Epidemiologist - Population Surveillance Systems

MPHI is a Michigan-based and nationally engaged, non-profit public health institute. We are a team of teams, process and content experts, dedicated to building A world where tomorrow is healthier than today!

Title: Epidemiologist - Population Surveillance Systems

$28.06 - $38.67 / Posted Thru: 3-13-2026

Location: Remote/Virtual - Must work and live in the state of Michigan

Purpose: This position serves as an epidemiologist for two unique and highly complex systems: Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (MI BRFSS) and Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). The Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (MI BRFSS) is a state-wide surveillance system composed of annual landline and cellular telephone surveys that focus on health behaviors and outcomes among the Michigan adult population and is the sole source of information for a wide variety of health behaviors and outcomes that are of great importance to a multitude of state programs. PRAMS is a project that gathers high quality, population-based data about maternal and paternal attitudes and experiences before, during, and after pregnancy. The data collected from PRAMS can help improve the health of mothers and their babies throughout Michigan. This position will be responsible for supporting routine data management, data analysis and interpretation, report writing, and data visualization for the MI BRFSS and PRAMS, as well as for analyses required in response to special data requests.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Michigan Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System

• Assist the BRFSS coordinator/epidemiologist with maintenance of the MI BRFSS. This includes development of the annual MI BRFSS questionnaires and participation in the planning of MI BRFSS data users and question solicitations meetings.
• Serve as a point of contact for the MI BRFSS vendor. This includes participating in regular meetings with the vendor and monitoring performance to ensure operations comply with CDC standards.
• Analyze and distribute statewide and regional MI BRFSS data as needed.
• Create at least four technical briefs per year using the MI BRFSS data, working with internal and external partners for development and dissemination.
• Provide technical support for the Small Populations Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, working collaboratively with other epidemiologists and health professionals within MDHHS.
• Conduct special projects using data from the MI BRFSS as needed.
• Conduct MI BRFSS dashboard updates and produce other data visualization products using MI BRFSS data.

Michigan Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

• Maintain the PRAMS data management system to produce descriptive statistics for the maternal and paternal populations that we collect data from.
• Conduct PRAMS dashboard updates and produce routine PRAMS maternal and paternal surveillance reports, presentations, and newsletters.
• Fulfill requests for PRAMS maternal and paternal analytic datasets from internal and external researchers.
• Coordinate PRAMS data-related program activities with other maternal and child health programs and with other agencies and organizations.
• Develop and revise the PRAMS analytic plan and participate in the development of the annual PRAMS sampling plan and state questionnaires.
• Facilitate epidemiologic, statistical, and other training in public health methodology for other PRAMS staff.

Other

• Maintain a positive, strong, credible, professional and interpersonal relationship with all parties relevant to MDHHS and MPHI projects and represent the best interests of MDHHS and MPHI at all times.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Education: Master's Degree in epidemiology or public health-related field such as biostatistics with course preparation in epidemiology, biostatistics, and chronic disease.

Experience: Five years of professional experience carrying out a variety of surveys, investigations, tests, and analyses of human disease and health conditions is preferred. It is preferred that this experience includes extensive work with survey data that involves a complex probability survey design and the specialized software needed to analyze such data.

Important Skills and Characteristics:

• Comprehensive knowledge of complex sample survey research methods and the analyses of such data. This would include survey design, complex sampling techniques, multimode survey methodologies (landline and cell phone surveys), questionnaire development, data management, advanced data weighting methodologies, and the analysis and interpretation of complex data at state and local levels. In addition, knowledge of epidemiology, specialized computer software (SUDAAN and SAS), statistics, and research planning and design are essential to this position.
• Experience with web-based data visualization products (interactive dashboards) is a crucial skill needed for this position.
• Knowledge of ADA requirements for electronic materials is a preferred skill.
• It is also important for the person in this position to present data and results from the MI BRFSS and PRAMS in a manner that can easily be used by upper management and other decision makers.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements: Typical office environment. May require moderate physical effort for transporting display or educational material. Requires a valid vehicle operator's license to attend off-site meetings, conferences and training. This position will be located in the Lansing area.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK OF OTHERS: No assigned responsibility.

IMPACT ON PROJECTS, SERVICES AND OPERATIONS: The MDHHS Bureau of Epidemiology and Population Health is responsible for the epidemiologic assessment of health status, disease patterns, and risk factors of the state's people. It also participates in the evaluation of the success of various programs. This position applies these assessments and evaluations to health equity issues in the development of policy and goals for programs and the Department.

REQUIRED COMMUNICATION

Contact Person/Group	Frequency	Purpose
MDHHS Lifecourse Epidemiology& Genomics Div. Director	Daily	Supervision
MDHHS LEGD Staff	Weekly	Collaboration
Other MDHHS Staff	Periodically	Collaboration
Community Representatives & PF Professionals	Periodically	Tech Assistance

For purposes of employment standards, this classification is "Non-Exempt" from overtime provisions of the fair Labor Standards Act.

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