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Federica Gazzelloni
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STATISTICIAN | ACTUARY | DATA SCIENTIST

“I’ve always loved maths and science, I meant to be a Veterinary, I wanted to do ballet classes, teach gymnastic, be an economist, a psychologist… Many years passed since I started the journey of my career as an investigator, it turned out to be an everyday challenge with tasks to solve, and most importantly a continuous learning path. Each day brings with it a fresh set of challenges to solve and opportunities for growth. It’s a path marked by curiosity, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence—a journey that I’m grateful to be on.”

Federica Gazzelloni is an Actuary, and a Data Scientist with a focus on health metrics, machine learning, and data visualization. With experience spanning corporate, academic, and research roles, Federica has developed a robust skill set that bridges actuarial science, statistical modeling, and public health.

Federica began her career as an actuary, working in corporate and academic settings where she focused on quantitative analysis, risk modeling, and compliance in the insurance and pensions industry. As a research-oriented actuary, she not only applied advanced actuarial principles but also developed a deep understanding of the statistical methods. Federica taught mathematics to high school students and instructed university students in computer science, helping to cultivate the next generation of data-driven professionals.

In recent years, Federica has expanded her focus to health data modeling, particularly in the context of infectious disease research. As the world faced the Covid-19 pandemic, her expertise in statistical methods and health metrics became even more relevant. Collaborating with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), Federica contributed to global health studies that aimed to understand the spread and impact of Covid-19, as well as other pressing health issues. This experience inspired her to create a practical manual for health data analysis, which serves as a resource for professionals and students alike who wish to explore health metrics and epidemiological modeling in-depth. Her book, to be published by CRC Press, combines foundational knowledge with practical applications, including R code for real-world case studies in health metrics.

Federica’s role in the pre-publication stages of GBD research enables her to directly contribute to some of the most impactful global health research being conducted today. This work not only requires technical acumen in statistical modeling but also a keen eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy, given the far-reaching implications of public health data.

Beyond her work in health metrics, Federica is an active member of the open-source community, where she contributes to several organizations dedicated to education and software development. She is a Certified Carpentries Instructor, delivering workshops that empower learners with foundational data science skills in R, Python, and other tools. Federica has taught workshops for prestigious organizations, including the Helmholtz Information & Data Science Academy, the University of Washington, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she introduced participants to key concepts in programming, data wrangling, and statistical analysis. Her teaching style is characterized by clarity, engagement, and inclusivity, making technical content accessible to learners of all backgrounds and skill levels.

Federica also serves as the Lead Organizer for R-Ladies Rome, a chapter of the global R-Ladies organization that promotes gender diversity in the R programming and data science communities. Since its founding in 2023, R-Ladies Rome has grown significantly under her leadership, reaching a large and engaged audience through online and in-person events. Through R-Ladies, Federica has organized a range of activities, from tutorials on data visualization to workshops on advanced R packages, all aimed at fostering a supportive and inclusive community for women and underrepresented groups in data science. Notable events include a session with Hadley Wickham, Chief Scientist at Posit PBC, and an upcoming workshop on building reproducible data pipelines, which reflects the group’s commitment to high-quality, practical learning opportunities.

In addition to her work with R-Ladies Rome, Federica has collaborated with other R user groups globally, including R-Ladies New York, R-Ladies Paris, and the TunisR User Group. These partnerships have expanded the reach of her initiatives, creating a more interconnected and supportive global R community. Federica is also involved with Bioconductor and the R Consortium, furthering her commitment to open-source development and collaborative learning.

One of Federica’s key strengths is her ability to use data visualization as a tool for communication and insight. Her background in data visualization allows her to create compelling visual representations of complex health data, making it easier for diverse audiences to grasp intricate statistical relationships. Whether through static graphs or interactive dashboards, Federica’s visualizations aim to tell a story, uncover trends, and empower decision-makers with actionable insights.

Throughout her career, Federica has consistently demonstrated a commitment to knowledge sharing and community building. Her work is informed by a belief in the power of data to drive positive change, especially in fields like public health where informed decision-making can save lives. Her contributions to education, open-source software, and health metrics research underscore her dedication to making data science an inclusive and impactful field.

