CSDE-news Bulletin

August 21, 2007

CSDE ANNOUNCEMENTS: CSDE Announces RA Training Course
CAMPUS SEMINARS & EVENTS OF INTEREST: UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine Announces Autumn 2007 Distinguished Faculty Lecture
CONFERENCES: Public Health Informatics Conference September 17 - 18 in Seattle
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: Training and Employment Opportunities; UT Austin Announces Two Positions in Sociology; Princeton Announces Job Opening in Demography and Public Affairs; NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Seeks Health Scientist Administrator; Project Officer Positions Available at National Children's Study Program Office; Cal State Long Beach Advertises Two Positions; Penn State Announces Demography Opening; Jorge Scientific Announces GIS Opening for MEASURE DHS
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST: NIH Symposium on System Dynamics Modeling for Population Health: Thursday August 30; NIH Announces Regional Consultation Meetings on Peer Review; PRB Releases 2007 World Population Data Sheet; PNAS Publishes Special Feature on "The Economics and Demography of Aging"

CSDE ANNOUNCEMENTS

CSDE Announces RA Training Course

The Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology ( http://csde.washington.edu) is offering its second annual RA training course the week before school starts (and the week after CSSS Math Camp). This course is designed to introduce graduate students to the skills they will need to work as Research Associates (RAs) on faculty research projects. The level is appropriate for incoming graduate students as well as those with limited research project experience.

Open to graduate students on a first come first serve basis with priority given to graduate students working with CSDE faculty affiliates or those studying, or planning to study, demography (broadly defined).

Topics covered:

How to get the most from CSDE computing resources

Endnote, literature searches, and abstracting articles

Data management

Programming principles

Managing your project and professor by a panel of experienced graduate student RAs

When:
Tuesday, September 18, 9am - 12pm, 1pm - 4pm
Wednesday, September 19, 9am - 12pm, 1pm - 4pm
Thursday, September 20, 9am - 12pm, 1pm - 4pm

Where:
Raitt Hall 221 and 223

Questions? Please send an email to csde_help@u.washington.edu.

To sign up, go to https://csde.washington.edu/training/register/index.php and enroll in "RA Training 2007"

CAMPUS SEMINARS & EVENTS OF INTEREST

UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine Announces Autumn 2007 Distinguished Faculty Lecture

All faculty, staff, and students are invited to save the date for the Autumn Quarter 2007 Distinguished Faculty Lecture.

Christopher J.L. Murray, MD, DPhil
"Evaluating the Performance of National Medical Care and Public Health Systems"
Institute Director, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
Professor of Global Health, School of Medicine and School of Public Health and Community Medicine

Thursday, October 4, 2007, 4:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Hogness Auditorium, A-420 Health Sciences Center.

A reception will immediately follow in the Health Sciences Lobby.

Sponsored by:
Office of the Dean, School of Public Health and Community Medicine
UW Medicine, School of Medicine, Office of Research and Graduate Education

For more information contact James Fesalbon at jfesal@u.washington.edu, 206-543-1144, or visit our website at http://sphcm.washington.edu/.

CONFERENCES

Public Health Informatics Conference September 17 - 18 in Seattle

The University of Washington's Center for Public Health Informatics is hosting a conference on "Creating a Global Partnership in Public Health Informatics" from September 17 to 18 at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center, Seattle, WA. For more information, see https://phi2007.cphi.washington.edu/.

TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Human Services Policy Center seeks RA for Early Care & Education Financial Modeling

The Human Services Policy Center (HSPC) at the Evans School is seeking a 20-hour-a-week graduate Research Assistant to work primarily on the Early Care & Education (ECE) financial modeling currently being conducted in two states to explore the costs of different levels of program quality for 0-5 age children. We also anticipate that this position will assist with HSPC's ongoing K-12 Education Finance policy modeling project, which explores the cost and equity of alternative approaches to improving student achievement in elementary, middle, and high schools.

Applications are due August 27

More information about the Human Services Policy Center can be found online at http://www.hspc.org/

UT Austin Announces Two Positions in Sociology

The University of Texas at Austin has posted two job openings in Sociology.

