Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, is holding a one-week Mathematical Modelling and Programming course for disease modelling.
KEY DETAILS
• Course will be both on-site in Townsville and online
• Please send applications to tb-modelling@jcu.edu.au
• Applications close: 10th June 2021
• Event to be held online from 19th to 23rd July 2021
SUMMARY
The course is aimed at participants with a basic understanding of infectious disease modelling and some basic programming skills. What sets this course apart is that we use R, a freely available language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. We avoid programs that are developed for disease modelling -and therefore are constrained in their processes- and we avoid the use of commercial software. We will provide an introduction to R as part of this course, so it is not essential to be familiar with R, but some understanding of programming is required.
On completion, participants will be able to write and analyse the dynamics of a simple mathematical model and use it to consider cost and intervention scenarios. The student will also develop an introductory understanding of R programming.
We offer a limited number of fee-waiver scholarships to support course fees. These will be based on merit and need.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Mathematical modelling was used by policy-makers like never before during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to be used by governments to guide vaccination strategies, border closures, physical distancing measures and other policies. The need for people with cross-disciplinary skills is growing and this course aims to provide an introduction to the discipline which is hands-on and practical.
Mathematical modellers arrive at the discipline from STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), clinical and other backgrounds. Mathematical modelling is an interdisciplinary activity that benefits from the broad skills and experience base of its practitioners.
This modelling short course provides basic practical skills in coding in addition to understanding transmission dynamics which establish a foundation for further research or facilitate critical appraisal of mathematical modelling. A typical student will have studied the basics of infectious disease modelling and will have some preliminary (online or otherwise) training or aptitude in the R programming language.
The course will focus on COVID-19 but will help develop generic skills in infectious diseases modelling, provide a basic introduction to the R programming language and teach some of the tools of Bayesian inference, including Markov Chains and Monte Carlo.
TEACHERS
Your teachers come from diverse backgrounds including physicians, physicists, ecologists and health economists. The teachers of the course have developed the material over the last several years and provided short courses across Australia, in Thailand and at Oxford University.
Professor Emma McBryde: Infectious Diseases Physician, mathematical modeller
Dr Michael Meehan: Physicist, Infectious Diseases Modeller
A/Prof Roslyn Hickson: Science Leader for Emerging Infectious Diseases
Dr Anton Pak: Econometrician, health economist
Dr Jamie Caldwell: Infectious disease ecologist and mathematical modeller
Mr Samson Ogunlade and Mr Abdul Kuddus: PhD scholars, Disease Modellers
COURSE ATTENDANCE
Registration for the 5-day course is $880 which includes:
Course registration and materials
Lunch Monday to Friday, for those attending on-site in Townsville
Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a certificate of completion from the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine.
SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING
The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine is offering 10 scholarships for course fees for the short course, particularly aimed at students and self-employed wishing to attend the course in person. Funding will be provided to cover course registration fees only.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants should contact the course organisers to express interest in attending either online or remotely using email: tb-modelling@jcu.edu.au.
EOI deadline 10th June 2021
Payment deadline 30th June 2021
Those seeking a scholarship fee-waiver:
This offer is part of a competitive scheme run through the AITHM and students must provide a CV and a 200 words (max) cover letter outlining their reason for applying for funding and how the successful completion of this course will contribute to their current studies and future career aspirations.
Applications submitted to: tb-modelling@jcu.edu.au
Submission deadline: 10th June 2021