987- Cameroon- Diarrhea Burden in Older Adults in Africa

Diarrhea Burden in Older Adults in Africa is a prospective matched case control study exploring the burden of diarrheal diseases, specifically Shigella spp., rotavirus and norovirus in adults 70 years and older. The study is conducted in two sites: Kousseri, in the Far North Region, in the Sahel near the Chad border and in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon, located in the Littoral Region off the coast of the Wouri River Estuary. Douala is where the site coordinator will be mainly located to oversee study activities and data collection.

The student would be responsible for managing day to day activities in Douala and ensuring study progress coincides with the study protocol and milestones. The student would be responsible for troubleshooting laboratory and field activities, conducting health facility visits, and assisting the data manager with data quality checks and data cleaning. Daily/weekly tasks would include but not limited to the following:
•Routine data cleaning using STATA and working closely with the data manager in developing and improving code.
• Work closely with the data manager in further developing statistical expertise in country.
• Compile data for weekly reports on visits and activities completed.
• Conduct preliminary statistical analyses for internal and external progress reports.
• Assist study statisticians at JHU and in Cameroon in writing stata and/or R code and conducting data analysis for multi-level model analyses.
• Ensure we are on target in our recruitment and enrollment process in alliance with our milestones and sample size. Assist in improving surveillance methods if possible.
• Weekly site evaluation visits to ensure health facility focal points are adhering to protocol.
• Work closely with the laboratory personnel to ensure samples are handled accordingly and maintained on cold chain where appropriate. Ensure all samples are correctly preserved. Note: we have a strong lab team in the field and minimal laboratory analyses would be required, however, having an understanding of these areas will facilitate trouble shooting.
• Weekly meetings with the Cameroonian and JHU team
• Assist in designing and improving quality control protocols for collected questionnaires and stool samples.
• Assist in developing and implementing refresher training(s) at health facilities and in the laboratory.
• Assist in initial stool sample processing and analysis.
• Opportunity to travel to Yaounde, where the local NGO headquarters is located, to work more closely with the senior staff of the project.

The Cameroonian team are hard workers and well organized. While they are always professional, the team is open and approachable. It is an enjoyable work atmosphere and they take a lot of pride in their work.

has had some experience working with or in a low- middle-income country, or is eager to start a career in international health; someone who is interested in enteric pathogens and who works well with people from different backgrounds

The student should have strong analytical skills and be sufficient in STATA. The student needs to be able to work independently and be pro-active in avoiding and resolving potential problems in project implementation. It is not required but preferred that the student should have some knowledge of laboratory activities, particularly in culture and basic molecular analyses. The project location is in a Francophone country; it is highly desired that the student has a conversational level of fluency in the French language.

Name: Camille Williams, Department of International Health, cwill302@jhmi.edu

I would describe my communication and mentorship styles as... My mentorship style is a more hands off approach and laid back; with the expectation that the student is proactive and an independent and hard worker. However, I encourage open and clear dialogue with expectations that tasks will be completed in a timely manner, as agreed upon. Approachable to troubleshoot and talk through research questions and methodologies.

A complementary student would have a working style and mentorship expectations that are...Self-motivated, identifying specific questions to help frame discussions, identifying potential solutions or options to consider and discuss when faced with problems in their work, punctual and ability to adhere to deadlines or communicate proactively when issues arise.

Estimated Monthly Costs: 

Additional support:  The PI is willing to provide a stipend to be used towards 1 roundtrip international flight, room and board