Welcome to the September newsletter!

Please contact info@ammnet.org if you would like to contribute any items to next month’s newsletter!

Contents:

1. Special announcements
2. Jobs and grant opportunities 
3. Workshops and conferences 
4. Courses and learning opportunities
5. Subgroups, working groups, and regional activities
6. Seminar recap and recordings

---

1. Special announcements

AMMnet Monthly Seminar: Is there any integrity in routine data?
Join us for an exciting seminar with Samuel Oppong, Malaria Atlas Project.

• Date: October 3
• Time: 15:00 UTC
• Seminars include live translation to French.

Samuel Oppong is a PhD candidate at the Malaria Atlas Project based at the Telethon Kids Institute, Curtin University in Perth, Australia. Prior to this, he was the Malaria Data Advisor for USAID/PMI Ghana mission based at the National Malaria Elimination Programme, responsible for improving analytical capacity of the NMEP to enhance decision making. He also served as Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of the Ghana NMEP where he coordinated M&E activities in vector control interventions, routine data quality audits, and SMC. He has been involved in capacity building activities for national, regional, district and health facility staff on capturing, reporting, and analyzing malaria-related data from routine health information systems and other data sources. He also led capacity building programs for national, regional, and district staff to conduct data quality audits as well as onsite training, supportive supervision (OTSS) on malaria data management. Before he commenced his PhD, he led the team that conducted the stratification and subnational tailoring of intervention that informed the new National malaria elimination strategic plan (2024-2028). He also successfully coordinated the establishment of the national malaria data repository for Ghana. He has enormous experience working with several modelers and modeling groups.

AMMnet Special Event on November 16: Scientific Manuscript Writing Workshop
Hosted by Anna Bershteyn, PhD, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

• When: November 16, 2023, 13:00 UTC
• How: Register in advance for this Zoom webinar here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Congratulations to our most recent AMMnet Event Awardees!

• Harnessing Mathematical Modelling for the dynamics and control of malaria in Uganda: Beyond the Data and Tools, William Wasswa, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda

• Malaria Modeling Workshop in Nigeria, Progress Agboola, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (RSTMH), Nigeria

• Zambia National Malaria Resistance Coordination Workshop, Chisulo Mwale, University of Zambia, Zambia

• Training workshop on developing and use of basic mathematical models to predict drug and insecticide resistance as part of malaria control strategy in Kenya, Mayeku Philip Wafula, Kenya Institute of Primate Research, Kenya

• Malaria Modeling Research Symposium in Cameroon, Mohamed Isah, Health Organisation Welfare, Cameroon

AMMnet would like to encourage the growth of regional AMMnet chapters and is looking to support small regional in-person AMMnet events such as meetings, conferences, or workshops. AMMnet will fund up to 10 regional events annually, each with a budget range of $500 to $3,000. 

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and in English, French, or Portuguese. More information and application instructions are available here: English, French, Portuguese.

Save the Date! AMMnet Africa Meeting – Kigali, Rwanda April 18-19, 2024
AMMnet is organising an in-person event in Kigali, Rwanda. The event will include a mix of talks, discussions and training on various aspects of malaria modelling. 

Limited funding awards will be available for travelling and training. Additional information and registration form will follow.

Please consider that The Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM Conference) will happen in Kigali, Rwanda from 21st to 27th April, immediately after the AMMnet event, so you can attend both events saving travelling costs.

Invitation to AMMnet Pre-ASTMH Modelers Meeting October 17
You should have received an email from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Events Team inviting each member of the AMMnet community to attend the 2023 AMMnet Meeting on October 17, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. If you did not receive your invitation, please contact info@ammnet.org and we will ensure you get one.

Join the AMMnet Slack workspace
If you haven’t joined the AMMnet slack workspace, join here! Many announcements, including job opportunities and upcoming events, are posted first on the Slack. This is also a great place to connect directly with other modelers!

2. Jobs and grant opportunities

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome have launched a new request for proposals, “Strengthening Health and Disease Modelling for Public Health Decision Making in Africa.”
Local modeling expertise is critical to effective public health decision making, and the community of modelers across Africa is growing. With this in mind, the Gates Foundation and Wellcome recently co-hosted a workshop with over 100 African modelers and other stakeholders to discuss how to strengthen the public health modeling ecosystem on the continent. This request for proposals was shaped by the themes of those discussions.

We seek to support modelling projects that answer important public health questions, that are actionable enough to result in policies that improve people’s health, and that strengthen the African modelling ecosystem by developing new approaches and tools or connecting modelers and policymakers across countries and institutions.

