Despite the more than decades long downward trend in HIV incidence among people who inject drugs (PWID), there is cause for alarm due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the instability the response will likely cause, particularly among vulnerable populations. COVID-19 will disrupt access to the very interventions that led to declining HIV incidence among PWID, including harm reduction services and antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is unknown how the intersection of the opioid crisis and COVID-19 pandemic will interact to impact the health of PWID in the short term and whether it will create conditions sufficient to destabilize PWID populations enough to support the resurgence of HIV. This project will develop mathematical and statistical models to estimate the potential for HIV resurgence among PWID as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, this project will focus on integrating detailed data on social networks, disruptions due to COVID-19 (social, behavioral, and access to healthcare) that will be prospectively collected. The project is a part of the AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience (ALIVE) study, the longest running cohort of PWID (since 1988) based in Baltimore City, Maryland. More information on ALIVE can be found here: (https://www.jhsph.edu/research/affiliated-programs/aids-linked-to-the-intravenous-experience/).

The ideal applicant will have both quantitative experience in epidemiology, statistics, and/or ecology and an interest in public health research related to disease prevention and control. Interest in HIV/hepatitis C is required. The applicant will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of data types including epidemiological, network and behavioral data sets related to HIV and opioid use disorder. Applicants with, or nearing completion of, a doctoral degree in epidemiology, ecology, biostatistics, or a related field will be considered. Those with experience in HIV or PWID populations will be given priority.
The successful applicant will work with Drs. Becky Genberg and Amy Wesolowski and colleagues primarily on a project funded by the National Institutes of Health. The successful applicant be joining two highly collaborative groups including the ID Dynamics group (iddynamics.jhsph.edu) and the ALIVE study. The ID Dynamics group works on projects ranging from empirical data collection to theoretical modeling of disease dynamics, and there will be ample opportunities to work on cross-cutting projects focused on issues in infectious disease transmission and control. This applicant will also work with the ALIVE study team based out of JHBSPH. This interdisciplinary team consists of epidemiologists, biostatisticians, behavioral scientists, and clinicians all working to better understand HIV transmission and epidemiology in these settings.
The position will be for 1-2 years, depending on applicant interest and career plans.
Interested candidates should contact Drs. Becky Genberg and Dr. Amy Wesolowski (awesolowski@jhu.edu) with a CV, statement of interest, and a list of 3 references. Application will be considered on a rolling basis and should be submitted by December 21, 2020.