Senior Epidemiologist

MPF is seeking an experienced, mission-driven, Senior Epidemiologist with substantial real-world, applied epidemiology experience to support Operational Infectious Diseases (OID) at Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego, CA.

Compensation: $120,000 - $127,000 annually

NHRC focuses on military mission readiness through research and development that delivers high-value, high-impact solutions to health and readiness challenges facing service members. The OID Directorate contributes to this mission hands-on infectious disease surveillance, field-based clinical studies, and operational research and development in military settings. As a Senior Epidemiologist, you will join a multidisciplinary team of researchers and scientists that includes active-duty service members, federal civil servants, and contractors, all dedicated to NHRC’s vision of being the Department of War (DoW) premier operational health research center.

This role is well-suited for a Senior Epidemiologist who thrives under pressure, is clear and effective in communicating findings with military and civilian partners and has proven track record of securing and managing funded, large-scale research studies.

You will lead and analyze epidemiologic studies that directly inform Force Health Protection (FHP) and operational decision-making, with emphasis on Enteric / Respiratory Surveillance, Wastewater-Based Biosurveillance (WBB), Outbreak/ Clinical Studies support, Diagnostic and Operational Epidemiological Studies.

• Lead innovative surveillance initiatives, including but not limited to, Enteric/ Respiratory projects, Wastewater-Based Biosurveillance, genomic epidemiology, and the integration of diverse Real-World Data (RWD) sources.
• Design and conduct epidemiological studies on infectious diseases impacting military readiness, including surveillance studies, outbreak investigations, and observational research in operational environments.
• Develop and refine study protocols, sampling methodologies, and data collection tools to ensure high-quality, valid, and reproducible research outcomes.
• Lead the implementation of epidemiological studies, coordinating effectively with research staff, field teams, command leadership, and external partners to meet timelines and deliverables.
• Manage competing priorities and time-sensitive tasks in dynamic, high-pressure settings while maintaining scientific rigor and data integrity.

• Collect, manage, and oversee complex datasets from surveillance systems, clinical encounters, and field studies, ensuring data quality, accuracy, and compliance with regulatory and DoW standards.
• Perform and lead advanced statistical analysis and machine learning analysis to assess disease patterns, risk factors, and the impact of preventive measures relevant to military operations.
• Develop and apply novel analytical methods, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and predictive modeling, to enhance surveillance and outbreak detection capabilities.
• Use epidemiological and statistical software tools (e.g., SAS, R, Python, STATA, SQL, REDCap, Excel [advanced], Power BI) to conduct analyses, visualize data, and interpret findings.
• Monitor disease trends and provide timely, actionable insights to leadership and stakeholders to guide operational health decisions, policy development, and resource allocation.

• Prepare clear, concise research reports, manuscripts, and presentations that summarize study findings for peer-reviewed publications, military briefings, and scientific conferences.
• Communicate complex epidemiological concepts, study results, and operational implications to diverse audiences, including…