Epidemiologist 1 (Infectious/Chronic Diseases) (35 Hour)

The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), is currently recruiting for an Epidemiologist 1 (Infectious/Chronic Diseases) to work within the Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program. This Epidemiologist 1 will be responsible for providing technical assistance and working with local health departments in the management of patients diagnosed with TB. These activities include educating local health departments, providers, and patients about TB, monitoring treatment adherence and complications, ensuring accurate case surveillance and case management data, and assisting in interviews and contact investigations to identify others at risk for exposure for TB for testing and treatment.

This Epidemiologist 1 position will be located within the Department of Public Health, Public Health Preparedness, Local Health, TB/HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis Branch, TB/HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis Section, TB Control Program. Duties include, but are not limited to: Under the supervision of an Epidemiologist of higher grade, assist program staff in epidemiologic investigations of acute and chronic diseases; assist in interviewing of individuals relative to disease outbreaks; maintain and use a surveillance system capable of detecting risk factors and changes in disease patterns; make appropriate contacts with public health and other agencies, health professionals, hospitals, etc., to facilitate disease follow up and surveillance; answer general informational questions from the public and medical community; regularly review scientific literature to maintain a current knowledge of pertinent disease processes. Collection of sputum specimens will be required. May administer biologics or collect specimens such as blood and urine samples, and throat and rectal swabs under supervision of a physician; may compile statistics and do less-complex calculations and interpretations; perform related duties as required.

The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.

DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

This Epidemiologist 1 position is a permanent, full-time, 35 hours per week position. This position is based out of Hartford, CT. There may be opportunities for an alternate work schedule and/or teleworking in accordance with State policies.

We offer a competitive benefits package, excellent health care, generous leave policies, retirement plan, and more!  We also encourage a healthy work-life balance to all employees!

*This salary range may increase effective July 1, 2022.

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.  

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account. 

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meet the preferred requirements of the position. At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include:  a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.  

Please Note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. 

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. 

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID 19 Vaccination Immunization. 

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Chelsea Moore at Chelsea.Moore@ct.gov.

In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for assisting is the compilation and interpretation of epidemiologic/scientific data and statistics including field investigations and literature review.

Assists program staff in epidemiologic investigations of acute and chronic diseases; assists in interviewing of individuals relative to disease outbreaks; under supervison of an Epidemiologist of higher grade, maintains a surveillance system capable of detecting risk factors and changes in disease patterns; makes appropriate contacts with public health and other agencies, health professionals, hospitals, etc. to facilitate disease follow up and surveillance; answers general informational questions from the public and medical community; regularly reviews scientific literature to maintain a current knowledge of pertinent disease processes; may administer biologics or collect specimens such as blood and urine samples, throat and rectal swabs under supervision of a physician; may compile statistics and do less complex calculations and interpretations; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of infectious/chronic disease epidemiology; knowledge of relevant disease processes which affect humans and animals; knowledge of epidemiological methods; knowledge of basic biological processes; interpersonal skills; oral and written communications skills; ability to research scientific literature and develop and gather data.

Five (5) years' experience in a responsible technical or professional capacity in epidemiological investigations.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

2. A Master's degree in a related discipline including community medicine, public health or a related health science may be substituted for the General Experience.

3. A Doctorate in a related discipline such as medicine, public health or a natural or behavioral science may be substituted for the General Experience.

• Experience with acute and chronic diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, or COVID-19) and disease prevention strategies
• Experience and assisting in interviewing of and management of patients with tuberculosis, including performing directly observed therapy
• Experience working with public health agencies, hospitals, medical providers, community-based organizations, and the general public to facilitate tuberculosis disease follow-up, case management, and data surveillance
• Experience with epidemiological data, including: collecting patient and case information, data entry into electronic database (e.g., MS Excel, MS Access, or Connecticut Electronic Disease Surveillance System [CTEDSS]), and monitoring disease outcomes for individuals
• Experience performing outreach in diverse communities, including oral and written presentations
• Fluency in speaking Spanish

1. Incumbents in this class must be willing to be immunized for communicable diseases as necessary and appropriate.

2. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substances.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.