Course announcement: Epidemiology of food hygiene, Helsinki, Finland, 23 May 2016

On behalf of: Maria J Vilar,
Doctoral Program in Food Chain and Health

Venue: Seminar room 11-12, EE Building (2nd floor), Viikki Campus, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, Helsinki.

Course organizers: Dr Maria J. Vilar and Prof. Hannu Korkeala, Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki.

Description of the course content:
The course is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the basic concepts on the epidemiology of foodborne pathogens: Risk Analysis, Quantitative Risk Assessment, Outbreak studies. All the topics will consist in conceptual and practical aspects. The students will be expected to study some background scientific articles. Reading papers and practical guide will be provided before the course.

Course program and further information.

Course announcement: Genetic Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Livestock

Genetic Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Livestock
NOVA PhD course of 3 ECTS, organised by Dirk Jan de Koning, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
Preliminary dates and location: 7-11 June 2016 in Uppland, Sweden.

https://www.nmbu.no/en/students/nova/students/phd-courses/phd-2016/node/23527

Conference announcement: The first conference in aquatic animal epidemiology, Oslo, Norway, September 20th - 22nd, 2016

[On behalf of AquaEpi organisers]

Welcome to the first conference in aquatic animal epidemiology, Oslo, Norway, September 20th - 22nd, 2016
Link to course website

The conference aims to bring together leading scientists, researchers and research students from all parts of the world to exchange and share their experiences and research results about all aspects of Aquatic Animal Epidemiology. It will also provide a platform for discussion about how to meet the research needs of aquaculture industry and facilitate interaction with stakeholders, industry and regulatory agencies for fruitful collaborations.

The conference will provide in-depth coverage of current and future epidemiological tools and their practical implications to aquaculture. Topic-focused sessions will cover but not limit to:
·          optimizing use of epidemiology data
·         design and evaluation of risk factor studies
·         molecular epidemiology
·         spatial and temporal patterns in prevalence and risk mapping
·         diagnostic misclassification
·         design and evaluation of surveillance and control
·         risk analysis

First announcement of 2016 NOSOVE course - save the date

Interested in epidemiology, outbreaks, zoonoses, parasites?

Save the date

The next NOSOVE course will take place

18.-20. July 2016

(right before EMOP XII)

in Turku, Finland

The Nordic Society for Veterinary Epidemiology (NOSOVE) is an informal organization

with the vision of advancing veterinary epidemiology.

http://nosove.blogspot.fi/

https://www.facebook.com/TheNOSOVE/

Vacancy: Postdoc Research Associate/Research Assistant - Companion Animal Epidemiology

More information can be found here:
http://jobs.rvc.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=PPH-0194-14

Course announcement: 13th Crane Seminar: "Risk assessment in health and welfare – who, when, why, and how?"

(Forwarded from announcement by Stefan Gunnarsson and Jan Hultgren)

Seminar and postgraduate course (3 ECTS)
13th Crane Seminar:
Risk assessment in health and welfare – who, when, why, and how?
Skara, Sweden, 23–27 March 2015

Visit http://www.slu.se/craneseminar for further information.
Welcome to register at the latest 23 February 2015!

Best wishes,
Stefan Gunnarsson and Jan Hultgren

Vacancy: Top expert Microbiological Risk Assessment / Modelling, Bilthoven, Netherlands

RIVM

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) is the research institute of the government in the field of public health, nutrition, environment and safety. The RIVM conducts research, but also collects global knowledge and applies it.The institute annually publishes a large number of reports and advices. RIVM, based in Bilthoven, has approximately 1500 employees.

Within the RIVM, the domain Infectious Diseases & Vaccinology, better known as the Centre for Infectious Disease Control(CIb), focuses on the identification, control and prevention of infectious diseases for the benefit of public health in theNetherlands. This domain has 5 centres. Within one of these, the Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology (Z&O) is the vacant position of:

Top expert Microbiological Risk Assessment / Modelling

(m/f, 36 hours per week, vacancy: I&V-Z&O-003)

The job

The Top expert within the centre Z&O is directly placed under the head of the centre.

