PANSOC Guest lecture:

On November 6th, Dr. Adolfo García-Sastre (Mount Sinai, New York) will be giving a lecture at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters as a guest at Centre for Research on Pandemics
& Society (PANSOC) at OsloMet.

Would you like to participate? Please use this link to register: https://nettskjema.no/a/pansoc6nov

New Research Assitant: Lewhat Arefaine Kifleyesus

We are proud to welcome and present our new research assistant, Lewhat Arefaine Kifleyesus.

Lewhat Arefaine Kifleyesus holds a bachelor’s degree in law. With a background as a legal professional in various sectors, including the Ministry of Justice, her journey has taken an exciting turn since moving to Norway. She chose to dive into a master’s program in International Social Welfare and Health Policy at OsloMet, driven by a desire to blend her legal expertise with a deep interest in health policy.

This academic path has opened unique opportunities, most notably the chance to work as a research assistant with PANSOC through OsloMet’s elective course in research training. Kifleyesus is currently engaged in an impactful project on “Disparities in COVID-19 Impact and Vaccination Timing Among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Populations in Mexico.” This research is crucial in identifying the unique vulnerabilities faced by Indigenous communities, with the ultimate goal of developing more inclusive and resilient public health systems.

In Kifleyesus own words “The experience of working with leading experts like Svenn-Erik Mamelund, Gerardo Chowell-Puente, and Elienai Joaquín Damas at PANSOC has been truly enriching. I am deeply grateful for the support and mentorship provided by PANSOC. While contributing to important research, it allows me to grow both academically and professionally. This opportunity is helping me sharpen my research skills while strengthening my commitment to making a meaningful impact in health policy.

The collaboration between OsloMet and PANSOC is truly commendable, offering students like me unparalleled opportunities to engage in research that is both academically rigorous and socially relevant.

I am honored to be part of a program that is shaping the future of public health, and I look forward to continuing this journey with the incredible support of PANSOC”.

New guest researcher: Nita Bharti

Nita Bharti, Associate Professor of Biology at Penn State University (Nita Bharti | The Huck Institutes (en-US) (psu.edu), will visit us from August 14th to September 8th.

Nita Bharti’s research focuses on the impact of human movement and behavior on the spread and prevention of infectious diseases. She is particularly interested in the social and environmental factors that increase vulnerability and health inequities around infectious processes. During her time at PANSOC, she will be working to understand the root causes of health inequities in respiratory viruses. She will also be exploring biases and gaps in surveillance data, which obscure health inequities and delay their detection.”

Ny kronikk: Henge med midt i arbeidslivet: Kurs, erfaringskort eller samarbeid?Ny kronikk:

Senterleder Mamelund spør i en ny kronikk “Hvorfor klore oss fast og frenetisk fornye oss gjennom kurs vi ikke utøver lærdommene fra fremfor å innrømme først som sist at det kan butte imot midt og sent i det akademiske arbeidslivet og at samarbeid mellom eldre og yngre krefter kanskje er å foretrekke?”

Kronikken kan leses her: Henge med midt i arbeidslivet: Kurs, erfaringskort eller samarbeid? (khrono.no)