Epidemiologist
Caption MSF epidemiologist, Saleem, providing care to people displaced by conflict in the Bunia region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. © Remco Bohle
Epidemiologists play essential roles in our teams.
In the midst of an outbreak, our project teams look to our epidemiologists to learn where and how fast a disease is spreading, and how it can be stopped. From Ebola outbreaks in Liberia to predicting cholera outbreaks in Haiti after an earthquake, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) epidemiologists save lives.
Responsibilities
MSF epidemiologists work in a variety of contexts, and may be either based in a country coordination centre or out in a field project. They may support one or many projects, and work on a variety of issues, from mortality surveys to mapping the spread of diseases.
It’s a diverse role and you would be responsible for some or all of the following:
Conducting surveys in the community
Creating reports to be used for project planning
Helping plan appropriate responses to outbreaks of disease, such as active case finding, vaccination campaigns, WATSAN interventions (e.g. meningitis, measles or cholera) or conducting mortality surveys
Setting up surveillance systems in MSF hospitals or in the community
Building the capacity of the medical teams to analyse and interpret the results to support evidence-based decision making
Role requirements
Degree or Masters’ Degree in Epidemiology, or an MPH with extensive epidemiology training
Proven practical skills in design/implementation / evaluation of quantitative and qualitative epidemiological research methods
Ability to design and implement surveillance and other data collection systems for disease and outbreak monitoring, including mortality and nutritional surveys, and to train others in appropriate data collection and analysis
Proven practical skills with software for epidemiological database and statistical analysis (Microsoft Excel and at least one statistical program)
A minimum of one year working in a low- and/or middle-income country or similar environment
Ability to be a team leader i.e. supervising, managing and training others
Ability to work with others in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary setting
Able to organise and prioritise workload, using initiative when necessary
Willingness to work in an unstable environment
Available to work for up to nine months (there are opportunities for three to six-month roles depending on the current work contexts arising)
Fluency in English
Assets
Medical/biomedical background
Familiarity with tropical diseases / infectious diseases
Previous experience in a similar role with another non-governmental organisation
Previous experience in a similar role in an unstable environment
Languages
We're currently looking for epidemiologists with good French or Arabic skills.
If you can speak French or Arabic you're much more likely to be accepted onto our register.
Your language level may be tested during the recruitment process.
