Position Description

WHO/Cochrane/Cornell University Joan Klein Jacobs Center for Precision Nutrition and Health Summer Institute for Systematic Reviews in Nutrition for Global Policy Making
2025, Cornell University, Ithaca campus

Overview

This unique Institute offers a combination of online and in-person learning. In 2025, the Institute format includes one week of online asynchronous learning, that can be tailored by each person to fit their schedule. The online preparation brings all participants to a common starting point, which prepares us to maximize training during the in-person residential week on the Cornell University Ithaca, NY campus. The Institute brings together experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), Cochrane, and Cornell University to train participants in the development of systematic reviews of nutrition interventions in populations.  We have excellent outcomes, and Institute participants have contributed to producing reviews that inform global guidelines. 

In 2025, the Institute format includes one online week followed by an immersive in-person week on the Cornell University Ithaca campus. During the week of May 19th 2025 you will need to reserve about 2-4 hours/day for asynchronous online training; there will be two to three total hours of synchronous meetings or work sessions during this week. Finally, the immersive and in-person sessions will be held the week of June 15th, with arrival on 6-14-25, an introductory event on June 15, and sessions on June 16-20, 2025. All in-person events will be on Cornell University’s Ithaca Campus in beautiful upstate New York. 

Further details are available on the Institute's website (https://www.human.cornell.edu/dns/who-cochrane-cornell-summer-institute)

Systematic reviews following the Cochrane methodology are used to ensure that WHO recommendations are based on sound evidence. Participants will learn Cochrane methods including how to apply the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool to assess the overall quality of evidence.

Who should attend?

The Institute is intended for nutrition scientists and practitioners with an interest in the application of scientific evidence in policymaking. Candidates must have a university degree in health or social sciences with an interest in nutrition interventions for public health and be willing to be co-authors on a Cochrane review.

Applications from women and nationals of low- and middle-income countries are particularly encouraged.

Program benefits

In this program, you will achieve the following learning outcomes:

• develop and update your technical skills and knowledge in systematic reviews of nutrition and nutrition-sensitive interventions;
  
• build an understanding of the process for global policymaking in nutrition, and evidence assessment and its challenges;
  
• complete hands-on training in the development of Cochrane systematic reviews on a topic of immediate global health relevance in nutrition and public health; 
  
• develop confidence with the review methods and foster the development of professional networks with fellow participants and faculty.

• Curriculum Vitae (upload, see below)
  
• Complete the survey using the following external link to access the survey: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e3efrkZyhMco7VI
  
• Two letters of reference that specifically address your research and technical skills and your readiness for the Institute (upload, see below)
  
• Note that reference letters may be submitted by your letter writers OR you may upload letters on the writers' behalf through our online system. (Note: if you include your letters of reference within your application packet, as opposed to uploading them separately, you may receive an auto-generated message reminding you to submit reference letters. Please feel free to contact us at summerinstitute@cornell.edu to confirm that your application packet has been received in its entirety. Note that, we check each weekday, and we will send a confirmation receipt of your materials and inform you when your application is complete.)