Visit SERpresents for upcoming events.
Career development events featuring experts in the field on a specific topic area. Some events are organized by the Student and Postdoc Committee. Events may be live webinar, or pre-recorded events.
Past Events
Panel discussion on Promotion and Tenure May 31, 2023 | 12:00pm EST
The SER Mentoring Committee is hosting a panel discussion on the promotion and tenure process. Our panel includes several individuals who have participated in the promotion and tenure process at their institutions to answer audience questions. We invite SER community members with experience in the promotion and tenure process at their institutions to also contribute to the discussion and share insights on audience questions. Our goal for this event is for it to be a starting point for discussions about the promotion and tenure process and to identify areas where more information would be useful for those about to embark on this process. Through registration for this event you will be given the opportunity to submit anonymous questions for the panelists.
Mentorship for The Virtual Age May 24, 2023 | 12:00pm EST
The purpose of this symposium is to discuss and answer questions about obtaining and sustaining good epidemiologic mentorship in hybrid and entirely virtual workspaces. In general, we will aim to provide practical advice, strategies, and thoughts on: 1) seeking out epidemiologic mentorship in virtual workspaces; 2) communicating effectively with mentors primarily through email and distance-based platforms; 3) self-advocating for career and workplace goals with virtual mentors and collaborators; 4) building and capitalizing on communities of mentors and collaborators so as to sustain a productive career in epidemiology; and 5) perceived limitations of virtual mentorship. Importance: The future of the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) relies on the next generation of epidemiologists, many of whom are beginning their careers in a mostly-to-fully online format due to the coronavirus pandemic. These epidemiologists face an array of choices about future career paths and the intersection of those choices with their strengths and goals for contributing to the field. Further, epidemiologists further on in their career are now needing to meet new career tasks and responsibilities in a virtual mode. This professional development panel will address practical ways to seek, receive, build on, and sustain strong virtual mentorship that will help epidemiologists at different career stages to meet these challenges. Format: We will present topics in a roundtable discussion heavily guided by audience questions. Read more
Innovations in Data and Methods to Study Gun Violence May 17, 2023 | 12:00pm EST
Firearm violence is a major public health crisis in the U.S., where more than 200 people sustain a nonfatal firearm injury and more than 100 people die from it every day. In spite of these unsettling figures, scientific research on firearm-related harm is lagging with respect to other public health crises of a comparable size, such as alcohol, tobacco, and COVID-19. The lack of a national registry of firearms means that data on firearm acquisition and ownership is severely limited. Furthermore, since firearm harms are associated with criminality and medical confidentiality, incidents of firearm violence are underreported and data are often suppressed. To overcome these challenges, firearm researchers must put forward innovative methods to conduct quantitative, scientifically-backed studies on firearm prevalence and violence.
We gathered a team of speakers from varying fields: epidemiology, economics, engineering, mathematics, and statistics. The speakers will present quantitative methods they have developed to infer causality among relevant variables, predict firearm violence, identify effective policy interventions, and model the diffusion of firearm violence.
Thinking about a career at the NIH May 10, 2023 | 12:00 - 1:00pm EST
Join the Student and Post-Doc Committee of SER for a career development event. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the medical research agency of the U.S. and is responsible for important discoveries that improve health and save lives. Headquarters for the Office of the Director and the Institutes and Centers are located in Bethesda, Maryland, USA and has more than 75 buildings in a campus-like environment across 300 acres. The NIH is made up of 27 different components called Institutes and Centers and employs over 18,000 people. For this event, we have invited 3 speakers who work in different branches to talk about their experiences. Speakers will discuss, for example: their paths to working at NIH, how they decided to work at NIH, and pros/cons versus academia or industry.
Improving evidence synthesis in observational health research; the example of nutritional epidemiology May 3, 2023 | 12:00 - 1:30pm EST
Many of the most common social and behavioral exposures are extremely difficult to measure and study, particularly by randomized controlled experiments. Understanding the effects of such exposures thus requires repeated study by a range of approaches in a range of settings, with each study often producing quite different estimates. Health scientists, practitioners and policymakers have hence come to rely on formal evidence syntheses to provide clarity and summary estimates.
The art of evidence synthesis is however an evolving field. Despite the emergence of various reporting criteria, risk of bias tools, and – most recently – the confounder matrix, there are still many unresolved challenges with the synthesis of results from observational studies. These include how best to synthesize evidence from different study designs, different populations, using different measures of the exposure and/or outcome, different adjustment sets, and with different approaches to confounding control.
