Author Archives: Erica Schipper

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Infectious Disease Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

Category : Alumni

The Postdoctoral Fellow will work as part of a multidisciplinary team engaged in HIV and other infectious disease research. The Fellow will help with conducting epidemiological studies of HIV and other infectious/chronic diseases among marginalized populations and use these data to inform the development of primary and secondary HIV prevention interventions and/or further longitudinal epidemiological investigations. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be eligible for up to 2 years of salary support, with the potential for an additional year (up to $120,000/year). Ideal applicants are those who have successfully completed their doctoral training and plan to transition to a full-time academic position (Assistant Professor) after the Fellowship period.

The Fellow will hold an appointment at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, and UCLA Center for LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Research & Health. The PI, Dr. Matthew Mimiaga, is Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Epidemiology; Director of the UCLA Center for LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Research & Health; and has a strong and successful history of mentoring early career investigators in achieving research independence and attaining faculty positions at top-ranked R1 research universities. The Fellow will be based in Los Angeles working closely with UCLA investigators and research staff, as well as funding agencies and research collaborators across the US to direct research projects, analyze quantitative data, prepare research results for scientific manuscripts and annual reports to granting agencies, and assist in publishing findings.

The successful candidate will be mentored in writing and submitting an NIH grant as PI and writing first and co‐ authored publications throughout the duration of the Fellowship. The primary focus of this Fellowship is to enhance the research capacity of the UCLA Center for LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Research & Health by fostering existing research collaborations and leading the development of new research grants and protocols.

Required:

  • Applicants must hold an ScD, PhD (or MD) in epidemiology or behavioral science aspects of public health (or equivalent degree in a related field).

  • Demonstrated academic background in HIV/other infectious disease research and/or work experience with sexual and gender minority populations or other groups disproportionately at risk of HIV.

  • Prior experience working on federally funded (e.g., NIH) research.

  • Advanced training in quantitative methods, data analysis and statistics (longitudinal modeling), and

    statistical programming (e.g., SAS, R, SPSS).

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

  • Ability to work harmoniously with diverse individuals, including sexual and gender minorities, racial and

    ethnic minorities, and individuals living with HIV.

  • Have no more than two years of postdoctoral experience.

    Preferred:

    • Experience leading or assisting in the writing of successful NIH‐funded research grants.

    • Demonstrated potential for achieving research independence by procuring future NIH funding.

    • A history of published research in the area of HIV prevention and/or LGBTQ+ public health.

      Funding and Review of Applications:

    • The two-year fellowship (with the potential for an additional year) provides funding in the amount of up to $120,000/year, and fellows are eligible for UCLA’s generous benefits package.

    • Review of applications will commence on July 20, 2023 and all applicants will be considered until the position is filled.

      The most important selection criteria will be evidence of superior qualifications and productivity, demonstrated interest in research with sexual and gender minorities, and career goals that will clearly benefit from the fellowship training. Competitive applicants will have a record of outstanding achievements, be highly motivated, think independently, and work well as part of an integrated multidisciplinary research team.

      Please submit a cover letter detailing your interest and fit for the position, CV, and three academic references to Dr. Matthew Mimiaga: mmimiaga [at] ph [dot] ucla [dot] edu. We are committed to recruiting and training a community of diverse scholars from minoritized groups and fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually enriching environment.


Call for Abstract Submissions, Advancing the Science on Environment, Climate, and Cancer: Challenges and Future Research

Category : News/Events

Advancing the Science on Environment, Climate, and Cancer: Challenges and Future Research” is now accepting abstract submissions for the Early Career Satellite Session, co-organized by the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology Capacity Building and Education Committee and ISGlobal.

This satellite session will take place on October 27th (8 am-1 pm EST) and is free, virtual, and will spotlight early-career researchers in the fields of epidemiology, environment, climate, and cancer risk. This is an excellent opportunity for graduate students, postdocs, and other early-career scientists in any sector (industry, non-profit, government) to share their work in front of a diverse audience!

The deadline to submit an abstract is September 15th. We are hoping to accept 12-15 abstracts for virtual oral presentations. Please find the program scope and abstract details here. To submit an abstract, email your submission as a Word document or PDF attachment to Mar Ferrer (mar [dot] ferrer [at] isglobal [dot] org) with the subject “ECC Early Career Abstract” by September 15th.

If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Cassie Clark (cassie [dot] clark [at] yale [dot] edu) or Dr. Hari Iyer (hi97 [at] cinj [dot] rutgers [dot] edu). We look forward to receiving your submissions!


Research Assistant, Diet Study

A research assistant (RA) is needed to help with a randomized controlled feeding study to evaluate the effects of diet composition on weight loss and colon cancer prevention. Secondary objectives will compare the effects of two diets on appetite regulation, blood glucose control and on gastrointestinal emptying.  The RA will assist with participant recruitment and follow-up and will be involved in primary data collection activities at a research site located at Emory Hospital.  Hours are flexible. We encourage applicants who have a background in nutrition or other health-related fields and are available to work on the project for one year or longer. For more information please contact Dr. Terry Hartman (tjhartm [at] emory [dot] edu) or Coordinator, Ben Cousineau (benjamin [dot] cousineau [at] emory [dot] edu).


