ABPI Logo
  • Developing medicines
    • Responding to COVID-19
    • Clinical trials and research
    • Building a thriving environment for medicine discovery
    • UK-EU Future Relationship
    • Life Sciences Industrial Strategy
    • ABPI Medical Representatives Exam
  • Accessing medicines
    • How medicines are priced in the UK
    • Working with the NHS
    • Supply chain
    • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
    • Vaccines
    • What is the NICE Methods Review?
    • Rare diseases: Facing three challenges
  • Our ethics
    • ABPI Code of Practice
    • Disclosure UK
    • Appropriate prescribing
    • Patient & public involvement
  • Member representation
    • Events
    • Full membership
    • Working with our members​
    • ABPI Members List
    • Membership benefits
  • Who We Are
  • Media
  • Publications
  • Facts and Figures
  • Contact Us
MY ABPI LOGIN
 
  • The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Developing medicines
  • Academic collaboration, education & skills
  • Careers in the pharmaceutical industry
  • Case studies
  • Epidemiologist

Epidemiologist

I look at disease trends, identifying individuals who are at risk and analyse the impact of interventions such as drug and vaccination programmes.

Usha, Epidemiologist

​So, what do you do?

I look at disease trends, identifying individuals who are at risk and analyse the impact of interventions such as drug and vaccination programmes.

I think epidemiology is quite unique in that it covers most stages of R&D from the beginning – genetic epidemiology identifies potential new targets for drugs – to phase IV clinical trials looking at safety in medicines that have already been launched.

What does your typical day involve?

When I get in I check my emails.  I do a lot of work with the States and because of the time difference we mostly communicate via email.

At the moment I’m on a couple of project teams for clinical trials so I keep a check on their development.  I often have to write protocols for in house studies so I have to get things reviewed and write analysis plans for data analysis.  But it does vary every day, which is what attracted me to the job.

Because I liaise with people in other countries I do get to travel occasionally, I’ve only been here eight months and I’ve already been to several places.

Why did you decide on a career in the Pharmaceutical Industry?

I’ve only been working in the industry for eight months, before that I was working for the government in the Health Protection Agency (HPA) for eight years.  A lot of my work there focused on epidemiology and I really enjoyed that aspect to my role.  So I decided to move into the pharmaceutical industry so that I could focus more on epidemiology. I also wanted something that was faster paced and more challenging.

What qualifications and experience did you have when you entered the industry?

I studied A-levels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths, which I think is a good grounding for epidemiology as I’d say it’s 50:50 stats and biology.  At that point I hadn’t even heard of epidemiology but biochemistry seemed to cover most of the things I was interested in, so I studied for a degree in medical biochemistry, which has absolutely nothing to do with epidemiology but it gave me a good background of disease and disease mechanisms at a molecular level.

While I was doing my degree I decided I preferred the analytical and theoretical side to science rather than the lab side of things.

While I was working at the HPA I studied for a Masters in epidemiology.

Do you think additional qualifications or experience would be an advantage for someone entering the industry now? What might be valuable?

I did a straight 3 year degree course, looking back I probably would have benefited from doing a years industrial placement.  A PhD will allow you to enter the industry at a higher level and allow you to progress further.

What is it like socially where you work?

Everyone is really approachable and lovely, everyone is willing to help.  I’m a pretty sociable person, I like going out for a drink, to bars, to the theatre and shopping.

What possibilities are there for your career in the future?

My next step will probably be doing a PhD while I’m working to get a more senior role and have more responsibility.

What do you think are the most important skills for someone in your role to have?

Communication is really important in this job; you need to communicate with people at all different levels about all different topics. You need to be confident as you need to be able to present information. You need to be good at generating new ideas.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone seeking a career in the pharmaceutical industry?

Try to get pharmaceutical or relevant experience.  It’s a mixture of science and maths so be sure that you are interested in those areas.