Using the fertile and challenging context of nutritional epidemiology, this symposium will explore the issues with, and limits of, current quantitative evidence synthesis before proposing some potential improvements for implementation in the near and not-so-near future.
Language and Rigor: A conversation on the role of language in epidemiology April 26 2023, 12:00 - 1:30pm EST
Language is a powerful tool. What and how we communicate as epidemiologists can influence replication, accuracy of interpretation, and translation of science into policy. Moreover, our use of language reflects our thinking and value systems, reifying structures in society through science. With the description of study populations, we can contribute to erasure, medicalization of bodies, or normalize whose health matters and is worthy of study. Recent reviews have examined language practices within epidemiology, evaluating language with respect to causal inference, gender inclusivity, and communication of race/ethnicity-related methodology. In this webinar, we bring together four perspectives on language in epidemiology, focusing on the broader relationships between language, methodological rigor, and equity. Through this event, we hope to foster discourse on the fundamental role of language in rigorous and impactful research, and our roles – as readers, authors, reviewers, editors, and members of the scientific community – in the evolution of language.
Session Chair
Rae Anne Martinez, MSPH Department of Epidemiology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & Carolina Population Center
Presenter
Nafeesa Andrabi, MA Department of Sociology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & Carolina Population Center
Capitalism and Health: Critical Epidemiologic Approaches April 19 2023, 12:00 - 1:30pm EST
Since the industrial revolution’s inception, researchers have documented capitalism’s noxious effects on the health of the working class and oppressed. Indeed, in the 1840s, Frederick Engels decried the alarming mortality rates among the English working class, an injustice he deemed “social murder”. 200 years later, health inequities persist and proliferate globally. What explains this phenomenon? While this question has been a primary concern of epidemiology, the answers have not always engaged directly with capitalism, a system that not only structures societal distributions of health-affecting resources, but modulates our very experiences of reality and the production of knowledge within it. Read more
"The Power of Physician-Epidemiologist Teams In Clinical Practice and Research to Advance Population Health" April 5, 2023, 12:00pm -1:00pm EST
In this session experts from the fields of medicine and epidemiology will provide evidence of the importance of physician-epidemiologist collaboration in clinical practice and research settings to improve population health.
"Virtual Affinity Groups" March 29, 2023, 12:00pm -2:00pm EST
A Virtual Affinity Group Event hosted by the SER International Subcommittee in collaboration with the SER Equity Subcommittee (Chair, Kezhen Fei) and SER–SPC Education Co–Chairs (Drs. Estela Blanco and Andreas Teferra). The purpose is to nurture and engage SER’s membership (both international and domestic) by providing an accessible opportunity to participate in a virtual Affinity Group event with Breakout Sessions.
"Managing your Mentor" March 22, 2023, 12:00pm -1:30pm EST
Mentorship is a key determinant of success for emerging epidemiologists. In this session, we will extend the corporate concept of “managing up” to mentoring in the field of epidemiology, whereby the mentee takes ownership of the mentoring relationship by selecting a developmental network, establishing structure in the mentoring relationship, and aligning mentoring expectations.
"An epidemiologist’s introduction to food insecurity measures" February 15, 2023, 12:00pm -1:00pm EST
In this webinar, we’ll discuss the concept of food insecurity as an epidemiologic measure – as an exposure, as a health outcome, and as an important “third” variable. We’ll present a few of the different validated scales for measurement, chat about benefits and drawbacks of these measures, and talk about the (potential) difficulties in obtaining data on food insecurity for epidemiologic studies.
"What is long COVID?" February 1, 2023, 12:00 - 1:30pm EST
The chronic condition of long COVID reminds us that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is not over. Long COVID negatively impacts thousands of those who have been infected with COVID-19, affecting their physical and mental health, as well as ability to work. Read more
Aug 17 at 10 am Mountain Standard
“The United States post Roe: Impacts on abortion access, public health, and research gaps”
With the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion is banned or soon to be banned in over half of US states. In this webinar, researchers from Ibis Reproductive Health will provide an overview of the current state of abortion access and services in the United States and discuss the impact of restrictive abortion laws on reproductive health and wellbeing.