ORISE Fellowship, CDC Physical Activity and Health Branch

Category : Alumni

The Physical Activity and Health Branch is currently seeking applicants for an ORISE Fellow opportunity.  The deadline to apply is August 30.

This fellowship will provide training in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity’s (DNPAO) Priority Strategy in Physical Activity: Increasing Physical Activity Through Community Design (https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/community-strategies/activity-friendly-routes-to-everyday-destinations.html). This strategy is focused on equitably increasing physical activity through the implementation of policies and activities to connect pedestrian, bicycle, or transit transportation networks (called activity-friendly routes) to everyday destinations, while being a team participant with a diverse group of public health professionals, including epidemiologists, behavioral scientists, and evaluation specialists. The selected participant will gain experience in research, evaluation, evidence synthesis, and translation for policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies (e.g., active transportation plans, Complete Streets policies, comprehensive plans, demonstration projects, project funding criteria) related to equitably increasing physical activity through community design.

For more information and to apply, please click here


ISSS Pizza & Popsicles Speed Friending Event

Category : News/Events

ISSS (International Student & Scholar Services) invites international students, scholars, and their families to their summer social: ISSS Pizza & Popsicles Speed Friending Event. 

Come enjoy free pizza and popsicles while making new friends on July 31 from 4-6pm at Glenn Memorial Church – Emory University. 


Qual Works: Qualitative Research Workshops

Category : News/Events

QUAL-WORKS offers a series of training workshops on qualitative research. We offer three types of workshops: scheduled workshops, individual mentored sessions, and customized workshops. Scheduled workshops are held twice a year during summer. Mentored sessions provide individual mentoring with a QUAL-WORKS expert on your own research project. Customized workshops can be developed to meet the training needs of your organization. To learn more and register, please click here


6 Barbies for the Kid in Every Epidemiologist

Category : PROspective

The world has been going crazy this weekend with buzz about the new Barbie movie. You may have made plans to see the movie with your friends or family, weighed in on the Barbie/Oppenheimer debate (or participated in Barbenheimer?), or decided that it just isn’t for you. As epidemiology students, we understand the importance of raising awareness about public health work being done in the world, and in an exciting twist, Mattel has honored several women in public health with the creation of their own Barbie dolls. These women were all selected in 2021 as role models in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, and have been honored as real-life Barbies. While the original Barbie may not be the healthiest or most inclusive role model, these women’s work and impact is definitely something to celebrate.

1. Sarah Gilbert – Vaccinologist

As the Said Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford, Sarah Gilbert has been at the forefront of vaccine development for various emerging pathogens, including influenza, Nipah, MERS, Lassa, and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. However, her most groundbreaking work came in 2020 when she initiated the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine project. Collaborating with Oxford colleagues, she led the development of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine against COVID-19, which has since been used worldwide.

2. Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz – Physician, Professor, and Healthcare Advocate

Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz is not only an Internal Medicine physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine but also a dedicated wellness advocate and health/lifestyle blogger. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a crucial role as a frontline worker in both hospital and clinic settings. Dr. Cruz is known for her use of telehealth to expand access to essential health services, especially among the Asian American community, for which she has been an ardent voice and advocate.

3. Amy O’Sullivan, ER Nurse

Amy O’Sullivan is a proud ER nurse with nearly three decades of experience, 19 of which were spent at the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. Her dedication to patient care and the community was particularly evident during the early months of the pandemic when New York City was severely affected. In recognition of her essential work on the frontlines, Amy was featured on the cover of Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2020.

4. Dr. Chika Oriuwa – Psychiatry Resident and Mental Health Advocate

Dr. Chika Oriuwa, a Resident in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, is passionate about advocating for children’s mental health and addressing racial disparities in healthcare. As the only black person in her medical school class and the first black woman chosen as sole valedictorian, she actively promotes diversity in medicine and medical education reform. Dr. Oriuwa is not only a dedicated medical professional but also a spoken word poet, writer, and public speaker, using her platforms to raise awareness about mental health and combat misinformation.

5. Dr. Jaqueline Goes – Pathologist and COVID-19 Researcher

Dr. Jaqueline Goes is a Brazilian scientist, professor, and researcher with expertise in biotechnology and pathology. She gained widespread recognition for leading the genetic sequencing of the coronavirus in Brazil during the early stages of the pandemic. Being a young black woman from humble origins, Dr. Goes has remained dedicated to promoting trust in science, combating misinformation related to COVID-19, and encouraging vaccine uptake.