Immigration/Demography Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)

The Department of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin invites applications for an assistant professor position with a starting date of August 2008. We are looking for applicants who specialize in the demography of immigration in the United States, preferably from Latin America; other sub-specializations are open. Successful candidates must present evidence of teaching and research publication excellence or potential for the same. Duties to be performed will include undergraduate and graduate teaching, research publication, and service. The potential for securing external research funding will also be considered. Recruitment in this area is part of the University of Texas' long-term goal of enhancing the population sciences in collaboration with the Population Research Center.

Screening will begin September 15, 2007 and continue until the position is filled.
A Ph.D. in hand by the time of start date is required.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of application, a curriculum vita, a writing sample, evidence of teaching excellence, and three letters of reference to:

Search Committee Chair (Immigration Demography),
Department of Sociology,
1 University Station A1700,
University of Texas,
Austin, TX 78712.

The University of Texas is an AA/EEO employer. A background check will be conducted on the successful candidate. Position funding is pending budgetary approval.

Population Health Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)

The Department of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin invites applications for an assistant professor position with a starting date of August 2008. The specific title will be commensurate to qualifications and/or expertise. We are looking for applicants who specialize in population health and who can also teach statistics. Successful candidates must present evidence of teaching and research publication excellence or potential for the same. Duties to be performed will include undergraduate and graduate teaching, research publication, and service. The potential for securing external research funding will also be considered. Recruitment in this area is part of the University of Texas' long-term goal of enhancing the population sciences in collaboration with the Population Research Center.

Screening will begin September 15, 2007 and continue until the position is filled.
A Ph.D. in hand by the time of start date is required.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of application, a curriculum vita, a writing sample, evidence of teaching excellence, and three letters of reference to:

Search Committee Chair (Population Health),
Department of Sociology,
1 University Station A1700,
University of Texas,
Austin, TX 78712.

The University of Texas is an AA/EEO employer. A background check will be conducted on the successful candidate. Position funding is pending budgetary approval.

Princeton University is advertising for an Assistant Professor in Demography and Public Affairs

The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University invites applications for a tenure track assistant professor position in demography and public affairs, beginning fall 2008. The appointment may be made jointly with a social science department. Substantive and methodological specialization in demography is open, but candidates should have a strong research agenda, a commitment to graduate and undergraduate teaching, and well articulated interests in public policy; Ph.D. is required.

Candidates should submit a letter of interest, a curriculum vita, a 2-3 page statement summarizing research accomplishments and future plans, and three letters of reference.

Screening will begin on October 15, 2007 and continue until the position is filled.

Please send materials to:
Judith Tilton,
Office of Population Research,
Wallace Hall,
Princeton University,
Princeton, NJ 08544,

or email to tilton@princeton.edu

Princeton is an AA/EO employer and complies with applicable EEO and affirmative action regulations. For information about applying to Princeton and how to self identify, please link to http://www.princeton.edu/dof/about_us/dof_job_openings/.

NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Seeks Health Scientist Administrator

The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services, is seeking a dynamic individual to serve as a Health Scientist Administrator with a focus on research at the nexus of genetics/genomics and the behavioral/social/population sciences. This person will advise the OBSSR leadership on programmatic issues relating to interdisciplinary research and training in gene-environment-behavior interactions and health.

Additional information and application procedures can be found at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/. Click "search", then insert the vacancy announcement number OD-07-193845-DE in the 'key word search' box.

Applications must be received by MIDNIGHT on OCTOBER 12, 2007.

Questions concerning this vacancy should be addressed to Ms. Laurie Steinman at (301) 594-5335.

Project Officer Positions Available at National Children's Study Program Office

The National Children's Study is recruiting scientist project officers to help carry out scientific planning, implementation, analysis, and reporting on behalf of the Study. Duties will include management and oversight of Study Centers, synthesizing data, writing Study protocols, scientific supervision of Study research projects, and interpretation and reporting of Study results. These individuals will also serve as experts on specific aspects of the Study and lend scientific support to Study committees and working groups.

Additional information about these positions is available on the National Children's Study Web site and directions for applying will be available within a few weeks.

The California State University, Long Beach has announced two openings

Tenure Track Position in International Studies at the Assistant Professor level
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 25, 2008
RECRUITMENT NUMBER: 423

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D. in International Studies or Ph.D. in an appropriate, related discipline, including but not limited to Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, History, Geography, and Women’s Studies at time of appointment. Teaching experience or evidence of strong potential for effective teaching. Record of, or demonstrable potential for, successful research and publication. Ability to communicate effectively with an ethnically and culturally diverse campus community. Potential for effective participation in faculty governance.