Jennifer Ahern
Dr. Jennifer Ahern
PhD, MPH, Professor of Epidemiology
Associate Dean for Research
School of Public Health
University of California, Berkeley
Caitlin Gerdts
Dr. Caitlin Gerdts
PhD, MHS, Vice President for Research
Ibis Reproductive Health
(she/her)
Ruvani Jayaweera
Dr. Ruvani Jayaweera
PhD, MPH, Research Scientist
Ibis Reproductive Health
(she/her)
Heidi Moseson
Dr. Heidi Moseson
PhD, MPH, Senior Research Scientist
Ibis Reproductive Health
(she/her)
July 27, 2022 12pm ET
“SER Symposia 101: your guide to proposing, organizing, and hosting an symposium at the annual meeting”
With the annual meeting behind us, it is time to start planning symposia for next year’s meeting. Faculty, researchers, government epidemiologists, postdocs and students are all welcome to submit a proposal for a symposium at the SER annual meeting. Organizing a symposium is a great way to network, shape the conversation at the meeting, and hear from experts on topics of interest to you and others. In this webinar, we will discuss the ins and outs of proposing, organizing, and hosting a symposium.
Session Chair
Panelist
Panelist
Panelist
Panelist
Panelist
February 16, 12:00-1:00pm ET
“Investigating Structural Factors to Advance Population Health“
Drs. Marynia Kolak and Michael Kramer will provide an introduction into the rationale for the measurement and use of structural measures in epidemiology. This discussion will include novel methods for measuring structural factors. Lastly, they will provide an applied example of the measurement and analysis of structural factors from an epidemiologic study.
This event is organized and sponsored by the SER Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
PRESENTER
Michael Kramer, PhD
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
“What is ‘structural’ and how can we measure and use social structure in epidemiology?”
PRESENTER
Marynia Kolak, PhD
Division of the Social Sciences, University of Chicago
“Modeling Structural Factors as Multidimensional, Spatial, & Intersectional”
MODERATOR
Dayna A. Johnson
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
February 9, 12:00-1:00pm ET
“Peer Review 101 for students and postdocs“
Peer review is the process by which scholarly articles are reviewed and critiqued by independent researchers/experts prior to publication. The main purpose of this process to provide authors with constructive criticism and improve the quality of published research. However, there are also numerous benefits to the reviewer. This includes learning how to apply principles of epidemiology learned in the classroom to real life, provide constructive feedback, and even write better manuscripts! Join Drs. Hailey Banack, Special Editor at Epidemiology, and Catherine Lesko, Editor in Residency at the American Journal of Epidemiology, for an overview of the process of peer review and an introduction to writing peer reviews.”
This event is organized and sponsored by the SER Student and Postdoc Committee.
PRESENTER
Hailey Banack (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor in Epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto
Special Editor at Epidemiology
Twitter: @haileybanack
PRESENTER
Catherine Lesko (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Editor in Residency at the
American Journal of Epidemiology
Twitter: @leskocar
MODERATOR
Andreas Teferra (he/him/his)
Ph.D. Candidate in Epidemiology at The Ohio State University
Twitter: @andreteferra
September 15, 12:00-1:00pm ET
“What can I do with my PhD?: Employment opportunities outside of academia“
While the traditional career path following completion of a PhD is typically thought to be obtaining a postdoctoral fellowship then faculty position in academia, there are now more opportunities than ever for epidemiologists in the workforce. Join us for a panel discussion on employment opportunities outside of academia featuring panelists representing government and industry positions. Panelists will provide an overview of their personal career trajectory, how they got to where they are, and what motivated them to pursue their career. Additional time will be spent answering questions submitted by participants. When registering for this event, will be given the opportunity to anonymously submit queries beforehand.
This event is organized and sponsored by the SER Student and Postdoc Committee.
PRESENTER
Ashley Holub, PhD MA (she/her/hers)
Senior Clinical Research Scientist at GSK
Twitter: @ashtroid22
PRESENTER
Randy Stalter, PhD, MPH (he/him/his)
Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
PRESENTER
Mitra Yousefi (she/her/hers)
Lead Epidemiologist, global vaccines at GDK
June 2, 2021, 12:00-1:00pm ET
“National Institute of Health’s Loan Repayment Programs: Information Session”
You’re invited to an in-depth overview of the NIH Loan Repayment Program from the Division of Loan Repayment Director, Dr. Ericka Boone. The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) are a set of programs established by Congress designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research centers. The NIH LRPs pay up to $50,000 annually of qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research. Applicants must hold an M.D., Ph.D., Psy.D., Pharm.D, D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D. D.P.M, D.C., N.D., O.D., D.V.M, or equivalent doctoral-level degree (except for the Contraception & Infertility Research LRP). The NIH LRPs will accept applications from September 1-November 15. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn how you could receive up to $100,000 in educational debt relief! The hour will include responses to questions attendees send when registering for the event.
