Job Duties Custom List 19-1041.00 — Epidemiologists
- Plan, administer and evaluate health safety standards and programs to improve public health, conferring with health department, industry personnel, physicians, and others.
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- Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- Confer with health departments, industry personnel, physicians, and others to develop health safety standards and public health improvement programs.
- Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
- Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
- Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
- Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
- Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
- Write and publish articles in scientific journals.
- Write applications for research grants.
- Investigate cause, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission of diseases or parasites.
- Use equipment such as atomic absorption spectrometers, electron microscopes, flow cytometers, or chromatography systems.
- Consult with and advise physicians, educators, researchers, and others regarding medical applications of physics, biology, and chemistry.
- Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
- Study animal and human health and physiological processes.
- Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- Confer with health departments, industry personnel, physicians, and others to develop health safety standards and public health improvement programs.
- Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
- Set standards for the production of meat or poultry products or for food ingredients, additives, or compounds used to prepare or package products.
- Set labeling standards and approve labels for meat or poultry products.
- Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat.
- Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.
- Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.
- Label and seal graded products and issue official grading certificates.
- Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering or meat processing plants.
- Take emergency actions, such as closing production facilities, if product safety is compromised.
- Verify that transportation and handling procedures meet regulatory requirements.
- Inspect the cleanliness and practices of establishment employees.
- Examine, weigh, and measure commodities, such as poultry, eggs, meat, or seafood to certify qualities, grades, and weights.
- Inspect or test horticultural products or livestock to detect harmful diseases, chemical residues, or infestations and to determine the quality of products or animals.
- Monitor the grading performed by company employees to verify conformance to standards.
- Write reports of findings and recommendations and advise farmers, growers, or processors of corrective action to be taken.
- Direct or monitor the quarantine and treatment or destruction of plants or plant products.
- Collect samples from animals, plants, or products and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, or other testing.
- Review and monitor foreign product inspection systems in countries of origin to ensure equivalence to the U.S. system.
- Inquire about pesticides or chemicals to which animals may have been exposed.
- Provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems.
- Testify in legal proceedings.
- Compare product recipes with government-approved formulas or recipes to determine acceptability.
- Advise farmers or growers of development programs or new equipment or techniques to aid in quality production.
- Set standards for the production of meat or poultry products or for food ingredients, additives, or compounds used to prepare or package products.
- Set labeling standards and approve labels for meat or poultry products.
- Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.
- Plan, supervise, and conduct psychological research and write papers describing research results.
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.
- Develop therapeutic and treatment plans based on clients' interests, abilities, or needs.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.
- Consult with or provide consultation to other doctors, therapists, or clinicians regarding patient care.
- Obtain and study medical, psychological, social, and family histories by interviewing individuals, couples, or families and by reviewing records.
- Direct, coordinate, and evaluate activities of staff and interns engaged in patient assessment and treatment.
- Advise clients on how they could be helped by counseling.
- Maintain current knowledge of relevant research.
- Consult reference material, such as textbooks, manuals, or journals, to identify symptoms, make diagnoses, or develop approaches to treatment.
- Refer clients to other specialists, institutions, or support services as necessary.
- Supervise and train interns, clinicians in training, and other counselors.
- Develop, direct, and participate in training programs for staff and students.
- Provide consulting services, including educational programs, outreach programs, or prevention talks to schools, social service agencies, businesses, or the general public.
- Consult with other professionals, agencies, or universities to discuss therapies, treatments, counseling resources or techniques, and to share occupational information.
- Select, administer, score, and interpret psychological tests to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, or personalities.
- Provide occupational, educational, or other information to individuals so that they can make educational or vocational plans.
- Prepare written evaluations of individuals' psychological competence for court hearings.
- Observe individuals at play, in group interactions, or in other contexts to detect indications of mental deficiency, abnormal behavior, or maladjustment.
- Plan and develop accredited psychological service programs in psychiatric centers or hospitals, in collaboration with psychiatrists and other professional staff.
- Provide psychological or administrative services and advice to private firms or community agencies regarding mental health programs or individual cases.
- Conduct research to develop or improve diagnostic or therapeutic counseling techniques.
- Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.
- Plan, supervise, and conduct psychological research and write papers describing research results.
- Provide scientific direction for project teams regarding the evaluation or handling of devices, drugs, or cells for in vitro and in vivo disease models.
- Direct, coordinate, organize, or prioritize biological laboratory activities.
- Develop guidelines for procedures such as the management of viruses.
- Coordinate molecular or cellular research activities with scientists specializing in other fields.
- Verify all financial, physical, and human resources assigned to research or development projects are used as planned.
- Participate in all levels of bioproduct development, including proposing new products, performing market analyses, designing and performing experiments, and collaborating with operations and quality control teams during product launches.
- Maintain accurate laboratory records and data.
- Design molecular or cellular laboratory experiments, oversee their execution, and interpret results.
- Write grant applications to obtain funding.
- Perform laboratory procedures following protocols including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing, cloning and extraction, ribonucleic acid (RNA) purification, or gel electrophoresis.
