Ninth Annual Conference to Increase Diversity in Mathematical Modeling and Public Health

Hello, 

We are excited to announce the Ninth Annual Conference to Increase Diversity in Mathematical Modeling and Public Health! This conference is hosted by the MIDAS Coordination Center in cooperation with the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics (CCDD) at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. 

This year’s conference will be held virtually on Friday, February 26 – Sunday February 28. Applications are due by February 19 at 11:59 pm. We encourage you to spread the word to your students! Detailed information about the conference has been included below. See the application link for full application requirements. 

This conference is for undergraduate students or students in a post baccalaureate program from underrepresented groups who have an interest in public health and mathematical modeling of infectious diseases. The conference will introduce students to modeling methods and familiarize students with modeling resources of the MIDAS Network. 

Infectious disease modeling is an exciting field whose practitioners study the mechanisms by which diseases spread, to predict future outbreaks, track current outbreaks, and evaluate methods to control an epidemic. Currently, MIDAS members are using infectious disease modeling in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including predicting the trajectory of the disease and communicating findings to policymakers and the public about optimal mitigation strategies. Hear from some of the top experts in the field and their experiences during the pandemic! 

This conference will include: 

  • Scientific talks from MIDAS researchers and graduate students who use infectious disease epidemiology and mathematical modeling to study infectious diseases; 
  • Hands-on sessions* where students will have the opportunity to practice the concepts and skills they are learning using MIDAS resources, and; 
  • Professional development and networking opportunities  
  • The opportunity to apply principles and approaches learned to address a given COVID-19-related topic area, centered on accounting for disparities in risk and access to care, through a team project proposal 

*Depending on your background, hands-on sessions will be in R, Excel, or SAS. 

For any questions about the conference, please don’t hesitate to contact Jess Salerno (jek118@pitt.edu). Thank you and we hope to see you soon!