Project IMMUNE - Modelling the IMpact of huMan behavioUrs on iNfections spread GA
101003183
Research Project: Vaccines represent one of the most significant, cost-effective and safe
public health interventions ever introduced. However, vaccine hesitancy has become
alarmingly widespread over the last two decades and even during the current Covid-19
pandemic we are observing patterns of vaccine resistance and reactions to vaccine scares.
The IMMUNE project will analyse the determinants and mechanisms of vaccine hesitancy
and, more generally, compliance to public health measures with respect to infectious
disease and will expand the epidemiological modelling framework to incorporate human
behavior on the analysis of infections’ spread. We will consider risk perceptions on diseases
and vaccines, (mis)information campaigns, social peers influence and the effects of
digitalization. This will be achieved through the integration of epidemiological models,
statistical analysis and computer science tools.
Job Description: A combination of quantitative approaches and research methodologies
will be required to extend the current state-of-the-art epidemiological models. Digital
records on individuals’ use of the Internet and social media will be analyzed to study the
interplay between health communications, risk perception and vaccine uptake in different
contexts. Online experiments and field surveys will be conducted in different countries to
generate data on individuals’ social interactions, both physical and virtual. Agent-Based
and mechanistic compartmental models will be developed to unravel the complex relationship
between the determinants of human behavior, vaccination decision and
infection spread. In order to participate to the competition, the candidate must have a PhD
or equivalent, carried out in Italy or abroad, on one of the following: mathematical
biology/quantitative epidemiology/statistics/data science. High quantitative skills with
statistical software (Stata, R) and at least one programming language (Python/C/C++) as
well as excellence proficiency in English will be required. The successful candidate should
have a quantitative background with an already solid experience in mathematical modeling
of infection transmission, and related statistical methods. She/he should moreover
demonstrate previous involvement in research projects relevant to the IMMUNE
framework, should be able to follow projects through from conception to publication in high
impact factor journals, be a strong writer, have experience presenting work to scientific
audiences from diverse fields and enjoy working collaboratively. The successful candidate
will be part of a team of epidemiologists, statisticians, demographers, sociologists and
computational social scientists. Supervision of more junior team members might be
required.