POSITION OPEN UNTIL FILLED (or recruitment canceled): Review of applications to begin on October 1, 2007. The Program encourages applications from women and members of minority groups. Applications, required documentation, and/or requests for information should be addressed to:

Charles Noble, Director
International Studies Program
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840-4605
Email: posc@csulb.edu

In addition to meeting fully its obligations of nondiscrimination under federal and state law, CSULB is committed to creating a community in which a diverse population can learn, live, and work in an atmosphere of tolerance, civility, and respect for the rights and sensibilities of each individual, without regard to economic status, ethnic background, political views, or other personal characteristics or beliefs. An EO Employer

Associate or Assistant Professor in Latino Political Economy and Social Demography
CHICANO & LATINO STUDIES DEPARTMENT

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 25, 2008
RECRUITMENT NUMBER: 401

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D. or equivalent degree (by time of appointment) in sociology, political science, urban planning, public policy, economics, or other related field specializing in Latina/o political economy and social demography. Associate Professor candidates should have a record of teaching and publishing appropriate to the rank and experience or potential in securing external grants. Assistant Professor candidates should demonstrate potential for effective teaching at the college level, scholarship leading to publication, and service to the department, university and community. Candidates must have the ability to teach and communicate effectively in an ethnically diverse campus community.

POSITION OPEN UNTIL FILLED (or recruitment canceled): Review of applications begins 19 October 2007. Applications, required documentation, and/or requests for information should be addressed to:

Dr. Victor M. Rodriguez, Co-Chair, Search Committee
Chicano and Latino Studies Department, FO3-300
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840-1004
562-985-8560
vrodrig5@csulb.edu

In addition to meeting fully its obligations under federal and state law, CSULB is committed to creating a community in which a diverse population can learn, live, and work, in an atmosphere of tolerance, civility, and respect for the rights and sensibilities of each individual, without regard to economic status, ethnic background, political views, or other personal characteristics or beliefs. An EO Employer.

Penn State Announces Demography Opening

The Pennsylvania State University Department of Sociology, University Park campus, invites applications for a tenure-line appointment in demography (associate or professor) to begin in the August of 2008. All areas of research specialization are welcome. Candidates should have a strong academic reputation, well-developed teaching and mentoring skills, and a demonstrated record of securing external funding.

Information regarding the department can be found at http://www.sociology.psu.edu.

To apply, send a curriculum vita, the names of three references, and other supporting materials to:

Dr. Nancy Landale,
Chair, Demography Recruitment Committee,
Department of Sociology,
Box D-4, 211 Oswald Tower,
The Pennsylvania State University,
University Park, PA 16802-6207.

Applications received by October 7, 2007 will receive full consideration; however, all applications will be considered until the position is filled. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.

Jorge Scientific Announces GIS Opening for MEASURE DHS

Jorge Scientific Corporation has an immediate opening for a Geography Information Systems Specialist for the MEASURE DHS project. Since 1984, the MEASURE DHS (Demographic and Health Surveys) project has provided technical assistance in 80 countries, to implement more than 200 surveys, for advancing global understanding of health and population trends in developing countries. The strategic objective of MEASURE DHS is to improve and institutionalize the collection and use health and demographic of data by host countries for program monitoring and evaluation and for policy development decisions. MEASURE DHS has earned a worldwide reputation for collecting and disseminating accurate, nationally representative data on fertility, family planning, maternal and child health, as well as child survival, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and nutrition and other topics. The DHS approach to data collection emphasizes integration, coordination, cost-effectiveness, and capacity-building. For more information, please visit our website http://www.measuredhs.com. MEASURE DHS is funded by USAID with contributions from other donors.

Responsibilities:
The GIS specialist is expected to manage GPS data and geographic databases within the MEASURE DHS project. This includes:

Working with country managers, data processing department and in-country organizations in the collection and processing of the GPS data Developing processes for integrating the GPS data with other DHS survey data

Maintaining training materials in data collecting and processing of GPS data Conducting spatial analysis of DHS survey data using the GPS data

The GIS specialist will also be involved in developing and leading in-country GIS workshops for the use of DHS survey data and other health based data within developing countries.

