CSDE-eNews Bulletin

June 9, 2009

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CSDE WEEKLY SEMINAR: CSDE Seminar Ended for the Summer
CSDE ANNOUNCEMENTS & SPOTLIGHTS: CSDE Receives Substantial Funding for 2009-10 from Student Tech Fee; CSDE Begins Podcast Interviews – Mark Long Discusses His Higher Education Research; Browsing Collection Now Available in the CSDE Library; Nice, Unsolicited Testimonial to the CSDE Computing Core; Travel Vaccinations Available from UW Hall Health
CSDE AFFILIATE & FELLOW NEWS: Tony Perez Accepts Faculty Position at UNC; James Gregory Interviewed in Real Change
CAMPUS SEMINARS & EVENTS OF INTEREST: Mark Anderson – Compulsory Schooling and Juvenile Crime; Dr. Paul Farmer – A Conversation with Dr. Paul Farmer Moderated by Dr. Chris Elias
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: Development and Validation of Disease Biomarkers (R01); Notice to Extend the Expiration Date - Behavioral & Integrative Treatment Development Program
CONFERENCES: International Conference on Urban Health Seeks Session Chairs; New Partners for Smart Growth – Call for Session Proposals
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: Director – Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH; Policy Analyst, International Programs – Population Reference Bureau
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES: Oregon State University – 2009 Summer Institute on Research Methodology
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST: PRB Online Discussion – Explaining India’s Deficit of Girls; PRB Has Added New Content to Website; Rolling Outages of Campus WiFi Network Beginning June 15

CSDE WEEKLY SEMINAR

CSDE Seminar Ended for the Summer
The CSDE speaker series will return next quarter.
CSDE Seminar Schedule

CSDE ANNOUNCEMENTS & SPOTLIGHTS

CSDE Receives Substantial Funding for 2009-10 from Student Tech Fee
The 2009 STF committee has funded the 2009-2010 proposals submitted by CSDE's Biodemography, Computing, and GIS areas. The total amount awarded is $415,000, which will significantly enhance the infrastructure support that CSDE provides to affiliates and students.

Below is a summary of the awards to each of these areas.

Biodemography:
The STF committee has awarded the Biodemography Core $18,290 to add much needed equipment that builds the lab's capacity. The instruments to be added include three devices that use blood from a simple finger prick to make immediate measurements of biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and anemia, as well as an ultra-low temperature freezer for storing delicate reagents and specimens. Student enthusiasm drove this proposal, and was essential to its success.

Computing:
The 2009 STF committee has fully funded both of the CSDE Computing proposals for 2009-2010. Major elements of this funding are replacements for aging file servers and terminal servers, and an all new Simulation Cluster system. These proposals also fund the broad array of Statistical and Demographic software packages on the Terminal servers and in the CSDE Student lab.

This years' proposal amounts:
2010 Sim cluster proposal: $138k
2010 Terminal/File Server proposal: $227k.

The total 2009-2010 CSDE Computing STF funding is $365k, a sharp increase over last year's funding of $260k.

We cannot emphasize enough that the success of these proposals is due to the efforts of the CSDE community. Thank you for your endorsements and support!

GIS:
The STF committee awarded $32k to CSDE's GIS proposal for Mobile GIS Field Equipment: including 3 semi-ruggedized laptops with ArcGIS software, 12 mapping GPS handheld computers, and 3 laser rangefinder units. This equipment will be available for checkout to CSDE affiliated students later this summer, and a workshop on the use of Mobile GIS will be offered Fall Quarter. Thanks to all the CSDE affiliated students and faculty for their contributions to this proposal and letters of support!

CSDE Begins Podcast Interviews – Mark Long Discusses His Higher Education Research
Mark Long discusses his research on higher education on CSDE Out Loud, a new audio podcast produced by the CSDE Information Core. In addition to discussing four of his education studies, Mark highlights his future research interests in this 28 minute interview with David Hyllegard.

You can listen to the interview over the internet, through your computer's audio software (such as Windows Media Player, VLC, or Quicktime). The Audio MP3 file is here.

You can listen to this podcast and subscribe to CSDE Out Loud at iTunes. If you don't have iTunes, you can download the free software from Apple. The link to the download page is here.

If you have iTunes, click this link to go to CSDE Out Loud: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=319138678 You can subscribe to the podcast on this page and listen to the show.

CSDE Out Loud presents relatively short interviews with affiliates and fellows about their academic interests and research. Targeted to the CSDE community and other listeners interested in population research, the interviews allow affiliates and fellows to discuss their research in a widely accessible, conversational manner.

Next year, the Information Core will produce a half a dozen or so interviews.