Note: Only individuals with United States citizenship (or U.S. national or permanent resident status) are eligible for the LRP.
This event is organized and sponsored by the SER Student and Postdoc Committee.
PRESENTER
Ericka Boone, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Loan Repayment
National Institutes of Health
MODERATOR
Kendra Sims
Doctoral Candidate
Oregon State University
May 12, 2021, 12:00-1:00pm ET
“#MeToo”
The #MeToo movement has brought to the fore seemingly endless stories of unwelcome and inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances. No sector of society appears to be spared, including the field of epidemiology. In this webinar, we’ll present results from the SER survey about member’s experiences of sexual harassment as a graduate student, in the workplace, or at a conference. In consideration of consequences, we’ll discuss corrective ways forward with guest speaker Vicki Magley, Professor of Psychological Sciences at U Conn Storrs and member of the National Academy of Sciences Sexual Harassment in Academia Committee.
March 10, 2021, 12:00-1:00pm ET
“Equitable Distribution of Vaccines for COVID-19”
Sponsored by the SER Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Committee, this upcoming SERexpert event will explore the distribution and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines though different lenses, including equity considerations in planning, vaccine hesitancy, and public health communication. Speakers will discuss how COVID-19 continues to disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities the most while vaccine rollouts lag and have tended to target whites. This event will feature brief introductions followed by a moderated roundtable discussion.”
February 17, 2021, 12:00-1:00pm ET
“Adapting to the Pandemic Job Market”
The pandemic offers unique opportunities and considerations for trainees deciding next professional steps. Additionally, the new reality of virtual hiring necessitates different approaches for standing out as a job candidate. After outlining their professional trajectories, our panelists will discuss ways to distill your research focus into a captivating elevator pitch as well as conveying your capability during a hiring interview. Additionally, the panel will bring their experiences in academia, government, and industry to virtual interviewee strategies for higher education positions as well as non-academic tracks.
November 4, 2020, 12:00-1:00pm ET
“Practicing Consequential Epidemiology: The Work of CDC’s Disease Detectives of the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS)”
Please join us for SER’s first collaborative webinar with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Global Disease Detectives! Hosted by Dr. Eric Pevzner, the Chief to the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Program, join us to learn about this world-renowned applied epidemiology fellowship program of the elite disease detectives! Following an overview of the program by Dr. Pevzner, two CDC EIS Officers will present their work. This will be an exciting look into the world of the famous Global Outbreak Detectives! The presentation is sponsored by the SER Membership and Nominations Committee and will be moderated by SER Member and Epidemiologist, Dr. Mike Jackson (CDC EIS Alum, 2008-2010). Following the presentations, the panelists will be available for questions about the program.
This event is sponsored by SER’s Membership & Nominations Committee
HOST
Eric Pevzner, PhD, MPH
CAPT, U.S. Public Health Service
Chief, Epidemiology Workforce Branch
Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS)
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
SER MODERATOR
Michael L. Jackson, PhD, MPH
Associate Scientific Investigator
Kaiser Permanente
CDC EIS Officer (2008-2010)
SER Member, Since 2011
GLOBAL DISEASE DETECTIVES
September 16, 2020, 12-1pm ET
“Strategies for Successful Remote Mentor-Mentee Relationships”
The importance and feasibility of mentorship from afar extends beyond current social distancing guidelines. Accordingly, this upcoming webinar focuses on the makings of successful mentors as well as mentees. Our panelists are eager to pass on their combined decades of experience remoting guiding trainees to early-stage scholars. Topics include expectation-setting, workflow management, and collaborations. Registering will give participants an opportunity to anonymously submit queries beforehand.
PANELIST
Anne Marie Jukic, PhD, MSPH
Investigator
National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences
Epidemiology Branch
PANELIST
Senior Associate
Dean of Research
Professor
Ohio State University
PANELIST
Maureen A. Murtaugh, PhD, RDN
Professor
Division of Epidemiology
Department of Medicine
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Population Health
PANELIST
Martha Werler
Professor and Chair of Epidemiology
Boston University
School of Public Health
President, SER
MODERATOR
Kendra Sims
Doctoral Candidate
Oregon State University
September 9, 2020, 12-1pm EST
“CSTE Applied Fellowship Program“
Please join us for SER’s first, collaborative webinar with The Council for State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Applied Epidemiology Fellowship (AEF) Program! Hosted by Amanda Masters, the Deputy Director for Governance, Strategy and Support Program (CSTE), join us to learn about this Applied Epidemiology Fellowship program! This unique fellowship program is designed for recent master’s or doctoral level graduates in Epidemiology (or a related field) whom are interested in public health practice at the state/local level. Following an overview of the program, two CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellows will present their research. Following the presentations, the panelists will be available to answer any questions you might have regarding the program.