The Gates Foundation and Wellcome are collaborating on the program, but individual grants will be funded either by the Gates Foundation or by Wellcome. Each organization’s thematic areas of focus, specific eligibility criteria, and budgetary limits differ, and applicants should consult the request for proposals and indicate to which organization they are making their proposal.

Applications are due by 11:30 AM. PST on October 23, 2023. Click this link for more detailed information.

We are eager to receive as many proposals as possible. Please forward the link to colleagues who may have interest in applying. If you were forwarded this message, please sign up on the Grand Challenges website to receive emails announcing the latest grant opportunities. We will be launching several additional requests for proposals in the next several weeks, in conjunction with the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting being held October 9-11 in Dakar, Senegal.

Thank you for your interest and your work.

The Global Partnerships & Grand Challenges team

Grand Challenges website: gcgh.grandchallenges.org

Stanford University is Seeking Multiple Postdoctoral Scholars to Join a Growing Team in Infectious Disease Policy Modeling
The Prevention Policy Modeling Lab is recruiting for one or more postdoctoral scholars to work on CDC-funded projects that conduct analyses and modeling relating to the health impact, costs, and cost-effectiveness of infectious disease prevention and treatment strategies. The Prevention Policy Modeling Lab (PPML) is led by Dr. Joshua Salomon, Professor of Health Policy, and is a multi-institution research consortium, led by Stanford University and in alliance with Boston Medical Center, Boston University, Harvard University, University of Michigan, Yale University, Brown University, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The aim of PPML’s work is to inform health policy and guide public health decision-making at local, state, national, and international levels. A major focus for PPML is on evaluating the infectious disease treatment and prevention programs in the United States through health and economic modeling. PPML is dedicated to creating models that improve public health decision-making in five key areas: HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and school/adolescent health. Recent work has expanded to projects focused on health equity, utilizing modeling to address social determinants of health and reduce racial/ethnic disparities.

PPML postdoctoral scholars will lead simulation modeling and decision analysis that informs guidelines, policies, and practices relating to infectious diseases. In addition, candidates will have the support to explore further research interests as new and exciting opportunities arise. Fellows will engage across partners in local and state health departments, the federal government, and academic institutions.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD in epidemiology, statistics, data science, decision science, operations research, applied mathematics, economics, health policy, computer science, or another related field; strong programming and data analytic skills; and excellent oral or written communication skills. Prior experience in developing and applying mathematical models in health or related fields; interest in public health and infectious disease are preferred.

Interested applicants should reach out to Teresa Puente, PPML Program Manager, tpuente@stanford.edu with the following:

• Detailed CV
• Cover letter, including description of research interests, background, and career goals
• Example research paper/writing sample (if applicable)
• Contact information for 2-3 references

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Postdoctoral Fellow Position Available in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHBSPH) are looking for one postdoctoral fellow to work on projects related to HIV transmission in populations of people who inject drugs (PWID). Application due date: October 31, 2023.

Despite the more than decades long downward trend in HIV incidence among people who inject drugs (PWID), there is cause for alarm due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the instability the response has caused, particularly among vulnerable populations. COVID-19 disrupted access to the very interventions that led to declining HIV incidence among PWID, including harm reduction services and antiretroviral therapy (ART). At the same time, changing patterns of substance use and the use of emerging substances have caused considerable morbidity and mortality among PWID populations. This project will integrate detailed data on mobility, social networks, disruptions due to COVID-19 (social, behavioral, and access to healthcare) and laboratory data to examine the geographic distribution of risk behaviors related to HIV, hepatitis C and overdose. The project is a part of the AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience (ALIVE) study, the longest running cohort of PWID (since 1988) based in Baltimore City, Maryland. More information on ALIVE can be found here: (https://www.jhsph.edu/research/affiliated-programs/aids-linked-to-the-intravenous-experience/).

The ideal applicant will have both quantitative experience in epidemiology, biostatistics, and/or ecology and an interest in public health research related to the intersection of substance use and infectious diseases. Interest in HIV/hepatitis C is required. Prior experience working with longitudinal data, geospatial data and/or social network analysis is necessary. The applicant will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of data types including epidemiological, network and behavioral data sets related to HIV and opioid use disorder. Applicants with, or nearing completion of, a doctoral degree in epidemiology, ecology, biostatistics, or a related field will be considered. Those with experience in HIV-related research or with PWID populations will be given priority.

