Epidemiologist

About the position

Our client, an award-winning global health research organisation based in Durban, is seeking to appoint an Epidemiologist to join its growing Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR) programme.


The organisation conducts internationally recognised research in infectious diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis (TB), outbreak preparedness, and public health responses. Its work contributes to advancing scientific knowledge, informing policy, and strengthening health systems both locally and globally.


This position is designed for a recently trained epidemiologist who is eager to build a research career in outbreak response and pandemic preparedness. The successful candidate will be embedded within an active PPPR research programme, working on the epidemiological dimensions of pandemic preparedness, including outbreak surveillance and tracking, public health response strategies, and research that supports evidence-based policy development. The role offers direct exposure to high-level international collaborations and policy engagement.


The successful incumbent will be based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
Minimum Requirements:

• Master's degree in Epidemiology.
• Demonstrable interest in infectious disease outbreaks and outbreak analytics.
• Proficiency or working knowledge of statistical software (R, STATA, or similar).
• At least 1 scientific publication stemming from an epidemiological study.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Personal Qualities and Competencies:

• Intellectual curiosity and eagerness to develop as an independent researcher.
• Organised with attention to detail and deadline-driven.
• Collaborative, with strong interpersonal skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Analyse infectious disease epidemiological and surveillance data.
• Prepare situational briefings and rapid analytic briefs on infectious disease outbreaks.
• Contribute to the epidemiological research activities of CAPRISA’s PPPR programme.
• Support the preparation of scientific manuscripts and funding applications.

Desired Skills:

• epidemiology scientist
• epidemiology research officer
• research epidemiologist
• public health researcher
• epidemiologist