Why study infectious disease epidemiology?
Contribute to public health efforts, inform healthcare practices and aid the development of strategies to combat infectious diseases and enhance immune responses. Students learn the essential concepts of disease transmission, immunity and control, and methods for analysing relevant data. They also study how to evaluate disease surveillance systems and interpret outbreak information.
- When the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, Professor Nancy Baxter, former Head of the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health and one of the nation’s leading epidemiologists, made regular appearances in the news to educate the public at a time when misinformation and fear were rife. Choose the infectious disease epidemiology specialisation and learn from leaders at the forefront of response, research and education.
Study options in infectious diseases epidemiology
Why study infectious disease epidemiology at Melbourne?
- Engage with the cutting-edge Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, the award-winning research unit at the forefront of a preventative health revolution.
- Gain invaluable research skills by contributing to the university’s Centre of Research Excellence in Infectious Diseases Modelling to Inform Public Health Policy. Nationally and internationally renowned, this unit advises infectious disease control policy through contracted research.
- Learn from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute); a centre of excellence where leading scientists and clinicians collaborate to improve human health globally.
- Burnet Institute
- CSL Limited (CSL)
- Denteric
- Immuron
- Melbourne Bioinformatics
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Monash University
- Royal Melbourne Hospital
- Nossal Institute for Global Health
- The Royal Children’s Hospital
- UoM @ Royal Melbourne Hospital, City Campus
- Hepatitis Victoria (LiverWELL)
- Royal Women’s Hospital
- Violeta Spirkoska
Explore our industry-leading research outputs:
Diverse careers
We are a global institution, and our qualifications enable you to progress in your career. The range of roles you can expect after completing a public health education include, but are not limited to:
- Senior Epidemiologist
- Consultant, Epidemiology
- Specialist - Infectious Diseases
- Staff Specialist (Infectious Diseases)
- Genomic Epidemiologist
- Research Assistant (Indigenous Epidemiology & Health)
- Project Coordinator, Epidemiology
Infectious disease epidemiology sectors
Graduates from this specialisation often find themselves in roles within organisations such as:
- Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
- Burnet Institute
- The Nossal Institute for Global Health
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC)
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI)
- World Health Organization
- Cancer Council
Hear from a student
The Master of Public Health (MPH) has equipped me with various skills, including public health research, report synthesis, bio-statistical analysis, policy development and advocacy. These skills will significantly contribute to my future career as a public health or program officer.
Souliyadeth Sonephet, Master of Public Health (Infectious Disease Epidemiology)