The successful applicant will work with Drs. Becky Genberg and Amy Wesolowski and colleagues primarily on a project funded by the National Institutes of Health. The successful applicant will be joining two highly collaborative groups including the ID Dynamics group (iddynamics.jhsph.edu) and the ALIVE study. The ID Dynamics group works on projects ranging from empirical data collection to theoretical modeling of disease dynamics, and there will be ample opportunities to work on cross-cutting projects focused on issues in infectious disease transmission and control. This applicant will also work with the ALIVE study team based out of JHBSPH. This interdisciplinary team consists of epidemiologists, biostatisticians, behavioral scientists, and clinicians all working to better understand HIV transmission and epidemiology in these settings.

The position will be for 1-2 years, depending on applicant interest and career plans. 

Interested candidates should contact Drs. Becky Genberg and Dr. Amy Wesolowski, bgeberg@jhu.edu, with a CV, statement of interest, and a list of 3 references. 

Application will be considered on a rolling basis and should be submitted by October 31, 2023. 

Senior Program Officer position on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Malaria Program Strategy Team, working on Malaria Delivery Quality, Data, and Platforms
The role will focus on three main areas – all in support of malaria eradication strategy.

1. Advancing the use of digital platforms and technologies for improving delivery effectiveness (e.g., digitally validating bed net distribution)
2. Improving the quality and timeliness of malaria case data (e.g., via adoption of techniques like digitization of diagnostic results) 
3. Advancing the use of mathematical modeling for better decision making (both epidemiological and economic) in malaria endemic countries

BMGF are aiming to hire someone with deep interest and background in technology, professional and lived experience in LMIC settings, a track record in the use of platform approach and systems thinking in driving digital transformations at scale, a strategic and analytical mindset to help advance the use of data and modeling for better decision making. 

More details are available here.

Senior Malaria Researcher role at GiveWell
GiveWell’s first Senior Malaria Researcher will be responsible for strengthening the quality of the research and cost-effectiveness modeling guiding GiveWell’s large portfolio of investments in malaria interventions.

In 2022, GiveWell recommended around $150M in investments aimed at preventing deaths from malaria, including funding for distribution of insecticide treated nets, seasonal and perennial chemoprevention, and malaria vaccines. In the coming years, we expect our recommended giving to continue to grow in dollar amounts and supported interventions.

GiveWell’s funding decisions are made by a small team of generalists. As the malaria subject-matter expert within this small team, you will be a significant contributor to our decisions about how hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent with the goal of saving and improving the lives of people living in the lowest-income communities in the world. We expect you to help address holistic questions about GiveWell’s portfolio of investments overall as well as more detailed questions about specific giving opportunities.

Navigate to the link here to find out more information about GiveWell and the role.

PhD Studentship at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: Mathematical Modelling to Inform Malaria Control
Fully funded, 4 year full-time PhD studentship based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

NOW OPEN to applications (commencing January 2024)

Malaria kills over 600,000 people – mostly children – every year. Several new tools, including the use of Wolbachia, are under development for the control of mosquito vectors of malaria. Mathematical models developed within this PhD will inform the feasibility of control achieved through strategic implementation of novel interventions.

Candidate requirements

• MSc degree
• Biological or mathematical degree
• Demonstrable ability in mathematical modelling
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work at least 2 days a week on campus

University fees (whether UK or international) are covered. 

Starting stipend of £20,140 per annum.

How to apply

• 1-page CV including names of 2 references
• 1-page description of proposed project sent to Laith.Yakob@LSHTM.ac.uk by 16th October 2023

Shortlisting notification by end of October 2023

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships at York University, Toronto, Canada: Three open Postdoctoral Research Fellowship positions that can begin as early as June 1, 2023 
Looking for applicants with strong research skills and experience in one of the three thematic areas: 

• Artificial Intelligence for Infectious Disease Prediction, Geospatial Analysis and Risk map assessment, GIS AI
• The STI impacts of one-health mathematical modelling approach to Mpox and (re)emerging zoonotic threats
• Clinical public health infectious epidemiology and modelling

This research is chaired by Woldegebriel Assefa Woldegerima and is sponsored by a research grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). The successful candidates will have the opportunity to be co-supervised by Sarah Flicker, Ali Asgary, Jianhong Wu, Jude Kong, James Orbinski and Nicola Bragazzi.

For more information and to apply, visit the link here. 

