Infectious Disease Dynamics

Projects

Emerging Diseases Dynamic modeling and real time analyses to respond to emerging disease threats.
Fluscape Characterizing the immune landscapes of human influenza in southern China.
Cross-Sectional Incidence Testing Developing and validating testing algorithms to generate point estimates of HIV and HCV incidence.
Impetus The Impetus study aims to develop and extend statistical and modeling methodologies for spatial data.
Measles & Rubella Dynamics Working towards control, elimination, and eradication of two of the world's most infectious diseases.
Healthcare Epidemiology We work closely with the Johns Hopkins Hospital and other organizations to understand and combat healthcare acquired infections.
Phylogenetic Study Design Developing methods to estimate informative sample sizes for phylogenetic studies.
COVID-19 Our multi-faceted project focuses on response to the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The areas of interest range from health intervention tracking to contact tracing app development.
Cholera Dynamics The Cholera Dynamics Project aims to study cholera transmission dynamics through mechanistic and statistical models using global incidence data.
HIV Dynamics We conduct highly interdisciplinary HIV research focused on the application of mechanistic models and molecular epidemiology to population-based cross-sectional and longitudinal survey data. Our efforts are largely concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Multiple postdoc positions available in infectious disease dynamics and implications for control via the Infectious Disease Dynamics Group at JHBSPH.

Fellowship #1: Mathematical modeling of within-host dynamics and evolution of HIV including novel treatments

The Hill research group at Johns Hopkins University invites applicants for a postdoctoral fellow to contribute to the group’s work developing mathematical models and computational tools to better understand, predict, and control infectious diseases. We are seeking a motivated and creative PhD-level scientist with experience applying mathematics to biological systems. The successful applicant will become a part of two highly-collaborative multi-PI groups at the university: the Institute for Computational Medicine (https://icm.jhu.edu/) and the Infectious Disease Dynamics Group (http://www.iddynamics.jhsph.edu/).

The position focuses on a series of related projects studying the within-host dynamics and evolution of HIV, and the impact of new investigational therapies. This includes developing models to a) predict the outcomes and risk of drug resistance under new long-acting antiretroviral therapies for HIV treatment and prevention, b) characterize the efficacy of investigational antibody-based therapeutics for HIV, c) understand the mechanisms maintaining the latent reservoir for HIV, and d) identify potentially-beneficial therapeutic cure strategies for HIV, such as immunotherapy. The work involves both deterministic and stochastic modeling, and working with a variety of data types and collaborators around the world. The successful candidate will also be welcome to pursue independent research topics of mutual interest. The work is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. More information about our current and previous research can be found at http://alsnhll.github.io/

The successful applicant should have a PhD in a quantitative field and some experience working on topics in biology, medicine, or public health. Example fields of training of former lab members include (but are not limited to) applied math, biophysics, epidemiology, systems biology, ecology/evolutionary biology, physics, and biomedical engineering. The ideal candidate would be able to follow projects through from conception to publication, be a strong writer, have experience presenting their work to scientific audiences from diverse fields, enjoy working collaborative, and be excited to mentor junior trainees. Programming skills (ideally in at least one of Python, R, or Matlab) are required.

The ideal start date of the position is as soon as possible, though start dates later in 2022 will also be considered. The duration of the position is also flexible based on the employee's performance and career goals, and can be renewed on an annual basis. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience; comprehensive benefits including health insurance are provided to all postdoctoral fellows. The position is flexible with regards to remote work (within the US) in the near term.

Interested candidates should submit the following (in pdf form) to Dr. Alison Hill alhill [at] jhmi.edu:

A cover letter describing the applicant's research interests, educational background and previous research experiences, and career goals

A CV, which includes a link to a Google Scholar profile

Contact information for 3 references (will only be contacted after initial meeting with applicant)

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and should be submitted as soon as possible.

Fellowship #2: Tracking emerging infectious diseases using serological cohorts: Advancing science and policy

The Department of Epidemiology is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to work on projects related to tracking emerging infectious diseases using serologic cohorts. The position is envisioned as a 2-year opportunity. The first year will be focused on launching a new study to understand the frequency and mechanisms of cross-species transmission of henipaviruses in Bangladesh. This project is in collaboration with the broader Bat One Health Research Consortium, a highly interdisciplinary, international network of researchers. The Fellow will help in developing and piloting field sampling and data collection protocols for monitoring spillover of bat-borne viruses into cohorts of domesticated animals and human populations living near bat roosts. The Fellow will spend time in Bangladesh with the field teams sampling bats and domesticated animals and will assist with setting up data reporting procedures and databases for samples and test results. In addition to field work, the applicant will have opportunities to analyze existing datasets related to bat ecology and serology and develop manuscripts from these analyses. In addition, during the first year, the successful applicant will spend a 3-month part-time practicum working at the interface with policy and emerging infections.

During the second year, the fellow will broaden their work to include analyses of data from other infectious disease serological studies ongoing in the department. Dr. Emily Gurley will be the primary supervisor for the Fellow and Dr. Andrew Azman will co-supervise and provide guidance on analysis of serological data.

The position will be primarily based in Baltimore but will require considerable time (20%) traveling to work with collaborators, primarily in Bangladesh. The minimum duration of the position is (1) year, but would ideally be extended based on suitability and interest of the candidate. Applicants must hold or be nearing completion of a doctoral degree in a field relevant to the position (e.g., ecology, epidemiology, public health, veterinary sciences). The ideal applicant will have quantitative skills in epidemiology or ecology, experience with serology assays and interpreting serological data, and experience with field-based projects, preferably in low-income settings. The first year of the position is funded by the “Research in Practice: Translating Infectious Disease Epidemiology (RIP-TIDE)” NIAID grant T32AI165369; therefore, applicants must be a US citizen or green card holder.

Interested candidates should send their application to Maya Demby (mdemby1 [at] jhu.edu) with a CV, cover letter, and a list of three (3) references. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis from August 15, 2022.

We study transmission dynamics using a combination of theoretical and empirical approaches to improve global health.

Projects

Latest @JHIDDynamics

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We study transmission dynamics using a combination of theoretical and empirical approaches to improve global health.

Projects

Latest @JHIDDynamics

Multiple postdoc positions available in infectious disease dynamics and implications for control via the Infectious Disease Dynamics Group at JHBSPH.