This event is sponsored by SER’s Membership & Nominations Committee
HOST
Amanda Masters, MPH
CSTE Deputy Director of Governance
Strategy and Support
CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellows
MODERATOR
August 19, 2020, 12:00pm – 1:30pm EDT
“Networking, the Job Market, and the Pandemic”
This upcoming professional development panel addresses early career advancement during the unique constraints posed by 2020. Professionals from government, industry, and academia will reflect upon their own winding career paths and discuss the state of the pandemic job market, opportunities and challenges. Participants will then have an opportunity to ask about remote networking advice and job search strategies. Registering will give participants an opportunity to anonymously submit queries beforehand.
PANELIST
Adan Z. Becerra, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Associate Program Director for Clinical Research
Department of Surgery
Rush University Medical Center
PANELIST
Stephen E. Gilman, ScD
Senior Investigator and Chief
Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch
Division of Intramural Population Health Research
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute
of Child Health and Human Development
PANELIST
Jennifer Rider, ScD, MPH
Associate Director, Outcomes Science & Services
PANELIST
Rulla Tamimi, ScD
Weill Cornell Medicine
(Interim) Assistant Professor
of Population Health Sciences
Division Chief of Epidemiology
Associate Director
of Population Science
Sandra and Edward Meyer
Cancer Center
July 29, 2020, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT
“Health equity during the COVID-19 pandemic: urban-rural dimensions”
Sponsored by the SER Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Committee, this upcoming SERexpert event will explore the differential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in rural and urban communities in the US. Speakers will describe the impact of COVID-19 on rural and urban communities, challenges to confronting the virus and inequities in who is impacted within and between these settings. Given the differences in population density, access to health care and population demographics a focus on rural and urban communities will help highlight the dimensions of inequity exacerbated by COVID-19.
This event is sponsored by SER’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee
PRESENTER
Mary Bassett
Harvard University
PRESENTER
Carrie Henning-Smith
University of Minnesota
MODERATOR
May 13, 2020
Grant writing for early career epidemiologists, part III: Funding opportunities from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The last in the three-part series on grant writing for trainees will highlight some non-traditional funding opportunities. Foundational grants are among the lesser known alternatives to those offered by governmental agencies, and are available to researchers at various career stages and often to non-U.S. citizens. During presentations of their projects as well as attendee Q and A, a panel of interdisciplinary researchers will be able to speak to the unique considerations involved in obtaining funding from private agencies.
This event is sponsored by SER’s Student and PostDoc Committee
PANELIST
Max Aung, PhD, MPH
University of Michigan
School of Public Health
PANELIST
Brittney Butler, MPH
Ohio State University
College of Public Health
PANELIST
Magdalena Cerda, DrPH
New York University
School of Medicine
MODERATOR
Kendra Sims, MPH
Oregon State University
February 19, 2020, 12-1pm EST
Grant Writing for Early Career Epidemiologists, Part II:
“Jumpstarting a career-building research project (pre-doctoral perspective)”
The second in the three-part series on grant writing for trainees will focus on pre-doctoral level fellowships. Three recent recipients of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31) will briefly present on the training plans accompanying their dissertation project, before answering attendee questions. Learn how professional and personal experiences can inform the process of formulating research ideas, ways to leverage institutional resources as well as mentorship, and approaches for incorporating feedback.
This event is sponsored by SER’s Student and Postdoc Committee
PANELIST
Alexis Reeves, MPH
PhD candidate in Epidemiologic Science at the University of Michigan. Read more
PANELIST
Joëlla Adams, MPH
PhD candidate in the Department of Epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health. Read more
PANELIST
Mary Willis, MPH
PhD candidate in Environmental and occupational Health with a minor in Biological Data Science at Oregon State University. Read more
MODERATOR
Kendra Sims
Doctoral Candidate in Epidemiology at Oregon State University.
September 11, 2019, 12-1pm EST
“Grant Writing for Early Career Epidemiologists, Part I: Writing Your Own Postdoctoral Training Grant (Fs and Ks)“
Join us for the first in a 3-part series about grant writing for trainees! This webinar will focus on topics relevant to NIH postdoc Fs and Ks: general application requirements, submission timelines, and recommended resources. Our panel includes current and prior awardees, along with an experienced mentor. After describing their own experiences, the panelists will answer any questions you have about the process.