UCLA Postdoctoral Fellowship Position Available
We invite applications for a 3-year postdoctoral research fellowship in Professor Blower’s research group in the Biomedical Modeling Center at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 

Applicants must have a doctorate in spatial statistics, health geographics, theoretical ecology, operations research, geospatial modeling or a closely related field. We welcome applications from individuals who have worked on diseases that have important geospatial components: e.g., influenza, malaria, Ebola, Tuberculosis and cholera. Previous experience in modeling HIV is not necessary.

We are looking for an individual who is interested in working with a team of researchers at UCLA, Columbia University, and Partners in Health in Malawi (Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo) on an NIH-funded grant focused on using data-intensive geospatial and geostatistical models to design optimal strategies that will ensure equity in access to HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. Equitable strategies will be based on gender, wealth, and the urban-rural divide. The successful applicant will focus on geostatistical analysis, geospatial modeling, and spatial optimization, of spatially-explicit treatment data, population-level georeferenced linked HIV-testing and behavioral data, and mobility/migration/travel data. The projects will involve travel to Malawi; two, two-week trips a year. The rest of the time the fellow will be based at UCLA, Los Angeles, US. The successful applicant will have excellent programming, verbal, and writing skills.

To apply for this position please contact Professor Sally Blower at sally.blower@gmail.com. Applicants should send a cover letter, a detailed CV, a brief statement of research interests, and the names (and email addresses) of three references. The cover letter should also include the possible starting date. Review of applications will start immediately and will continue until the post has been filled.

Research Faculty, Postdoc, and PhD Student Positions in Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases Available at Notre Dame
Drs. Alex Perkins and Sean Moore at the University of Notre Dame invite applications for multiple positions at the level of Research Assistant Professor, Postdoctoral Researcher, or PhD Student, depending on qualifications. Positions are available to contribute to any of several active projects, which are listed below. These projects involve a variety of modeling approaches, which are developed to suit each project’s unique objectives.

1. NIGMS MIRA R35 titled “Model-based inference and forecasting of co-circulating pathogen dynamics” – https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10680573
2. NSF IHBEM titled “Three-way coupling of water, behavior, and disease in the dynamics of mosquito-borne disease systems” – https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2327814
3. Yellow fever burden estimation and vaccination impact projection through the Vaccine Impact Modelling Consortium – http://www.vaccineimpact.org
4. Chikungunya vaccine trial planning with Bavarian Nordic
5. NIAID R21 titled “Assessing the impact of COVID-19 interventions on human mobility and SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics in the United States” – https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10434915
6. Spatio-temporal modeling of pathogen occurrence and disease risk as part of the DoD-supported Remote Emerging Disease Intelligence Network (REDI-NET) – https://redi-net.nd.edu/

Successful applicants for postdoctoral positions should have a PhD in a quantitative field and an interest in infectious disease epidemiology, with prior experience in this area preferred but not required. Across these projects, there are a wide range of modeling and other techniques that could be relevant, so applicants with varied backgrounds are welcome to apply. Contracts will be offered on an annual basis but with the expectation of multiple years of support conditional on satisfactory progress. Salary for postdoctoral positions will be competitive and determined based on the qualifications of the applicant, and standard benefits at the University of Notre Dame will be provided. Start date is flexible, and applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Remote working arrangements can be explored.

Applications for PhD Student positions may apply through the Biological Sciences PhD Program by December 1, with information about the application process available here.

Individuals with an interest in one of these opportunities should submit the following to taperkins@nd.edu and smoore15@nd.edu: a cover letter describing the applicant’s research interests and background; a curriculum vitae; and contact information for 3 references. More information about the Perkins Lab can be found here.

Regional AMMnet Event Grant
AMMnet would like to encourage the growth of regional AMMnet chapters and is looking to support small regional in-person AMMnet events such as meetings, conferences, or workshops. AMMnet will fund up to 10 regional events annually, each with a budget range of $500 to $3,000. 

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and in English, French, or Portuguese. More information and application instructions are available here: English, French, Portuguese.

3. Workshops, webinars and conferences

MIDAS Webinar Series: Structural identifiability of compartmental epidemic models: the what, the why and the what next?

Sep 29, 2023 1:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time

Speaker: Emmanuelle A. Dankwa, DPhil is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her research is in tuberculosis transmission dynamics and best practices for proper inference with epidemic models. She also teaches on the Harvard/University of Global Health Equity Mathematical Modeling for Infectious Disease Planning course, a training course aimed at supporting capacity in infectious disease modeling among public health practitioners in Africa. Emmanuelle earned her DPhil in Statistical Science from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

Abstract: In this talk, Dr. Dankwa will first introduce the concept of identifiability, both structural and practical, in the context of deterministic, compartmental epidemic models. This introduction will answer the important question: “Why should I care about identifiability”? Then, she will discuss a study which explores the influence of the type(s) of data considered as model output(s) on the structural identifiability of typical epidemic models and their parameters. This discussion will 1) highlight some tools for testing structural identifiability of basic models, and 2) emphasize the careful consideration of data types as an integral part of the inference process.

