Careers in Epidemiology

Our Epidemiology (M.Sc.) programme prepares students with the technical and professional skills needed to succeed in a variety of career trajectories.

Academia

Some graduates choose to continue in academia by pursuing a doctoral degree in epidemiology or a closely related field, some of them eventually becoming a university lecturer or even professor. Those interested in continuing their education at LMU Munich can apply for the PhD program in Medical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (Ph.D.-EPH) at the Pettenkofer School of Public Health. Others continue in academia by supporting research in roles like data scientist or research assistant at a university.

Non-academic research

Germany and Europe have many prominent non-academic research institutions such as the Helmholtz Association, the Max Planck Society, and the Leibniz Association in Germany, the Medical Research Council in the UK, or the Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS) in France. Graduates from our programme are qualified to apply for positions such as scientist, data analyst, research assistant, epidemiologist, or biostatistician at these organizations.

Clinical research

Graduates may work in hospitals, academic medical centers, or contract research organizations to support or lead clinical trials. Typical roles include clinical data manager, study coordinator, or clinical research associate, where they help design, monitor, and evaluate trials that test new treatments, interventions, and diagnostic methods. Their skills in study design, statistics, and data analysis are highly valued in ensuring the scientific rigor and ethical quality of clinical studies.

Pharmaceutical sector

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries offer strong career paths for epidemiologists. Graduates may work in drug safety and pharmacovigilance, real-world evidence generation, market access, or outcomes research. Common roles include epidemiologist, biostatistician, or health outcomes researcher, contributing to the design and evaluation of new therapies, monitoring post-marketing drug safety, and producing evidence for regulatory approval and healthcare decision-making.

Health insurance companies

Epidemiology graduates are also valuable to statutory health insurance providers and private health insurers. They contribute by analyzing population health data, evaluating the effectiveness and cost of interventions, and supporting disease management programs. Typical roles may include health data analyst, outcomes researcher, or epidemiologist, helping insurers improve care quality and efficiency while managing costs.

Governmental and non-governmental organisations

Public health agencies, ministries of health, and international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), European Centers for Disease Control (ECDC), or national public health institutes employ epidemiologists to shape health policies and programs. Graduates may also work in NGOs focused on global health, infectious disease control, or humanitarian medicine. Roles include public health officer, health policy advisor, or epidemiologist, where they monitor disease patterns, respond to health emergencies, and contribute to designing prevention and intervention strategies.