There will also be a requirement to write reports, articles, proposals and produce maps for publications.

Qualifications:

MA, PhD or equivalent in geography (GIS), medical geography, public health, population, demography or related discipline

5 years experience in GIS related fields, desirably in the public health sector Experience working in developing countries

Demonstrated knowledge of ArcView 9.x

Ability to work effectively with developing country counterparts and host country institutions

Experience applying GIS to developing health and population data Excellent writing skills

Ability to collaborate and coordinate with US and international donor agencies

Demonstrated knowledge of SPSS, SAS or STATA

Ability to travel internationally 20-30%

Additional Qualifications:
Language skills (French, Spanish, or Arabic) highly desirable

Forward all applications to andrew.d.inglis@macrointernational.com

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

NIH Symposium on System Dynamics Modeling for Population Health: Thursday August 30

The August 30 NIH Symposia Series on Systems Science and Health will be on the topic of "System Dynamics Modeling for Population Health" and feature Jack Homer, Ph.D. (Homer Consulting) and George Richardson, Ph.D. (University at Albany - State University of New York).

Thursday, August 30, 2007
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Natcher Center, Bethesda, MD

Webcast at: http://videocast.nih.gov

Past symposia in the series include:

Systems Methodologies for Solving Real-World Problems: Applications in Public Health. John Sterman, Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Kenneth McLeroy, Ph.D. (Texas A&M University). March 22, 2007.

Network Analysis: Using Connections and Structures to Understand and Change Health Behaviors. Katherine Faust, Ph.D. (University of California, Irvine) and Thomas W. Valente, Ph.D. (University of Southern California). June 12, 2007.

Agent Based Modeling: Population Health From the Bottom Up. Joshua M. Epstien, Ph.D. (The Brookings Institution) Michael Macy, Ph.D. (Cornell University). July 13, 2007

Videocasts are archived at: http://videocast.nih.gov
Podcasts at: http://videocast.nih.gov/podcasting

NIH Announces Regional Consultation Meetings on Peer Review

NIH has formed the Peer Review Working Group of the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD), one of whose functions is to seek advice from the scientific community on all aspects of the peer review process. As one approach, the Working Group is hosting three 4-hour consultation meetings:

Chicago, September 12, 2007, at the Fairmont Princess;
New York City, October 8, 2007, at the Embassy Suites;
San Francisco, October 25, 2007, at the Renaissance Parc 55

Information on the peer review enhancement process is available at http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov/.
Consultation meeting agendas and registration is available at http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov/calendar.html.

In one segment of the meeting, participants will make brief presentations (less than 5 min each) offering specific strategies or tactics for enhancing NIH peer review and research support. In particular, we are seeking bold, unconventional approaches to perceived issues. Our goal is ambitious but important: craft a system with a minimum of bureaucratic burden that identifies and funds the best scientists to do the best science.

If you wish to make a presentation, please notify Drs. Vesna Kutlesic ( kutlesicv@od.nih.gov) and/or Lawrence Tabak ( tabakl@mail.nih.gov) by COB Friday, August 31, with a brief (250 words) summary of your idea. Depending on the response, it may be necessary for us to select a subset of speakers, attempting to avoid redundancy and remain within time constraints. We shall notify those who will be speaking, and will post all germane written statements on the website. Moreover, as shown on the agenda, most of the meeting will be devoted to open discussion, so there will be substantial opportunity for direct input at the meeting.

Those unable to attend can contribute written comments on the peer review process at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-074.html

Should you have questions, please contact Dr. Vesna Kutlesic at the NIH at 301-435-3670
(kutlesicv@od.nih.gov).

PRB Releases 2007 World Population Data Sheet

The Population Reference Bureau has released its 2007 World Population Dat Sheet, along with a policy brief entitled "Malnutrition is a Major Contributor to Child Deaths." These materials and the bulletin "World Population Highlights" are available at http://www.prb.org/Publications/Datasheets/2007/2007WorldPopulationDataSheet.aspx.

PNAS Publishes Special Feature on "The Economics and Demography of Aging"

The August 8 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences includes a special feature entitled "Economics of Health and Mortality Special Feature: The economics and demography of aging." The Table of Contents is available at http://www.pnas.org/content/vol104/issue33/#SPECIAL_FEATURE and the introduction to the special feature can be found at http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/extract/104/33/13217?etoc