- Conduct research on cell organization and function, including mechanisms of gene expression, cellular bioinformatics, cell signaling, or cell differentiation.
- Prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or meeting presentations.
- Instruct undergraduate and graduate students within the areas of cellular or molecular biology.
- Compile and analyze molecular or cellular experimental data and adjust experimental designs as necessary.
- Evaluate new technologies to enhance or complement current research.
- Supervise technical personnel and postdoctoral research fellows.
- Monitor or operate specialized equipment, such as gas chromatographs and high pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers.
- Conduct applied research aimed at improvements in areas such as disease testing, crop quality, pharmaceuticals, and the harnessing of microbes to recycle waste.
- Develop assays that monitor cell characteristics.
- Evaluate new supplies and equipment to ensure operability in specific laboratory settings.
- Design databases, such as mutagenesis libraries.
- Confer with vendors to evaluate new equipment or reagents or to discuss the customization of product lines to meet user requirements.
- Provide scientific direction for project teams regarding the evaluation or handling of devices, drugs, or cells for in vitro and in vivo disease models.
- Direct, coordinate, organize, or prioritize biological laboratory activities.
- Develop guidelines for procedures such as the management of viruses.
- Coordinate molecular or cellular research activities with scientists specializing in other fields.
- Verify all financial, physical, and human resources assigned to research or development projects are used as planned.
- Participate in all levels of bioproduct development, including proposing new products, performing market analyses, designing and performing experiments, and collaborating with operations and quality control teams during product launches.
- Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
- Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
- Purchase laboratory supplies, such as chemicals, when supplies are low or near their expiration date.
- Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
- Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
- Conduct quality control tests.
- Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
- Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.
- Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.
- Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed.
- Direct, coordinate, or advise personnel in test procedures for analyzing components or physical properties of materials.
- Study effects of various methods of processing, preserving, or packaging on composition or properties of foods.
- Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.
- Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
- Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
- Purchase laboratory supplies, such as chemicals, when supplies are low or near their expiration date.
- Design or implement rehabilitation plans for patients with cognitive dysfunction.
- Establish neurobehavioral baseline measures for monitoring progressive cerebral disease or recovery.
- Conduct neuropsychological evaluations such as assessments of intelligence, academic ability, attention, concentration, sensorimotor function, language, learning, and memory.
- Conduct research on neuropsychological disorders.
- Consult with other professionals about patients' neurological conditions.
- Diagnose and treat conditions involving injury to the central nervous system, such as cerebrovascular accidents, neoplasms, infectious or inflammatory diseases, degenerative diseases, head traumas, demyelinating diseases, and various forms of dementing illnesses.
- Diagnose and treat conditions such as chemical dependency, alcohol dependency, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) dementia, and environmental toxin exposure.
- Diagnose and treat pediatric populations for conditions such as learning disabilities with developmental or organic bases.
- Educate and supervise practicum students, psychology interns, or hospital staff.
- Interview patients to obtain comprehensive medical histories.
- Participate in educational programs, in-service training, or workshops to remain current in methods and techniques.
- Provide education or counseling to individuals and families.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in neuropsychology.
- Write or prepare detailed clinical neuropsychological reports, using data from psychological or neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct observations, or interviews.
- Design or implement rehabilitation plans for patients with cognitive dysfunction.
- Establish neurobehavioral baseline measures for monitoring progressive cerebral disease or recovery.
- Develop standards of permissible concentrations of radioisotopes in liquids and gases.
- Develop manufacturing, assembly, and fabrication processes of lasers, masers, infrared, and other light-emitting and light-sensitive devices.
- Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- Write research proposals to receive funding.
- Teach physics to students.
- Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
- Conduct research pertaining to potential environmental impacts of atomic energy-related industrial development to determine licensing qualifications.
- Observe the structure and properties of matter, and the transformation and propagation of energy, using equipment such as masers, lasers, and telescopes, to explore and identify the basic principles governing these phenomena.
- Develop theories and laws on the basis of observation and experiments, and apply these theories and laws to problems in areas such as nuclear energy, optics, and aerospace technology.
- Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.
- Conduct application evaluations and analyze results to determine commercial, industrial, scientific, medical, military, or other uses for electro-optical devices.
- Advise authorities of procedures to be followed in radiation incidents or hazards, and assist in civil defense planning.
- Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- Develop standards of permissible concentrations of radioisotopes in liquids and gases.
- Develop manufacturing, assembly, and fabrication processes of lasers, masers, infrared, and other light-emitting and light-sensitive devices.
- Design or implement rehabilitation plans for patients with cognitive dysfunction.
- Establish neurobehavioral baseline measures for monitoring progressive cerebral disease or recovery.
- Compare patients' progress before and after pharmacologic, surgical, or behavioral interventions.
- Conduct neuropsychological evaluations such as assessments of intelligence, academic ability, attention, concentration, sensorimotor function, language, learning, and memory.
- Consult with other professionals about patients' neurological conditions.
- Diagnose and treat conditions involving injury to the central nervous system, such as cerebrovascular accidents, neoplasms, infectious or inflammatory diseases, degenerative diseases, head traumas, demyelinating diseases, and various forms of dementing illnesses.