Browsing Collection Now Available in the CSDE Library

A small browsing collection has been added to the CSDE library. It contains current materials not normally included in the regular collection, such as serials and datasheets. They aren’t in the catalog, so make sure to take a look the next time you visit the CSDE library!

Learn more about the CSDE library and other Information Core services here.

Nice, Unsolicited Testimonial to the CSDE Computing Core
"After many long, long hours of work, it was nice to use your terminal server FAQ page. It quickly, correctly, and easily answered my questions. It's nice to have something work out! Well done."

Jerusha Achterberg
Ph.C. Department of Anthropology
MPH Candidate Department of Epidemiology University of Washington

Travel Vaccinations Available from UW Hall Health
CSDE fellows/students, when travelling abroad, can get vaccinations before the trip from UW Hall Health.

Please contact the CSDE Administration office for assistance.

Students should bring authorization or have the CSDE Admin office contact Hall Health in advance of your visit.

CSDE AFFILIATE & FELLOW NEWS

Tony Perez Accepts Faculty Position at UNC
Tony Perez has accepted a position as an assistant professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina. He has been a CSDE postdoctoral fellow since 2006. Congratulations, Tony!

James Gregory Interviewed in Real Change
History professor James Gregory talks candidly about today's economy and the mistakes he believes Governor Gregoire and the legislators have made. He uses lessons learned from The Great Depression to support his opinions. Learn more at Real Change.

CAMPUS SEMINARS & EVENTS OF INTEREST

Mark Anderson – Compulsory Schooling and Juvenile Crime
Department of Economics Brownbag Seminar
Mark Anderson
Compulsory Schooling and Juvenile Crime

Thursday, June 11, 2009
12:30 pm
Condon 309

More information is here.

Dr. Paul Farmer – A Conversation with Dr. Paul Farmer Moderated by Dr. Chris Elias
Dr. Paul Farmer, featured in the biography Mountains Beyond Mountains and one of the pioneers in improving health services in the developing world, will speak on campus Thursday, June 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., in 130 Kane as part of the Washington Global Health Alliance Discovery Series. The event, "A Conversation with Dr. Paul Farmer Moderated by Dr. Chris Elias," is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 5:15 p.m.

Farmer is the founding director of Partners in Health, a groundbreaking non-governmental agency seeking equitable health care for all, and the newly named chairman of Harvard Medical School's Department of Global Health and Social Medicine.

Thursday, June 18, 2009
6:00 – 7:30 pm
Kane 130

More information is here.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Development and Validation of Disease Biomarkers (R01)
(PA-09-204)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute of Nursing Research
Office of Dietary Supplements
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement will provide resources to validate candidate biomarkers for well-defined human diseases of the liver, kidney, urological tract, and digestive and hematologic systems, as well as endocrine and metabolic disorders, diabetes and its complications, and obesity, for which there are no or very few biomarkers, or for which standard biomarkers are currently prohibitively invasive or expensive. A biomarker is an indicator of a disease process, and could replace hard clinical end points as a measure of the effect of new therapies. Appropriate studies will validate candidate biomarkers in well-defined patient populations, provide new technologies to monitor biomarkers or establish reliable assays for validated markers. Progress in this area has the potential to advance translational research related to efficacy of treatments and bio-behavioral interventions. This FOA is not appropriate for biomarker discovery projects.

Notice to Extend the Expiration Date - Behavioral & Integrative Treatment Development Program
(NOT-DA-09-008)
National Institute on Drug Abuse

The purpose of this notice is to extend the expiration date for the program announcement Behavioral & Integrative Treatment Development Program (R01) - PA-07-111, (R21) - PA-06-487 and (R03) - PA-06-488 - from May 8, 2009 to September 8, 2009. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will be reissued in time for the October 2009 receipt dates. All other aspects of FOA remain unchanged.

CONFERENCES

International Conference on Urban Health Seeks Session Chairs
The 8th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH) will take place October 18-23, 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya. It is being organized by the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) in partnership with the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC). The theme of this year’s conference is “Meeting Urban Health Needs through Innovative Research, Policies, and Interventions”.

We are currently seeking session chairs. If you would like to nominate yourself to chair a session, please choose the relevant section from the Call for Abstracts and send an email to aquinn@nyam.org with your information and the session you’d like to chair.

ICUH 2009 is also accepting abstract submissions until June 14th.

All abstracts must be submitted online at www.icuh2009.org/abstracts.htm. Authors may submit an unlimited number of abstracts.

More information about the conference is here.

