Global Health Fellows Program II
Tuberculosis Modeling Intern
Infectious Diseases Division, Office of Health, Infectious Disease and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
Anticipated timeframe: February 2016 – August 2016: Compensated 6 month internship
Location: Washington, DC/Arlington, VA
INT-P5-004
The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency’s immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual working planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.
Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency’s ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.
BACKGROUND:
The Tuberculosis Modeling Intern (Intern) will serve with the Tuberculosis (TB) Team in the Infectious Disease (ID) Division of the Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition within the Bureau for Global Health. The TB Team at USAID has led United States Government (USG) efforts in the fight to prevent and treat TB, which kills about 1.4 million people annually. USAID programs focus on improving TB services in about 28 countries, saving lives and preventing the spread of TB and multidrug-resistant TB. The goal of USAID efforts is to contribute significantly to the reduction of TB transmission and deaths globally.
INTRODUCTION:
The Intern will assist the USAID TB Team to use mathematical and dynamic models to inform and improve USAID TB programs. S/he will review, analyze and compare various existing global models (“TIME”, Optima, etc.) and provide input to the TB Team on the interpretation and optimal use of such models. The Intern will use existing TB models, and develop new models to better guide and prioritize USAID-supported TB interventions for priority countries, and to better determine the impact of TB interventions on morbidity and mortality. The Intern will receive technical direction from the Senior TB Technical Advisor as his/her onsite manager.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Gaining experience in the field of modeling, policy and funding used within TB programs.
• Gaining a greater understanding of the practical use of mathematical and dynamic models and their practical application to inform TB program policy and implementation.
• Deepening skills in collaboration and coordination within a complex organizational and implementation structure.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Reviewing and analyzing existing global TB models used to inform policy and funding decisions highlighting similarities, differences and limitations to construct a mapping of modeling tools.
• Reviewing and improving upon USAID-supported TB models in response to updated and new information from country projects, and applying USAID-supported modeling to selected countries.
• Designing of new models to inform and evaluate USAID TB programming and interventions at country level, based on analysis of existing models and respective limitations. The Intern is expected to publish results of their work in a peer-reviewed journal or other equivalent publication.
• Exploring modeling techniques to determine impact, attribution or contribution from USG interventions and TB projects to global TB targets and strategies.
• Collaborating with, and contributing to additional USAID supported modeling efforts, through the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, TB MAC and others.
• Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on organizational and programming need and/or the Intern’s own interests.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Currently enrolled doctoral degree candidate in a program related to mathematical or dynamic modeling; or, completion of such within the past 12 months.
• Knowledge of infectious disease or TB modeling desirable.
• Demonstrated interest in translating modeling results to practical implementation and developing country situations.
• US citizenship or US permanent residency required.
COMPENSATION:
$2,026 bi-weekly (exempt, salaried position).
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