- Diagnose and treat neural and psychological conditions in medical and surgical populations, such as patients with early dementing illness or chronic pain with a neurological basis.
- Diagnose and treat pediatric populations for conditions such as learning disabilities with developmental or organic bases.
- Diagnose and treat psychiatric populations for conditions such as somatoform disorder, dementias, and psychoses.
- Distinguish between psychogenic and neurogenic syndromes, two or more suspected etiologies of cerebral dysfunction, or between disorders involving complex seizures.
- Educate and supervise practicum students, psychology interns, or hospital staff.
- Identify and communicate risks associated with specific neurological surgical procedures, such as epilepsy surgery.
- Interview patients to obtain comprehensive medical histories.
- Participate in educational programs, in-service training, or workshops to remain current in methods and techniques.
- Provide education or counseling to individuals and families.
- Provide psychotherapy, behavior therapy, or other counseling interventions to patients with neurological disorders.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in neuropsychology.
- Write or prepare detailed clinical neuropsychological reports, using data from psychological or neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct observations, or interviews.
- Design or implement rehabilitation plans for patients with cognitive dysfunction.
- Establish neurobehavioral baseline measures for monitoring progressive cerebral disease or recovery.
- Write or revise standard quality control operating procedures.
- Develop and qualify new testing methods.
- Conduct routine and non-routine analyses of in-process materials, raw materials, environmental samples, finished goods, or stability samples.
- Interpret test results, compare them to established specifications and control limits, and make recommendations on appropriateness of data for release.
- Calibrate, validate, or maintain laboratory equipment.
- Ensure that lab cleanliness and safety standards are maintained.
- Perform visual inspections of finished products.
- Complete documentation needed to support testing procedures, including data capture forms, equipment logbooks, or inventory forms.
- Compile laboratory test data and perform appropriate analyses.
- Identify and troubleshoot equipment problems.
- Write technical reports or documentation, such as deviation reports, testing protocols, and trend analyses.
- Investigate or report questionable test results.
- Monitor testing procedures to ensure that all tests are performed according to established item specifications, standard test methods, or protocols.
- Identify quality problems and recommend solutions.
- Participate in out-of-specification and failure investigations and recommend corrective actions.
- Receive and inspect raw materials.
- Train other analysts to perform laboratory procedures and assays.
- Supply quality control data necessary for regulatory submissions.
- Serve as a technical liaison between quality control and other departments, vendors, or contractors.
- Participate in internal assessments and audits as required.
- Perform validations or transfers of analytical methods in accordance with applicable policies or guidelines.
- Evaluate analytical methods and procedures to determine how they might be improved.
- Prepare or review required method transfer documentation including technical transfer protocols or reports.
- Review data from contract laboratories to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance.
- Coordinate testing with contract laboratories and vendors.
- Evaluate new technologies and methods to make recommendations regarding their use.
- Write or revise standard quality control operating procedures.
- Develop and qualify new testing methods.
- Develop economic guidelines and standards, and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.
- Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
- Conduct research on economic issues, and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.
- Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
- Supervise research projects and students' study projects.
- Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.
- Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
- Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.
- Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
- Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
- Forecast production and consumption of renewable resources and supply, consumption, and depletion of non-renewable resources.
- Testify at regulatory or legislative hearings concerning the estimated effects of changes in legislation or public policy, and present recommendations based on cost-benefit analyses.
- Provide litigation support, such as writing reports for expert testimony or testifying as an expert witness.
- Develop economic guidelines and standards, and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.
- Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
- Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
- Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
- Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences.
- Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards.
- Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
- Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
- Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
- Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
- Seek substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives, such as nitrites.
- Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
- Develop new food items for production, based on consumer feedback.
- Demonstrate products to clients.
- Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
- Develop operational standards and procedures for the work unit or department.
- Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
- Set goals and deadlines for the department.
- Acquire, distribute and store supplies.
- Analyze internal processes and recommend and implement procedural or policy changes to improve operations, such as supply changes or the disposal of records.
- Conduct classes to teach procedures to staff.
- Plan, administer, and control budgets for contracts, equipment, and supplies.
- Hire and terminate clerical and administrative personnel.
- Direct or coordinate the supportive services department of a business, agency, or organization.
- Communicate with and provide guidance for external vendors and service providers to ensure the organization, department, or work unit's business needs are met.
- Establish work procedures or schedules to organize the daily work of administrative staff.
- Learn to operate new office technologies as they are developed and implemented.
- Manage paper or electronic filing systems by recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records or correspondence.
- Meet with other departmental leaders to establish organizational goals, strategic plans, and objectives, as well as make decisions about personnel, resources, and space or equipment needs.
- Oversee payroll functions, such as maintaining timekeeping information and processing and submitting payroll.
- Read through contracts, regulations, and procedural guidelines to ensure comprehension and compliance.
- Represent work unit at meetings or conferences and serve as liaison for requests or complaints.
- Supervise administrative staff and provide training and orientation to new staff.
- Develop operational standards and procedures for the work unit or department.