New Partners for Smart Growth – Call for Session Proposals
The Local Government Commission is conducting a formal Call for Session Proposals (CFSP) process for the 2010 New Partners for Smart Growth Conference program. This process will be open from May 18th through June 26th, 2009. The submittal review process will take place from July through late-August 2009, and those selected for inclusion in the final program will be notified by early September, if not sooner.
9th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities
February 4 – 6, 2010
Seattle, WA
More information is here.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Director – Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking exceptional candidates for the challenging position of Director, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR). The Director, who also functions as the NIH Associate Director for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, serves as the NIH focal point for establishing agency-wide policies and goals in behavioral and social sciences research, coordinates the activities undertaken in the performance of this research, and provides advice and staff support to the NIH Director, Deputy Director, and Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives within the Office of the Director.

Applicants must possess a Ph.D., M.D., or comparable doctorate degree in the health sciences field plus senior-level scientific experience and knowledge of research programs in one or more scientific areas related to behavioral and social sciences research. They should be known and respected within their profession as individuals of scientific prominence, with a distinguished record of research accomplishments and expertise in policy development regarding.

Application Deadline: August 31, 2009

More information is here.

Policy Analyst, International Programs – Population Reference Bureau
The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) seeks a policy analyst to serve as a staff member of International Programs. The International Programs (IP) mission is to improve the well-being of current and future generations and contribute to positive social change, with an emphasis on the developing world. IP staff serve as a bridge between the research and policy communities by helping to ensure that research results and best practices are understood and used. We believe that information empowers individuals and institutions to make better policy decisions about population and health. The policy analyst will work in a team-oriented environment with both technical and management (team leader) responsibilities for content and materials development and country-level technical assistance and capacity-building activities.

PRB offers a collegial, stimulating work environment with the opportunity to work with professionals from a variety of development fields who are well regarded in their areas of expertise.

Responsibilities will include:

    * Writing new materials on population, health, and gender topics for global audiences. Gather literature, analyze data, identify key audiences and messages, determine format and length, and write text, interpreting research findings and explaining policy implications.
    * Using reproductive health and socioeconomic trend data and other information to develop dynamic presentations using new, state-of-the-art animated software technologies.
    * Building the capacity of policy "champions" in developing countries to communicate policy-relevant information to a variety of policy audiences at national and subnational levels, such as high-level government policymakers, civic and religious leaders, program officials, journalists, and other influentials.
    * Coordinating seminars with journalists on the use of data from reproductive health surveys and data sources to improve reporting.
   * Assisting local partners to frame the issues, create evidence-based messages, and develop comprehensive strategies for data dissemination and use.
    * Providing technical guidance and editorial input on various PRB materials on international population, health, reproductive health, and gender topics. Tasks could include strategic planning, budgeting, review and editing of manuscripts, and coordinating with various PRB staff involved in production and dissemination.
    * Contributing to other aspects of the IP Department's work, including facilitating policy communication and data use workshops, contributing to audience outreach, participating in USAID or other donor working groups, monitoring and evaluating activities, and responding to ad hoc requests for information and presentations.

The ideal candidate will have an advanced university degree (master's or Ph.D.) in public health, demography, sociology, or a related field, with a strong substantive background in reproductive health, family planning, or gender issues. Demonstrated experience with "on-the-ground" interventions and the challenges of program implementation required. Understanding of the principles of policy communication and advocacy, data use for improving policies and programs, audience assessment techniques, and strategic planning methodologies are a plus. Excellent English writing skills and oral communication skills are essential; an ability to work in Spanish or French would be desirable. The candidate must be able to travel up to 30 percent of the time to selected countries.

More information is here.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Oregon State University – 2009 Summer Institute on Research Methodology
The Summer Institute on Research Methodology will be held July 7 to 10, 2009 on the Oregon State University campus, hosted by the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS). Research methodology is central to the health and human sciences. The complexity of developmental, social, and health processes require rigorous attention to measurement, sampling, design, and statistical analysis.

Introductory and advanced courses are offered by the Methodology Core over a period of four days (one day – introductory course; three days – advanced course) during the summer months. The 2009 introductory course provides instruction in the use of Mplus. Participants are expected to be comfortable with the General Linear Model. The advanced course focuses on the analysis of change using Mplus and will assume prior experience with Mplus, which may be obtained in the introductory course. These two courses can be taken independently or combined. The courses are team taught and draw on the faculty expertise in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University. Applied examples are used throughout the workshops, with hands-on analysis experience.

July 7: Introduction to Mplus (Alan Acock). Participants will learn how to use the Mplus software.

July 8-10: Latent Growth Curve Modeling using Mplus (Alan Acock, Lesa Hoffman, Fuzhong Li). This workshop will introduce latent growth curve modeling using the Mplus software and will extend to multivariate outcomes, time-varying predictors, growth models with ordered categorical outcomes, and analysis of growth mixtures (i.e., group differences in trajectories).

