Working Title: Emerging Infections Student Worker
Job Class: Student Worker Para Professional Senior
Agency: Health Department
Job ID : 96521
Location : St. Paul
Telework Eligible : Yes
Full/Part Time : Part-Time
Regular/Temporary : Limited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 08/27/2026
Closing Date : Continuous until all positions are filled
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Health Department
Division/Unit : Health Protection / IDEPC/HIV,STI and Emerging Respiratory Disease Surveillance Section
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : No
Salary Range: $20.20 - $24.02 / hourly
Classified Status : Unclassified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 207 - American Federation of State, county, & Municipal Employees (AFSCME Technical, Council No.5)
Work Area : Department of Health
End Date : 08/31/2028
FLSA Status : Nonexempt
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : No
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is seeking multiple Student Workers to support the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) and the Long COVID surveillance projects within the IDEPC Division.
Emerging Infections Program (EIP) and Respiratory Disease Surveillance: The Student Worker will assist with surveillance activities for invasive bacterial infections and viral respiratory diseases (e.g., H5 influenza).Primary responsibilities include data collection through medical record review, data entry, and data management.
Long COVID Surveillance Project: The Student Worker will conduct structured interviews with Minnesota residents who have laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infections. This position will assist in assessing long-COVID symptoms and characterizing illness severity and duration through structured case interviews and data documentation.
This posting will be used to fill multiple vacancies as they become available through November 30, 2026. Candidates will remain under consideration throughout the duration of the posting period unless notified otherwise.
These positions are part-time and will work 20 hours per week. The specific hours and days of work are flexible within 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, around the student's class schedule. Limited evening and weekend work may also be required. Work may be conducted in-person in St. Paul, or as telework for applicants who reside in MN, IA, WI, ND, or SD based on the business needs of the unit and supervisor discretion. These temporary positions are expected to end by August 31, 2028, or until the selected candidate completes their educational program, whichever occurs sooner.
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure your resume/application and cover letter clearly describes your experience in the areas listed below and indicate the beginning and ending month and year for each job held, the college where you are currently enrolled, your intended major, and anticipated graduation date. Only applicants whose resumes and cover letters clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of the minimum qualifications will be considered for this position. Please attach your resume and cover letter in your application.
Completion of two years of post-secondary education in one of the following areas: epidemiology, public health, environmental health, or a related field.
Student Worker Eligibility: To be eligible for appointment as a Student Worker Paraprofessional Senior you must be enrolled in a post-secondary or graduate program or plan to enroll within three months. Students may be "off" for the summer or for one semester/quarter and remain employed as a student worker, but such absences cannot exceed one semester/quarter in a year. If you are enrolled at a credit-granting institution you must carry at least six semester/nine quarter credits. If enrolled at a non-credit granting institution or one that only offers one credit per class, you must be taking two or more classes per semester/quarter. Any lesser credit (class) load will be treated as a semester/quarter off. Graduate students must be enrolled in at least two courses or making progress on a dissertation. You will be asked to complete an Educational Verification form prior to appointment.
Preferred Qualifications
Currentlyaccepted orenrolledinadegree-seekinggraduateprogram(MPHorMS)inepidemiology,publichealth,environmentalhealth,orrelated publichealthfield with career goals in applied infectious disease epidemiology.
Ability to make a 1-2 year commitment.
Abilityto develop andmaintain effective interpersonal relationswith co-workers, supervisors,and health care professionals.
Abilitytocommunicateeffectively,orallyandin writing.
Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time and adapt to change.
Additional Requirements
This position requires successful completion of a background and reference check.
Please ensure your application/resume clearly indicate the college where you are currently enrolled as well as your intended major, starting year, and anticipated graduation date.
The successful candidate under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations must be able to accept work in the U.S. by the day employment begins. The agency is unable to offer H-1B sponsorship.
MDH does not participate in the federal E-Verify program and is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas, including F-1 STEM OPT extensions, and cannot complete Form I-9 or any other documentation requiring employer participation in E-Verify. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
