KEEP CALM AND EPI ON: Emotional Intelligence and Epidemiology

You’ve probably heard about emotional intelligence (EQ). Google tells us that EQ is,  “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically”. But what does that mean in the workplace, and how do we apply that to careers as epidemiologists? 

Take a look at a recent take on Emotional Intelligence from TheLadders.com, a high-end career development site. How do qualities exhibited by the high-EQ apply to our careers as epidemiologists? 

People with emotional intelligence…

1. Respond rather than react: So often we react and get defensive when faced with an emotionally charged situation or a difficult co-worker or client. In high-EQ people, once they get a handle on the root cause of a negative emotion (what’s pushing their buttons), they typically respond with a more patient, “keep calm” approach. They’ll process a situation about to go south, get perspective, listen with without judgment, and hold back from reacting head on. 
2. Show up with their real selves: A common tendency for people at work is to put on a mask that hides who they truly are when faced with difficult people or situations. An emotionally-intelligent worker or leader shows up with integrity and her best and most authentic self; she’ll face those difficult people and situations with unfettered, emotional honesty and transparency.
3. Think before they speak: There’s a nifty conversational technique called the “six second pause,” used by people with emotional intelligence to gather their thoughts before they speak. Why six seconds? The chemicals of emotion inside our brains and bodies usually last about six seconds. During a heated exchange, if we can pause for a short moment, the flood of chemicals being produced slows down. When you are frustrated or upset, before you say something harsh, this precious pause helps you to quickly assess the costs and benefits of your actions and make more careful choices.
4. Handle tough situations better: Take an unhappy customer or a disgruntled coworker, for example. A high level of EQ in a colleague or manager will show up by staying calm and positive during tough conversations; it also shows up with firmness and boundaries to set limits on people during spiraling disagreements and unhealthy conflict.
5. Practice self-control: Psychologist and best-selling author Daniel Goleman says this about people with self-control:”Reasonable people–the ones who maintain control over their emotions–are the people who can sustain safe, fair environments. In these settings, drama is very low and productivity is very high. Top performers flock to these organizations and are not apt to leave them”.Self-control is a learned skill to help you be more present, calmer, and focused during times of high stress. It’s a necessary emotional skill with long-term payoff.
6. Look at the whole picture: Because they operate with a high degree of self-awareness, they’re able to see both sides of an issue and tap into their feelings and those of others to choose a different, and better, outcome. Quoting Daniel Goleman again, he says this about self-awareness:“If you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.”

Originally published on Inc.com

2019 Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research, April 3-5, 2019

ACVR is a forum where infectious disease trainees can prepare for their careers in academia, government, and industry while getting exposure to leading subject matter experts in the field. The intimate venue allows for small group interactions with thought-leaders including this year’s keynote speakers: Robert Redfield, MD, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Anita K. M. Zaidi, MBBS, SM, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

ACVR provides many benefits to trainees and young investigators including:

•  Networking with a national audience including individuals from government, academia, and industry
•  Exposure to the latest advances in vaccinology with leading experts
•  Career Development Workshop
•  Meet-the-Experts session
• Discounted trainee registration rate!

This course is a great opportunity for your trainees to make connections and build a network of healthcare professionals from across the US to share vaccinology best practices. Learn more and register at HERE.

Discounted rates for trainees are available. Register by 2/19/19 and save $100 off registration rates.

Don’t hesitate to contact NFID at vaccine [at] nfid [dot] org if you need any additional information.

UChicago Urban Labs, Full-time positions

Summer Practicum: Data Research Assistant, due 3/1

UChicago Urban Labs

Who We Are:

By 2050, the global urban population will nearly double to 6.4 billion. This unprecedented growth in the global urban population creates incredible opportunities but also intensifies the most difficult problems cities face, such as concentrated poverty, crime, poor-quality schooling, and pollution. The University of Chicago founded Urban Labs to help address these challenges. Urban Labs is a set of highly synergistic labs focused on undertaking inquiry and having impact on five essential dimensions of urban life: crime, education, health, poverty, and energy and environment. Urban Labs partners with cities to identify and rigorously evaluate the policies and programs with the greatest potential to improve human lives at scale. Urban Labs’ evidence-based approach gives policymakers and practitioners the knowledge they need to effectively achieve the greatest social good per dollar spent.