6. Dr. Kirby White, General Practitioner and PPE Advocate

Dr. Kirby White is a Specialist General Practitioner based in rural Australia. She co-founded “Gowns for Doctors,” an initiative that provided protective gowns to front line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her dedication to ensuring proper PPE supplies for healthcare professionals garnered her the title of 2021 Victorian Australian of the Year – Local Hero. Dr. White’s commitment to rural healthcare and her efforts in medical research have made her a vital figure in her local community.


As epidemiology students, we can draw inspiration from these real-life Barbies who have exemplified dedication, resilience, and innovation in their fields. Their work in vaccine development, healthcare advocacy, mental health, and public health education during the pandemic has had a profound impact on communities worldwide. You can learn more about each of these important women here.


TA Position Available, EPI/GH 515

Course meeting time: Thursday 10 – 11:20 am & Friday 1 – 2:20 pm

Dr. Scott McNabb is seeking two teaching assistants for his EPI/GH 515: Transforming Public Health Surveillance course this fall semester. For more information and to apply, please contact the instructor at scottjnmcnabb [at] emory [dot] edu . See course description below.

Public health surveillance (PHS) is critical to efficient and effective disease prevention and control. Public health professionals must have information about the parameters of disease occurrence to develop and maintain prevention and control programs. Transforming Public Health Surveillance (TPHS) provides a thorough review of PHS history, purposes, uses, elements, data sources, models, analyses, actions, preparation of reports, evaluation, and ethical and legal issues. Discussions embrace both infectious and non-communicable diseases. And it helps students recognize the importance of a direct association between PHS and public health action and to become familiar with the use of information, communication, and technologies (ICT). TPHS teaches concepts from both developed and developing countries and introduces lessons learned in international health crises to construct a framework to provide an efficient, effective, and equitable global prevention, detection, and response.


TA Positions Available, GH 500

Course sections: 3 in-person sections for Fall 2023 Wed 1–2:50 PM (2 sections) & Thu 1–2:50 PM (1 section)

Overview of TA roles and responsibilities:

  • Attend class session (mandatory), facilitate in-class discussions, grade assignments, respond to student queries, review and offer feedback on course materials, attend weekly team meetings, and provide Canvas support.

Qualifications:

  • Experience working in or studying global health issues (mandatory), strong writing and critical thinking capability, excellent
  • organization skills, and strong performance in GH500 or GH501. Expected time commitment: 10-15 hours weekly

Compensation: $15/hr

Please fill out this Google Form by July 31, 2023 at 5PM.

Send Questions to Drs. Ghada Farhat (ghada [dot] n [dot] farhat [at] emory [dot] edu) and/or Felipe Lobelo (rlobelo [at] emory [dot] edu)


Research Assistant, Environmental & Chronic Disease Epidemiology

Dr. Christine Ekenga is looking to hire a Research Assistant for projects at the intersection of environmental justice and chronic disease prevention and control. These projects capitalize on the resources of large public-use and private datasets that include risk-factor data on nearly 1,000,000 individuals. Other studies include community-engaged environmental epidemiology projects.

Tasks: Tasks will include analyzing a variety of research data using statistical methods, advising on study design, statistical interpretation, data management and analysis using Microsoft Excel, SAS, SPSS, or R. Students may also participate in patient enrollment and recruiting for clinical studies and assist with the development of presentations, abstracts, and peer-reviewed manuscripts and grants. 

Start date: September 2023

Hours per week: 10-15 hours/week

How to apply: Please send resume and cover letter by email to cekenga [at] emory [dot] edu. Position is open until filled.


Upcoming Events

  • The Summer Institute in Statistics and Modeling in Infectious Diseases (SISMID) July 15, 2024 – July 31, 2024 Conference / Symposium Event Type: Conference / SymposiumSeries: The Summer Institute in Statistics and Modeling in Infectious Diseases (SISMID)Speaker: Leaders in the FieldContact Name: Pia ValerianoContact Email: pvaleri@emory.eduLink: https://sph.emory.edu/SISMID/index.htmlThe Summer Institute in Statistics and Modeling in Infectious Diseases (SISMID) is designed to introduce infectious disease researchers to modern methods of statistical analysis and mathematical modeling.
  • The Second Annual RSPH Staff and Post-Doctoral Ice Cream Social August 14, 2024 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Networking and Special Event Event Type: Networking,Special EventContact Name: Staff CouncilContact Email: rsphstaffcouncil@emory.eduRoom Location: RRR_Terrace 2nd FloorRSPH staff and post-docs are invited to join us for ice cream and delightful conversation. This event is hosted by the RSPH Staff Council.
  • Tricks and Treats with the Council, hosted by the RSPH Staff Council October 31, 2024 at 10:00 am – 11:30 am Networking and Special Event Event Type: Networking,Special EventContact Name: Staff CouncilContact Email: rsphstaffcouncil@emory.eduRoom Location: CNR_8030 Lawrence P. &Ann Estes Klamon roomRSPH staff and post-docs are invited to join the RSPH Staff Council for a festive gathering featuring sweet treats and refreshments. Costumes are encouraged but not required.

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