing to procure external funding for research projects is also necessary.
Salary Information
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Because the field of public health is broad, there are a wide variety of salary ranges. The Association for Schools of Public Health (ASPH) currently reports the following approximate salary ranges: epidemiology $38,000to- $136,000; biostatistics $33,000 to $63,000; international health $31,000 to $86,000; environmental health $44,000 to $143,000; biomedical lab $31,000 to $78,000; public health practice $41,000 to $102,000 and health administration $37,000 to $161,000.
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