Student Jobs

DHS is located at 201 East Washington Ave. in the heart of downtown Madison, near the State Capitol, the Madison Metro route, and the Capitol City bike path. DHS is one of the largest and most diverse state agencies in Wisconsin, with an annual budget of roughly $11.5 billion and more than 6,100 employees. DHS oversees Medicaid, the single largest program in the state budget along with other health and social service programs, and is committed to protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin.

10-15 weekday hours per week. Work hours are available for day and evening shifts.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services invites students to apply for a position assisting enteric disease surveillance and outbreak investigations within the Bureau of Communicable Diseases (BCD). The Surveillance and Outbreak Support (SOS) Team is composed of students and professionals with interest in public health and infectious disease. SOS Team members gain unique and valuable experience working in a state health department, and many past members have been accepted into prestigious graduate and fellowship programs (e.g., CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Applied Epidemiology Fellowship) or full-time employment in public health or health care.

Team members are responsible for supporting the Enteric and Waterborne Diseases Unit in the investigation of foodborne and waterborne illnesses and outbreaks. Duties of SOS Team members include:

• Conducting phone interviews with patients diagnosed with enteric pathogens, including E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, and others,
• Entering pertinent disease and laboratory data into Microsoft Access databases and the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System,
• Calling laboratories and health care providers to collect missing information, and
• Working on outbreak investigations by conducting phone interviews with ill individuals, entering outbreak data, and assisting epidemiologists with statistical analyses.

A background in microbiology, medical sciences, or public health is preferred but not required. This position is ideal for students interested in pursuing a career in public health, one of the medical professions, or medical microbiology.

Ideal candidates can commit to working through the end of fall semester 2026.

To apply, please email a cover letter and résumé that includes relevant coursework to the Enteric and Waterborne Diseases Unit (DHSDPHEnterics@dhs.wisconsin.gov).