In sum, UChicago Urban Labs:

• Identifies promising solutions to urban challenges

• Tests the most promising urban policies and programs

• Scales-up the most effective and cost-efficient policies and programs.

For more information about the UChicago Urban Labs, click HERE.

The Role:

The temporary Research Assistant summer internship is a great opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of policy research and to develop research skills. This position will be full-time for approximately 37.5 hours per week. Please note that our office is located in downtown Chicago at 33 N. LaSalle Street.

Responsibilities:

• Project Development

• Data entry, reviewing and cleaning

• Statistical analysis and modeling

• Literature reviews

• Writing, formatting, and editing reports and works for dissemination

• Administrative tasks

Competencies:

• Interest in and aptitude for developing advanced programming and analytic skills for working with administrative data required

• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to synthesize multiple sources required

• Strong initiative and a resourceful approach to problem-solving and learning are required

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team required

• Sound critical thinking skills required

• Strong attention to detail with superb organization skills required

• Superb analytic skills and attention to detail required

• Knowledge of the substantive policy area strongly preferred

Education:

• Significant progress towards a degree in a social science discipline such as economics, public policy, statistics etc., with a strong background in mathematics and statistics required.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Experience with at least one statistical package required, STATA, or R strongly preferred

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite required

To Apply:

please submit a resume and cover letter to specific Lab(s) of interest. Learn more about each Lab on our Urban Labs website.

• Crime Lab and Education Lab: JR03814

• Energy & Environment Lab: JR03922

• Health Lab: JR03997

• Poverty Lab: JR03993

Application Deadline: March 1, 2019

Apply by clicking HERE

*Note: Other opportunities can be found on this site.

RACPAC Lunch & Learn 2/12

Hear from a panel of Rollins professors about opportunities for practicum and thesis in cancer control and prevention on Tuesday, February 12.

Servant Leadership Summer Internships 2019, due 2/28

Are you looking to make a difference this summer?
Do you want to address new challenges and develop new skills?

Do you desire to expand your horizons?
and
Do you want to accomplish these while getting paid?

If so, then you should apply to become part of Servant Leadership Summer.

Applications Due February 28, 2019 by 4:00 p.m.
Apply Today https://form.jotform.com/krjohn9/2019-servant-leadership-summer-inte

The Ethics and Servant Leadership Program of the Center for Ethics is now accepting applications for the 2019 Servant Leader Summer Internship Program.

What:

·  Up to thirty funded summer internships for the summer. Program runs from May 20-July 31.

·  Interns work a minimum of 270 hours during the internship period.

·  Interns attend class from 9:00-1:00 on Fridays.

·  Interns receive a stipend of between $2000 and $4000.

Who: All full-time Emory University students (including students at Oxford College) are eligible for the program. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are encouraged to apply (including students graduating in May 2019).

Several internships are designed expressly for graduate and professional students.

Where: Atlanta-area nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and socially responsible businesses.

More information and applications available on-line at: https://form.jotform.com/krjohn9/2019-servant-leadership-summer-inte

or contact Ms. Kristina Johnson krjohn9 [at] emory [dot] edu

What they are saying about the Servant Leader Summer Internship Program:

• It was definitely an awesome experience that I still regard with fondness. LJ
• This is awesome! EASL is such a great program! The best program I have been a part of at Emory. LH
• ˆIt played a huge part in my Emory experience and I hope that the program continues to grow and influence the lives of others. MF
• The best thing I ever did at Emory. SZ
• [In the program] I learned about work ethics (including my own), how to handle tough situations, work-life balance, and more importantly, I learned to be a leader–a servant-leader. It was a challenging placement, but rewarding and valuable to my personal growth. RE

Call for abstracts: Community Engagement Research Forum, 4/26

Submit an abstract for the Georgia Clinical And Translational Science Alliance (GACTSA). The Forum will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2019. Additional information can be found in the flier above.

Epidemiology Mock Interviews-2nd Years, 2/28

Second-year Epidemiology students, register for the Epidemiology Mock Interview Night to practice interviewing with public health professionals on 2/28.