As a Top expert you have a knowledge-coordinating and knowledge-locking role for the three departments within the centre. You have a strong integrating role in cross-domain social issues and you will take the lead in acquisition initiatives. In addition, from your methodological background you guard the quality, integrate microbiological data (partly generated by new technologies) with quantitative risk assessment for answering infectious disease questions. To the outside world, you position your field of activity and research results in the scientific, governmental and social field.

More precisely the job includes the following activities:

·         (Co) drafting of the substantive vision and strategy of the Centre and the derived annual plan; 

·         Contributing to the actual implementation of the substantive plans and the project portfolio and to the innovation of the field and applied methodology in risk assessment / modelling, anticipating the trends relevant for the RIVM and the Centre;

·         Formulating relevant scientific topics in the area of ​​the Centre (zoonoses, microbiological food safety and environmental safety) in relation to the public health of infectious diseases. For this purpose, also guiding influence on official, political or social governors;

·         Participating in, maintaining and developing relevant networks and partnerships with the (inter)national scientific community, other relevant stakeholders within the substantive field of action, and the implementing bodies;

·         Guidance on the implementation of the recently formulated modelling strategy of the Centre in cooperation with the modellers, with a strong guiding role on broad cooperation and connection from the Centre to the outside world;

·         Acquiring research budgets for relatively large national and international research projects resulting from the vision and strategy;

·         Initiating (frontier) scientific research within the field and being actively involved in the SPR (Strategic Program RIVM) scientific research;

·         (Co) monitoring the intrinsic scientific quality and steering to groundbreaking lines of research within the field of risks assessment and modelling, including organizing meetings and encouraging interaction between modellers;

·         Steering to an integrated approach to issues/tasks in the Centre in cooperation with other parts of the RIVM;

·         Acting as interlocutor to the Chief Science Officers of the RIVM for the internal thinking on strategic knowledge priorities and assuring quality and for the connection of scientific issues;

·         Strategic and substantive represent and broad dissemination of research results in formal (inter)national consultation, the principals of policy and supervisory authority (including Ministery of Public Health and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety authority), in (inter)national bodies, academia, and social organizations;

·         regularly (co) publish in (high-quality) scientific journals and contribute to the delivery of comprehensive advice products;

·         Utilizing bioinformatics analysis for the field of public health and infectious diseases (molecular risk assessment) in consultation with researchers in this field at the RIVM;

·         From a modelling perspective play a leading role in the Centre for the spearheads ‘molecular epidemiology’ and ‘public health risks by antimicrobial resistance’.

                     

Knowledge, education, skills and view

You are an ambitious senior researcher with an academic background, PhD, with a solid methodological basis and preferably experience in the field of infectious diseases or microbiology (zoonoses, microbiological food safety or environmental safety)and public health. You have proven expertise in acquisition of (inter) national research projects with interdisciplinary specialists. You have practical knowledge and experience working in the triangle of knowledge/science, practice/implementation and policy/supervision. You have a thorough knowledge of and strategic vision in the field of microbiological risk assessment/modelling.

In addition:

•           You are a generalist with a broad orientation on the field and an overview of the usefulness and limitations of microbiological techniques, biostatistics, and modelling and are able to apply the right mixture of techniques for the issues of commissioning bodies.           

•           Through your research you have earned the confidence and the ambition and the talent to function (in time) at professor level.

•           You can act innovative, including through the introduction of new ideas and insights.

•              You are able to operate authoritative and convincing and are recognized (to become) an authority (figurehead).

•           You are internationally oriented and have a relevant (inter)national network.

•           You have experience in managing professionals, promoting cooperation and inspiring, motivating and connecting people and resources.

•                     You are stress resistant and able to work under pressure.

Job offer

We offer a full-time permanent position (possible trial period). The salary of the function group Senior Scientific researcher scale 15 is between €4768 (min) and €6726 (max), based on full-time employment (36 hours a week), excluding 8% holiday allowance. 

Other benefits

In addition to the salary and holiday allowance, you can expect a year-end bonus (thirteenth salary). The government is strongly committed to personal growth and career development and provides plenty of opportunities. The secondary benefits include up to 55% of paid parental leave (under conditions), study facilities, an additional leave for the elderly, a full commuter allowance (annual card second class public transport) and a pension scheme. With the government, you have a number of individual choices when composing your benefits package. We have flexible working conditions.

