A. Epidemiologic Research Methods: Design and Conduct of Epidemiologic Studies:

• Conduct population-level/public health problem review, literature review of relevant scientific knowledge and develop synopses of public health review;

• Conceptualize surveillance/research strategies, surveillance data needed or Epidemiologic and related research questions and hypotheses;

• Design surveillance systems to assess population-level/public health problems;

• Evaluate surveillance systems and understand the limitations of surveillance data;

• Design an Epidemiologic study to address/investigate a public health problem or evaluate the impact/effectiveness of public health interventions;

• Understand the different basic types of study design, the advantages & limitations of each type;

• Develop a surveillance procedures manual, a research study protocol/proposal/research plan;

• Design a questionnaire or other data collection instrument to address a health problem;

• Creating a collaborative research team and preparing an application for research funding;

• Collect health data from appropriate sources (e.g., case interviews, medical records, vital statistics records, laboratory reports, or pathology reports);

• Create a database for a health data set;

• Use statistical software to analyze and characterize Epidemiologic data;

• Interpret surveillance data, including the ability to recognize the limitations of the data and potential sources of bias or confounding;

• Interpret Epidemiologic research data and findings from Epidemiologic studies, including the ability to recognize the limitations of the data and potential sources of bias or confounding;

• Prepare and Publish Public Health Reports and disseminate findings to program planning and intervention implementation partners and recommend control measures, prevention programs, or other public health interventions based on Epidemiologic findings;

• Develop manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals, assist with peer review of scientific manuscripts for publication and also review published literature and develop reviews of relevant applied Epidemiology research findings;

• Translate applied Epidemiologic research findings into applied public health intervention programs.

B. Ethics in Public Health Research and Practice:

• Understand the ethical implications of research study design and conduct;

• Understand the ethical implications of intervention program implementation;

• Assist in ethics review of research and public health practice protocols;

C. Communication, Peer Review, Publication and Dissemination of Applied Epidemiology Findings:

• Publish and disseminate findings to program policy/decision-makers, planning and intervention implementation partners, and recommend control measures, prevention programs, or other public health interventions based on research findings. This will be achieved through the following experiences:
  • Write a field investigation report.
  • Write a surveillance report.
  • Make an oral presentation using appropriate media.
  • Present data graphically and know how to use graphic software.
• Understand the basics of health-risk communication and be able to communicate Epidemiologic findings in a manner that is easily understood by lay audiences (i.e. including those with limited scientific background).
• Understand the basic process for preparing a manuscript for peer-review and publication by participating in the Editorial Board, Peer Review Panels and authorship of articles through the institute's official journal, the Journal of HIV/AIDS Surveillance & Epidemiology (jHASE). Specific fellows' training activities will include:
  • Reviewing published literature and develop manuscripts of summarized reviews of relevant applied Epidemiologic research findings;
  • Developing research manuscripts for peer review and publication in scientific journals;
  • Assisting with peer review of scientific manuscripts for publication;
  • Serving in the Editorial Board of jHASE;
• Depending on specific applied HIV Epidemiology training program, graduate-level (master's, pre-doctoral, and post-doctoral) fellows with at least 4-6 month-long placements may be required to complete one or more of the following capstone activities in partial fulfillment of  fellowship requirements (specific requirements vary by length and type of fellowship):
  • Develop and publish a Public Health Report;
  • Present a poster for peer-review at a national/regional meeting;
  • Prepare an Epidemiologic research manuscript for peer-review and publication in a scientific journal;
  • Prepare an HIV Epidemiology or interdisciplinary research grant proposal to initiate an essential real-life project in collaboration with a public health agency;

D. Translations of Epidemiologic/Scientific Findings into Public Health Policy & Practice:

• Public Health Practice:

  • Translate applied Epidemiologic research findings into applied public health intervention program implementation protocols.

  • Integrate measurement of measurable outcome evaluation end-points into implementation of intervention programs.

   

• Public Health Policy and Legal/Regulatory Issues:

  • Develop applied public health Epidemiology briefs based on methods, practice and research literature reviews and present recommendations based on scientific findings to policy/decision-makers for use in public health policy, and legislation/regulation development;