The appearance of new infectious diseases and resurgence of old ones, often in new and drug-resistant forms, brings renewed urgency to infectious disease epidemiology. Infectious disease epidemiologists–with cross-training in classical epidemiology, and approaches such as mathematical modeling, behavioral science, pathogen evolution and genomics–are in increasing demand to respond to emerging threats and improve control of endemic diseases.

The Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard Chan School is a leading center for infectious disease epidemiology, with active research programs on infections including HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, pneumococcal disease and drug-resistant infections. These research programs offer trainees the opportunity to apply mathematical modeling, population genomics, advanced causal inference, and other cutting-edge approaches, focusing on understanding the biology and transmission of infectious diseases, with the ultimate goal of applying these scientific findings to improve control and prevention.  Our tools include classic epidemiologic methods, novel approaches to causal inference, transmission-dynamic modeling, mining of “big data” (e.g. cell phone call data records, pathogen genome sequences), network theory, pathogen population genetics, genomics and phylogenomics.

The Interdisciplinary Program in Infectious Disease Epidemiology unites students from not only the Department of Epidemiology but also from several other departments within the school, such as the Department of Biostatistics, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, and Department of Global Health and Population.  The concentration also sponsors many events, such as seminars, the annual Freeman Symposium for the presentation of student and postdoc research, and social events. Participation in these events is open to the entire HSPH community.

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Interdisciplinary Concentration in Infectious Disease Epidemiology

One aspect of the Interdisciplinary Program is to certify students who have followed a specific curriculum of coursework in Infectious Disease Epidemiology and related topics, known as the Interdisciplinary Concentration in Infectious Disease Epidemiology.  To obtain a certificate of completion, a student in any of the participating departments must complete a minimum number of required and elective courses. Information about these courses and requirements is HERE.