Epidemiologist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

2d • $4,523 - $6,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Under the direction of the Tuberculosis (TB) and Hansen's disease group manager, performs advanced epidemiological work. Work involves conducting assessment of genotyping clusters and contact investigations performed by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) public health regions (PHRs) and local health departments’ (LHDs) TB programs. Provides guidance to PHRs and LHDs on managing TB outbreaks and complex investigations. Serves as the subject matter expert on investigating TB outbreaks and performing contact investigations. Participates in developing program protocols for conducting contact investigations in high profile settings such as academic institutions, congregate settings and other media-sensitive environments. Receives TB incident reports from PHRs and LHDs and evaluates requests to perform TB screenings in academic institutions, congregate settings and other media sensitive environments. Participates and provides epidemiologic direction in high profile contact investigations. Prepares epidemiologic reports on TB outbreaks, complex and high profile contact investigations. Works to establish epidemiologic linkages based on cluster investigations. Performs social network analysis.

Requirements

• Valid and current Texas driver's license
• Knowledge of major functions of public health
• Knowledge of infectious disease surveillance
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of epidemiology
• Knowledge of statistical concepts, research methods, and their applications to public health surveillance and research
• Knowledge of sampling, survey methods and weighing
• Knowledge of the health status, socioeconomic and demographic measures used in public health.
• Knowledge of population, socioeconomic and health outcomes data sources
• Knowledge of programming logic
• Knowledge of security and confidentiality as it relates to surveillance
• Skill in using Microsoft Office products especially Excel and PowerPoint
• Skill in using graphics presentation software
• Skill in using statistical software such as SAS and in writing syntax to perform analyses
• Skill in data management and analysis
• Skill in both verbal and written communications
• Skill in graphical presentation of data including charts, tables, and maps
• Skill in working with sensitive personal health information
• Ability to manage and query complex databases
• Ability to plan, conduct and report on epidemiological investigations
• Ability to use population data for public health planning and evaluation
• Ability to conduct research projects
• Ability to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and show initiative
• Ability to communicate effectively with data users, coworkers and stakeholders
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in epidemiology, public health or closely related field.
• At least one year's work experience in epidemiologic investigations

Nice To Haves

• A Master's degree in epidemiology is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides guidance to public health regions and local health departments on managing TB outbreaks and complex investigations.
• Participates in developing and maintaining policies and procedures on contact investigations and TB outbreak management involving academic institutions, congregate settings and other places of employment.
• Oversees investigations involving congregate settings, places of employment and other media sensitive environments.
• Supports health service regions and local health departments in evaluating contact investigation efforts.
• Evaluates contact investigation outcomes.
• Develops plans to improve contact investigation outcomes.
• Maintains data profile on confirmed TB outbreaks, investigations involving media sensitive environments and other places of employment to include congregate settings and academic institutions.
• Prepares epidemiologic reports on key contact investigation activities.
• Serves as a resource on TB infection rates in communities throughout Texas.
• Routinely monitors TB genotyping information management systems (TB GIMS) to identify medium and highly concerning TB clusters.
• Notifies PHRs and LHDs of medium and highly concerning clusters and provides guidance to PHRs and LHDs to perform cluster investigations.
• Participates in developing and maintaining policies and procedures on genotyping and TB cluster investigations and management.
• Evaluates and approves requests to investigate genotyped clusters.
• Oversees cluster investigations involving congregate settings, places of employment and other media sensitive environments.
• Supports PHRs and LHDs in evaluating genotyped clusters.
• Develops resources that facilitate management of genotyped clusters and cluster alerts.
• Researches epidemiologic linkages based on cluster investigations including identifying false positive AFB culture reports; makes recommendations to determine associations; review results of the investigations and presents case studies for training purposes.
• Participates in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-directed genotyping conference calls.
• Serves as a subject matter expert in the development, testing and rollout of the statewide TB case management and surveillance system regarding genotyping.
• Reviews TB incident reports submitted by DSHS PHRs and LHD TB programs.
• Evaluates requests to perform large scale investigations in which 50 or more persons are considered for testing.
• Coordinates all airline, land or sea exposure notification received through CDC Epi-X; notifies PHRs and LHDs of airline, land or sea exposures received through Epi-X for follow-up and reporting.
• Assures all notifications are addressed within appropriate time frames including preparing and submitting responses to the requestor.
• Participates in quarterly new employee orientation seminars.
• Coordinates genotyping training and assists with contact investigation training.
• Develops processes to evaluate funded TB programs using genotyping data.
• Develops resources and reports that facilitate managing contact investigations; quantifies infection rates to guide expanding contact investigations; prepares and guides local TB staff in using social network analysis.
• Actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

• insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level