Please see the 2009 Summer Institute website for details regarding course material, faculty, registration, travel and accommodation, and contact information.

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

PRB Online Discussion – Explaining India’s Deficit of Girls
India, along with China and several other countries, has a history of neglect for girls and women that produced lower female survival rates and an imbalanced ratio of males to females.

In recent years, male-to-female sex ratios at birth and among children in India have increased much more than can be explained solely by discrimination against girls. There is evidence that technologies like portable sonogram machines have made it easy to detect the sex of a fetus, enabling families to abort a female fetus if they do not want a(nother) daughter. In spite of a ban on sex-detection tests and sex-selective abortion, the practice has continued, raising questions about the value and rights of women in this society.

Join Leela Visaria, researcher and president of the Asian Population Association, as she answers your questions about the issues surrounding the status of women and the imbalanced ratio of males to females in India.

You may submit questions in advance and during the discussion. A full transcript of the questions and answers will be posted after the discussion.

Thursday, June 11, 2009
1:00 – 2:00 pm EDT
http://discuss.prb.org

PRB Has Added New Content to Website
The Population Reference Bureau has added new content to its website: www.prb.org

BANGLADESH: FAMILY PLANNING

Family Planning and Economic Well-Being: New Evidence From Bangladesh

Family planning is one of the most cost-effective health interventions in the developing world. For decades, research has shown that for a relatively modest investment, family planning saves lives and improves maternal and child health. However, there have been relatively few studies that shed light on how family planning also lifts families out of poverty. Now, a new study on Bangladesh provides evidence that long-term investment in an integrated family planning and maternal and child health program (FPMCH) contributes to improved economic security for families, households, and communities through larger incomes, greater accumulation of wealth, and higher levels of education. This policy brief draws primarily on the research of Shareen Joshi and T. Paul Schultz, who used the 1996 Matlab Health and Socioeconomic Survey and census data collected in 1974, 1978, and 1982 to examine the effects of long-term investment in the Matlab, Bangladesh, FPMCH program. This PRB policy brief was written by Jay Gribble, vice president for International Programs at PRB, and Maj-Lis Voss, director with the NorthSouth Group.

Family Planning and Economic Well-Being: New Evidence From Bangladesh, Interview With Jay Gribble

In this interview, Jay Gribble, vice president of International Programs at PRB and a co-author of the PRB Policy Brief, "Family Planning and Economic Well-Being: New Evidence From Bangladesh," discusses how a family planning and health program benefitted women and families in the Matlab area of Bangladesh in terms of livelihoods, health, and education, as well as the policy implications of the recent study's findings.

UNITED STATES: FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

The Changing Demography of U.S. Flight Attendants

The airline industry has faced major policy and economic forces that have changed the demography of its workers, especially its flight attendants. Flight attendants have become older compared with the overall U.S. workforce over the last several decades. Their median age is now 44. And they're more likely to postpone retirement. This article was written by Rogelio Saenz, professor of sociology at Texas A&M University, and Louwanda Evans, a doctoral student in the department of sociology at Texas A&M University and a former flight attendant.

INDIA: DEFICIT OF GIRLS

PRB Discuss Online: June 11, 1-2 p.m.: “Explaining India’s Deficit of Girls”
India, along with China and several other countries, has a history of neglect for girls and women that produced lower female survival rates and an imbalanced ratio of males to females. Join Leela Visaria, researcher and president of the Asian Population Association, for the online discussion "Explaining India's Deficit of Girls." You may submit questions in advance.

Rolling Outages of Campus WiFi Network Beginning June 15
The WiFi network serving the University of Washington is coordinated by a series of "wireless controllers". There are 26 controllers serving academic campus. The primary software running on these systems is one major version behind the latest, and is no longer supported by the vendor. During the week of June 15th -- the first summer academic break -- UW Technology network engineers will work with the vendor to install the latest stable version of software on all of the controllers.

Each controller upgrade will require up to 30 minutes, and will cause associated wireless access points (APs) to reboot. This will, in turn, cause loss of wireless connectivity for wireless users associated with those APs. For each building on-campus, all APs in the building terminate on a single controller. This means that, as a controller is upgraded, one or more buildings will be without wireless connectivity during the upgrade process for that controller, but after the work on that controller is done, no further service interruptions should occur for APs in that building.

The upgrade will proceed in a rolling fashion, one controller at-a-time. Due to time and budgetary constraints, much of the work will occur during normal business hours.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Network Operations Center at 206-221-6000.