Information

For more information about the position, you can contact the Head of the Centre Z&O Dr. Y.T.H.P. van Duynhoven (+31 30-2743480). For questions about the procedure, you can contact Ms. J. Servais, HRM-advisor CIb, tel. +31 30-274 2120.

Apply

You can send your (digital) letter of application and resume, indicating vacancy number I&V-Z&O-003 at the latest on 9 October 2014 to vacature@rivm.nl.

An assessment or safety evaluation can be part of the procedure.

Vacancies: PhD scholarships at the Danish Technical University in epidemiology of vector borne diseases

Dear Colleagues

The Section for Epidemiology at the National Veterinary Institute at the Danish Technical University is announcing two PhD scholarships in epidemiology of vector borne diseases.

1)      One PhD scholarship in ‘Biological models of vector borne diseases’
2)      And one PhD scholarship in ‘Statistical models of vectors and vector borne diseases’

Application deadline 15th October. Only online applications are accepted.

Please follow link for details and application procedure:
http://www.vet.dtu.dk/english/About-the-institute/Vacant-positions

Post doc position in epidemiology in Oslo.

More information here.

OPEN POSITION: LECTURER/SENIOR LECTURER IN VETERINARY INFECTIOUS DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND ONE HEALTH

School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey

Location:	Guildford
Salary:	£37,756 to £55,375 plus 10% Veterinary Market Allowance if applicable
Post Type:	Full Time
Closing Date:	Monday 21 April 2014
Reference:	018114 https://jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=018114

The University of Surrey is an international University with a world-class research profile and an enterprising spirit. Inventive and forward-thinking, our heritage shows a recurring theme of doing things differently – and achieving notable results. We are expanding our activity under our One Health – One Medicine agenda, and we opened a new School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013.

The University of Surrey offers excellent facilities within which to advance your research and the opportunity to work with experts from world-class veterinary institutes and practices through our many collaborative partnerships. You will use your skills to further develop veterinary teaching and research within the new School of Veterinary Medicine, which is already supported by highly successful activity in the area of biosciences. This will allow you to directly contribute towards training the multidisciplinary veterinary leaders of the future.

Educated to PhD level and ideally with a veterinary qualification that enables you to be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS), you will have an enthusiasm for, and experience of advancing research within your field and of having made a recognised contribution to the field of veterinary sciences through professional activities. In this key role you will be expected to provide expert advice, guidance and input in the development and delivery of the veterinary curriculum.

This is an exciting opportunity for dynamic individuals to play a leading and important role in helping shape our new School of Veterinary Medicine. Informal enquiries can be made to Alex Cook, Head of the Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health via email at alasdair.j.cook@surrey.ac.uk

Our benefits package includes substantial holiday allowance, relocation assistance where appropriate, childcare and leisure facilities.

STATISTICAL PRACTICE IN EPIDEMIOLOGY USING R

Tartu, Estonia, Friday 30 May to Wednesday 4 June 2014

(See also the attached flyer)

The course is intended for epidemiologists and statisticians who wish to use R (www.r-project.org<http://www.r-project.org>) for statistical modelling and analysis of epidemiological data. The aim of the course is to give participants access to a set of tools in current use by statisticians in epidemiology. The course requires fairly good understanding of statistical principles and some familiarity with epidemiological concepts and study types.

The course will be mainly practically oriented with more than half the time at the computer.

Contents:
* History of R. Language. Objects. Functions.
* Interface to other data formats. Data frames.
* Tabulation of data.
* Logistic regression for case-control-studies.
* Poisson regression for follow-up studies.
* Causal inference.
* Parametrization of models.
* Graphics in R.
* Graphical reporting of results.
* Time-splitting &  Standardized Mortality Ratios.
* Survival analysis and competing risks.
* Multi-state models.
* Nested and matched case-control studies.
* Case-cohort studies.

Venue:
Department of Mathematical Statistics
University of Tartu
J. Liivi 2,
EE - 50409 Tartu
Estonia

Price: 550 EUR for academic participants, 800 EUR for non-academic participants
- Includes tuition, course material, lunches, coffee breaks and social events (welcome cocktail and course dinner).
- Excludes travels, accommodation, and other meals

The course is a self-supporting entity, and there are NO grants or stipends available for travel or participation.