Case studies

  • Analytical Chemist
  • Analytical Chemist (Discovery)
  • Animal Technologist
  • Apprentice - Higher Laboratory Scientist
  • Biologist (biomarkers)
  • Biologist (DPMK)
  • Biologist (imaging)
  • BioPharmaceutical Scientist
  • Biostatistics Manager
  • Business Engagement Director
  • Chemical Biologist
  • Chemical Engineer
  • Chemist (manufacturing)
  • Chemist (process)
  • Chemistry (discovery)
  • Chemistry Outsourcing Manager and Synthetic Chemist
  • Clinical Data Manager
  • Clinical Quality Assurance Advisor
  • Clinical Research Analyst
  • Clinical Research Associate
  • Clinical Research Manager
  • Clinical Research Project Manager
  • Clinical Safety Scientist
  • Clinical Safety Scientist 2
  • Clinical Scientist
  • Clinical trials supplies
  • Commercial Account Manager
  • Commercial Director
  • Compliance Director
  • Contract Manager
  • Data Sciences Manager
  • Director Medical Affairs
  • Drug Safety Associate – Video
  • Drug Safety Officer
  • Epidemiologist
  • Executive Sales Representative
  • Geneticist
  • Graduate Trainee Biologist
  • Graduate Trainee Chemist
  • Graduate Trainee In Vivo Scientist
  • Head of Drug Safety and Local Safety Officer
  • Head of Health Economics
  • Head of Market Access
  • Healthcare Manager
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Industrial Placement (Medicinal Chemist)
  • Industrial Placement (Medicinal Chemistry)
  • Industrial Placement (Regulatory Policy)
  • Industrial Placement Biologist
  • Industrial Placement Chemist
  • Industrial Placement Pharmacologist
  • Industrial Placement Pharmacologist - Respiratory
  • Industrial placement student – biologist
  • Industry Accountant
  • IT Project Manager
  • Laboratory Technician (biology)
  • Laboratory Technician (chemistry)
  • Lean Coach
  • Learning and Development Business Practice Lead
  • Legal Coordinator
  • Manufacturing Operative
  • Market Access Director
  • Mathematical Modeller
  • Medical department intern
  • Medical Director and Managing Director UK & Ireland
  • Medical Director UK and Ireland
  • Medical Director UK and Republic of Ireland
  • Medical Information Scientist
  • Medical Physicist
  • Medical Writer
  • Medical writer (freelance)
  • Medicinal Chemist
  • Medicinal Chemist – Video
  • Medicinal Chemistry Director
  • Occupational Health Manager
  • Patent Attorney
  • Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist
  • Pharmaceutical Technologist
  • Pharmacist (formulation)
  • Pharmacist (pre-registration)
  • Pharmacokineticist (DMPK) – Video
  • Pharmacologist
  • Pharmacovigilance Scientist
  • Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  • Product Manager
  • Production Coordinator
  • Project Manager / Director
  • Public Relations Executive
  • Public Relations Officer
  • Quality and Compliance Vice President
  • Regulatory Affairs and Qualified Person
  • Regulatory Affairs Associate
  • Regulatory Affairs Consultant (Freelance)
  • Regulatory Affairs Executive
  • Regulatory Associate
  • Research Project Leader
  • Research Scientist – Video
  • Sales Representative
  • Scientific Affairs Manager (Nutrition)
  • Senior statistician
  • Specialist Medical Representative
  • Statistician
  • Summer placement student
  • Synthetic Medicinal Chemist – Video
  • Toxicologist
  • Toxicologist (Contract Research)
  • Toxicology Study Director
  • Training Director
  • Training Instructor
  • UK and Ireland Medical Director
  • Veterinary Surgeon

ABPI

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales 
(registered number 09826787) and its registered office is at 7th Floor Southside,105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT.
Telephone +44 (0) 207 9303477

© ABPI 2021
  • Twitter Logo
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube Logo

Devolved Nations

  • Cymru Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • Scotland

Quick Links

  • ABPI Exam
  • Disclosure UK
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Careers
  • Schools
  • Acronym buster

Website Info

  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility
  • Cookie Policy

Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA)

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) was established by The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry to operate the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry independently of the ABPI. The PMCPA is a division of ABPI which is a company registered in England and Wales (registered number 09826787) with its registered office at 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT.

Office of Health Economics (OHE)

The Office of Health Economics (OHE) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (registered number 09848965) and its registered office is at 7th Floor Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT. OHE provides independent research, advisory and consultancy services on policy implications and economic issues within the pharmaceutical, health care and biotechnology sectors.