Register for the seminar here.

2023 Future of Malaria Research Symposium – Friday 13 October 2023
A free hybrid symposium highlighting early career and emerging malaria researchers. Postdocs and students from the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute and the University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health’s Malaria Research Program are organizing the 9th Future of Malaria Research Symposium on Friday, October 13, at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. This complimentary, hybrid symposium provides a platform for early-career scientists to share their latest research. In-person and virtual participation from researchers at all levels is encouraged! Find out more information and register here.

Explore the crucial role of genomic data in tackling antimicrobial resistance | 2024 Scientific Conference
Registration for the 2024 conference focusing on Antimicrobial Resistance – Genomes, Big Data and Emerging Technologies (13-15 March 2024) opens soon!

Bringing together researchers, clinicians, computer scientists, and policymakers working in pathogen genomics, epidemiology, surveillance, and machine learning, to discuss the recent advances and current challenges shaping the field.

Discussion will cover a variety of topics, including:

• Genomic surveillance of priority pathogens
• Global public health pathogen genomics infrastructure
• Translation and implication of genomics for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) control
• Wastewater surveillance
• AI, machine learning, and big data tools
• Measuring the burden of AMR

Emphasis will be placed on demonstrating how findings from genomics studies can be implemented into clinical practice and policy, to control AMR.

This conference is an excellent platform to connect with experts, access exclusive talks, and present your own research on a global platform.

Navigate to the website here for more information and key dates. 

Save the date: 8th MIM Conference
The upcoming Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) conference will be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 21st – 27th April, 2024. We’ll keep you posted with more information as it is announced. 

4. Courses and Learning Opportunities

Applications for Clinic on Dynamical Approaches to Infectious Disease Data (DAIDD 2023) are now open
The International Clinics on Infectious Disease Dynamics and Data (ICI3D) Program invites applications to the twelfth annual Clinic on Dynamical Approaches to Infectious Disease Data (DAIDD). This 1-week intensive modeling clinic will provide an introduction to dynamical models used in the study of infectious disease dynamics. The Clinic will bring together postgraduate students and researchers from around the world, and instruction will focus on how the complex dynamics of pathogen transmission influence study design and data collection for addressing problems in infectious disease research.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 20 October 2023 at 23:59 SAST. 

A description of the application procedure, eligibility requirements, session times for different time zones, and all necessary forms are located online and can be accessed through the Clinic’s website here. 

5. Subgroups, working groups, and regional activities

AMMnet Francophone
AMMnet has a group dedicated to building a French speaking modeling community. Led by Dr. Abdourahamane Diallo and Carmène Ngadjeu, they meet monthly, facilitate discussions around malaria modeling learning, collaboration, and resources for francophone countries. The next meeting will be held September 29. If you’d like to participate in the francophone group and receive an invitation to meetings and webinars, please contact info@AMMnet.org.

Upcoming Regional Events

6. Seminar recap and recordings

Our September 5 AMMnet seminar featured presentations from two speakers: Carmène Sandra Ngadjeu and Getachew Teshome Tilahun. 
Carmène Sandra Ngadjeu described a project examining the relationship between house characteristics and vector abundance. After collecting data on house characteristics and indoor vector abundance in Yaoundé, Cameroon, they recorded higher densities of culicines mosquitoes in houses with holes in the walls or with eaves and lower densities in houses with screened windows and ITNs. In contrast, for anopheline mosquitoes, they found that the number of rooms and education level were inversely associated with indoor mosquito density. 

Getachew Teshome Tilahun described modeling work his group has undertaken to examine malaria transmission in Ethiopia, with a focus on climate-dependent vector dynamics. They used a system of ODEs to model malaria infections in humans and mosquitoes, with dependence on rainfall and temperature. Several scenarios with different combinations of interventions were compared in a cost-effectiveness analysis. In addition, they conducted a sensitivity analysis to identify parameters that could have the largest influence on transmission. 

You may find the recording and others on the AMMnet YouTube channel located on the website here. Watch past seminars, workshops, and special events. (Subject to speaker permission.)