Nome Shireen Assaf

Ciclo Ordinamento:

26

Cycle:

XXVI

Qualification
At the

Department of Statistical Sciences University of Padua

Research Fellows:

no

Contacts (room / phone):

Studio 136 - Telefono: 049 827 4111

Email:

assaf@stat.unipd.it

Years of study:

2011 - 2013

Supervisor:

Stefano Campostrini

Education:

Ph.D. Candidate in Statistical Sciences, 2011 – present University of Padua - Department of Statistical Sciences

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M.S. in Population Health, 2005 – 2007 American University of Beirut – Faculty of Health Science, Beirut, Lebanon

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B.S. in Environmental and Occupational Health, 1997 – 2001 University of Washington – School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

Research:

Worked as a Research Coordinator in UNESCO (PWRDC) for research on gender issues (economic and social). Condcuted research at the American University of Beirut Faculty of Health Sciences on demographic, health and social issues in the Middle East.

Study visits:

Guest Researcher, July-October 2013 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA. Worked for three months conducting analysis on Ph.D research topic using U.S. BRFSS data from the CDC to study temporal and spatial trends.

Collaborations:

3/2009 – 01/2011, Research Coordinator, UNESCO – Palestinian Women’s Research & Documentation Center, Palestine Research Coordinator – Worked on the coordination of research studies commissioned by the center which includes coordination with research review committee, monitoring of research progress, evaluation of final research product. In addition, responsible for preparation of factsheets and policy papers resulting from research findings.

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4/2007 – 9/2008, Freelance Consultant, Various organizations - Consultant, UN ESCWA - Worked on the research, development and formation of advocacy materials for promoting social policy in the ESCWA region, focusing on social observatories and economic and social councils. - Consultant, American University of Beirut - Worked on a systematic review for the study of the relationship between women’s assets and their sexual reproductive health. - HIV Consultant, ILO - Worked on a mapping of HIV/AIDS in the workplace of West Asian countries used as part of a regional strategic plan for HIV/AIDS in the workplace for the Western Arab States. - Project Development Assistant, Terre des Hommes -Worked on a Rapid Assessment of the Iraqi refugee situation in Lebanon for the purpose of designing a potential assistance project targeting Iraqi refugee children. - Analyst and Research Assistant, American University of Beirut -Conducted statistical analysis on a survey carried out after the recent Lebanese war as well as contributing to various research papers on health issues in Lebanon. - Field Officer, ACH – Acción Contra el Hambre - Conducted an assessment of the water and sanitation conditions in Palestinian gatherings of South Lebanon. Responsibilities included conducting household interviews and translation during meetings.

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11/2007 – 02/2008, Public Health Expert, CISP – Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli, South Lebanon Worked with health consultants and teachers in ten schools on health and evnivronmental awareness for children. Also involved in other activities related to water sanitation in schools.

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9/2006 – 10/2006,  Volunteer Team Leader, AUB and International Medical Corps South Lebanon Volunteered to work in South Lebanon on a psychosocial project to study the effects of the recent war in Lebanon on displaced persons as well as those that remained under direct bombing; responsible for coordinating the survey team, logistics, finances as well as conducting interviews.

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7/2006 – 9/2006, WHO Intern, World Health Organization Yemen Office Sana’a, Yemen WHO Intern – Assisted with the Basic Development Needs Program of WHO Yemen where I prepared a proposal for women health development and training, facilitated coordination meeting, and conducted field visits to various communities in Yemen to assess their situation and needs. 11/2004 – 9/2005, Project Coordinator, Palestine Red Crescent Society Ramallah, Palestine Worked on initiating and managing a Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment study in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the Disaster Management Unit. Also worked on managing the Primary Health Care Unit projects which include community-based health care systems, home and mobile clinics funded by the European Union. 9/2003 – 6/2004, Environmental Careers Organization Paid Intern, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. Worked on technical assistance and training programs for the Ministry of Environment and NGOs in Morocco. Responsible for grant management and coordinating efforts of the team, budget design, correspondence, and detailed project design. Traveled to Morocco to finalize training design and logistics. 2/2002 – 5/2003, Health and Sanitation Volunteer, Peace Corps Morocco Zagora, Morocco Conducted grant writing and initiated and managed a USAID funded project in collaboration with the Moroccan Ministry of Health to provide a health awareness program home and latrines to all families in three villages. Also worked with local health staff on vaccination drives and health education, and initiated and provided health lessons to women literacy classes. 9/2001 – 1/2002, Research Assistant II, Field Research & Consultation Group – University of Washington, Seattle, WA Measured noise exposure levels in various industries and surveyed workers on their personal exposure. Measurements were used to insure industry compliance with government regulations and were included as raw data in noise exposure and ergonomics research studies.

Thesis:

PhD thesis: Behaviour Risk Factor Surveillance Data Analysis Using Varying Coefficient Models 

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MS thesis:  Consanguinity and Reproductive Wastage in the Palestinian Territories. Committee: Dr. Marwan Khawaja, Dr. Jocelyn DeJong, Dr. Ziad Mahfoud, Dr. Khalid Younis.

Publications:

Submitted articles: Assaf, S., Campostrini, S., (Submitted 27 June 2013). Behaviour Risk Factor Surveillance Data Analysis using Time-Varying Coefficient Models: Application to Smokers in Italy.Statistics in Medicine.   Assaf, S., Crawford, CG., Xu, F., Campostrini, S. (Submitted 15 November 2013). Analysing Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Data Using Spatially and Temporally Varying Coefficient Models. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A.

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Published articles: Shireen Assaf, Stephanie Chaban. Domestic Violence against Single Never-Married Women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Violence Against Women Journal. April 30, 2013, doi: 10.1177/1077801213486330

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Marwan Khawaja, Shireen Assaf, Rouham Yamout. 2011. Predictors of Displacement Behaviour during the 2006 Lebanon War. Global Public Health Journal. Vol 6:5, p488-504.

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Shireen Assaf, Marwan Khawaja. 2009. Consanguinity trends and correlates in the Palestinian Territories. Journal of Biosocial Science. Vol 41:1, p107-124.

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Marwan Khawaja, Shireen Assaf, Yara Jarallah. 2009.The transition to lower fertility in the West Bank and Gaza Strip: evidence from recent surveys. Journal of Population Research. 2009. Vol 26:2, p153-174.

Current Position:

Senior Research Associate, ICF International, USA

allegato:
4233