Registration: Send an e-mail which briefly states your qualifications in epidemiology and statistics to the organizers
* Bendix Carstensen: BxC@steno.dk<mailto:BxC@steno.dk>
* Esa Läärä: Esa.Laara@oulu.fi<mailto:Esa.Laara@oulu.fi>
* Krista Fischer: Krista.Fischer@ut.ee<mailto:Krista.Fischer@ut.ee>

Deadline for application: 1st April 2014.
Further information to applicants will be given by e-mail shortly after the deadline.

Course homepage: http://BendixCarstensen.com/SPE

Invitation to expert elicitation on syndromic surveillance in May 2014, Havanna, Cuba

Dear colleague,

We are contacting you on the basis of your expertise in syndromic surveillance and/or animal disease classification methods.

The lack of standardized recording of animal health data, and the consequent difficulties in setting up harmonized syndromic classification, are challenges often raised when syndromic surveillance is under discussion. We are well aware that a range of classification nomenclatures around animal disease exist, but currently there is little incentive for their adoption, especially considering the labour that would be required to recode data from individual institutions’ vocabularies.

Considering these challenges, we are planning to address the problem by gathering a number of experts interested in exploring potential solutions, and supplementing previous efforts with tools from the fields of computer/information science dedicated to the creation of functional ontologies. For more background on these subjects, please refer to the Semantic Web (http://semanticweb.org/wiki/Ontology) and the Web Ontology Language (OWL) (http://www.w3.org/TR/owl-features/) websites. Additionally, we plan to use machine learning methods to develop tools that will make the proposed ontologies more readily applicable; that is, to provide tools for translation of animal health data into the developed standardized classification system.

The work would consist of a series of iterations between expert knowledge elicitation and the application of machine learning methods. Details are provided in the summary work plan attached. The first instance of expert elicitation is planned to take place in conjunction with the ICAHS2 conference in Havana, Cuba (7-9th, May 2014), as a half-day post-conference workshop (therefore taking place on May 10th, 2014).

If you are interested in this initiative, we kindly ask you to reply to this email (mail to: fernanda.dorea@sva.se) confirming your interest, so that we can keep you on our list of experts for any future activities linked to this project. If, additionally, you will be able to attend the first workshop immediately after the ICAHS2 conference in Havana, in May 2014, please confirm your participation also by replying to this email, and we will send you a confirmation of your workshop registration. Lastly, please feel free to forward this email to any colleagues whose participation in this initiative you judge to be relevant.
Thank you for your attention, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
Fernanda C. Dórea, National Veterinary Institute-Sweden
Céline Dupuy, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety-France
Ann Lindberg, National Veterinary Institute-Sweden
Crawford Revie, Canadian Veterinary Epidemiological Research-Canada
Flavie Vial, Veterinary Public Health Institute-Switzerland

Link to work plan

Master level course in Disease Control and Dynamics - in a One Health setting 2013 at University of Copenhagen

Dear colleagues,

we offer a course in Disease Control and Dynamics - in a One Health setting at master level at Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen starting August 19, 2013.

The course consists of three parts
Part 1 is a distance learning part that takes place between August 19th and 23rd. It mainly involves reading up on principles and concepts of diagnostic test evaluation and prevalence estimation and finalizes with an online test.

Part 2 takes place at Frederiksberg Campus, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences as a 5 day period from August 26th to 30th 2013. It is planned as a series of lectures with interspersed group and individual exercises and assignments. Relevant literature will be supplied or suggested before and during the course.

Part 3 is conducted electronically during a 5 week long period from September 2nd to October 10th 2013 as distance learning. Activities that will be assessed include weekly short assignments, participation in discussion forums and a final 24 hour examination. The time needed to participate in this part of the course is estimated at 2 hours per day, on average.

During the course we will be working with basic methods to map and investigate spatiotemporal patterns of disease and model dynamics of infections in human and animal populations.

Find a pdf-flyer with a full description of the course by clicking this link.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me:
Liza Rosenbaum Nielsen
Course coordinator
liza@sund.ku.dk