SACEMA Course: Applications Closed
Clinic on Meaningful Modelling of Epidemiological Data: 17 – 29 June
Applications close 10 April 2024
The International Clinics on Infectious Disease Dynamics and Data (ICI3D) Program invites applications to the 13th Clinic on Meaningful Modeling of Epidemiological Data (MMED). The 2-week clinic focuses on data‐driven, dynamical models of disease spread and applying those models to answer public health questions. We use seminars, practical tutorials, and individual mentoring sessions to prepare participants to complete a team-based infectious disease modeling project.
We encourage applications from students, researchers, and other professionals with a demonstrated interest in infectious disease surveillance, research, or control. Our activities are designed to bring together people from different backgrounds and fuse their unique insights into a better view of the whole challenge of public health. We require participants to have some shared mathematical and computational foundation, but they only need more advanced experience in one of quantitative methods, computation, data management and collection, epidemiology, medicine, or ecology. Using this blend of backgrounds, we build teams for our capstone infectious disease modeling projects using real data to meaningfully address practical questions. While we provide projects, we also encourage participants to bring data sets and questions to the Clinic, and undertake these projects with their teams.
In terms of structured topics, we cover a variety of statistical and dynamical modeling paradigms, which are then reinforced via practical exercises including substantial computation assignments. Participants will gain experience using tools such as R, R Studio, git, and GitHub for collaborative projects. Additional information about topics covered can be found in the schedule from the most recent MMED clinic (available at http://www.ici3d.org/MMED/schedule/2023/).
During the first week, all participants will present posters on previous or ongoing research that is related to the Clinic’s themes, prepared in advance of the Clinic. Feedback on these will help teams prepare for the closing project presentations, and required post-Clinic project reports.
Participants are welcome to further develop these reports into traditional academic publications, and faculty will support any teams that elect to pursue that option.
The course registration fee is ZAR 35,000. The registration fee includes room and board for the duration of the Clinic, as well as course activities and materials. A small number of full and partial scholarships are available. Participants are responsible for covering their own travel expenses (and visa fees, where applicable).
The application process for the Clinic is highly competitive, but we prioritize applicants that both have a lot to gain from the Clinic and a lot to offer other participants. The deadline for receipt of applications is 10 April 2024. We do not consider late or incomplete applications. A description of the application procedure, eligibility requirements, and all necessary forms are located online and can be accessed through the Program’s website: http://www.ici3d.org/mmed