Health Metrics and the Spread of Infectious Diseases: Machine Learning Applications and Spatial Modelling Analysis with R

🔗 https://bookdown.org/fede_gazzelloni/hmsidR/

Editor CRC Press - Chapman & Hall


Discover the fascinating world of health metrics and infectious disease analysis with our upcoming manual and textbook! Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned practitioner, this resource offers valuable insights into key concepts and practical applications.

Learn about essential public health metrics like DALYs, YLL, and YLD, which provide crucial indicators of a population’s health status. Dive into recent infectious disease outbreaks, including the impact of Covid19, and explore the most affected locations.

With a mix of explanatory text and hands-on R code examples, you’ll become proficient in analyzing real-world case studies. We’ll compare health metrics across different locations and test predictive models using tidymodels and INLA. Plus, you’ll discover the power of spatial visualization techniques using ggplot2, leaflet, sf, rgdal, and other popular R packages. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced practitioner, this book is designed to enhance your understanding and skills in health data analysis.

Ideal for early-stage practitioners and graduate students in public health, this resource is your guide to unlocking the full potential of R for spatial and health metrics analysis.

CDC Centers for Disease Control

Data Analysis and Visualization with R

Date: 2024-08-19 to 2024-08-20 | Centers for Disease Control

Website: https://rrlove-cdc.github.io/2024-08-19-cdc-online/

EtherPad: https://pad.carpentries.org/2024-08-19-cdc-online

Data Carpentry Genomics

Date: 2024-06-10 to 2024-06-13 | Centers for Disease Control

Website: https://fgazzelloni.github.io/2024-06-10-cdc-online/

EtherPad: https://pad.carpentries.org/2024-06-10-cdc-online

University of Washington

Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 5 Library Carpentry

Date: March 19-21 2024 | Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM)

Website: https://nnlm-ncds.github.io/2024-03-19-nnlm-uw-online/

EtherPad: https://pad.carpentries.org/2024-03-19-nnlm-uw-online

Helmholtz Information & Data Science Academy

Software Carpentry (Shell, Git, and programming with R)

Date: February 12-13 2024 | Helmholtz Online

Website: https://macrobiotus.github.io/2024-02-12-helmholtz-online/

EtherPad: https://pad.carpentries.org/2024-02-12-helmholtz-online

List of my talks

ShinyConf2024 - Shiny4Good Talk

Date: April 2024

Abstract: This talk will offer insights gained from active participation in the Data Science Learning Community through participation in Shiny book clubs. By exploring the unique dynamics of these forums, I will highlight the collaborative and knowledge-sharing atmosphere that the Data Science Learning Community cultivates. The talk will draw examples from the book clubs to illustrate how practical discussions and exercises amplify the learning experience.

#beginner #Shiny4Good #shinyapp #showcase #rstats #datascience

Sharing the mission with the open source community

R-Ladies DC

Date: September 2022

Abstract: This tutorial is meant for people new to spatial analysis and modeling with RStudio but comfortable in making simple data visualization with ggplot2. In this video, you will learn how to make a map with RStudio, and how to use data modeling for making spatial model analysis.

Material: It is helpful to have the following R packages installed beforehand: {tidyverse}, {ggthemes}, {maptools}, {ggmap}, {sf}, {spocc}, {dismo}, {SpatialEpi}, and {oregonfrogs} dataset from

remotes::install_github("fgazzelloni/oregonfrogs")

R-Ladies NYC & R-Ladies Rome

Date: April 2023

Abstract: In this video, you will learn about Modeling infectious diseases with R using both deterministic and Bayesian SIR model methods. We will explore both Deterministic and Bayesian SIR model methods, and learn how to use the well-known SIR model to understand how epidemics unfold and how to prevent their spread.

This video is perfect for students of science, healthcare professionals, or anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of how to use R for Modeling infectious diseases.

Agenda:

  • Introduction presentation of the Chapters and R-Ladies Global action
  • SIR model with R - quick intro assessment (Speaker Federica Gazzelloni)
  • Bayesian workflow for disease transmission (Speaker Jacqueline Buros)
  • Q&A session

Material:

R-Ladies Cambridge

Date: March 2024

Abstract: In this video, you’ll learn how to use ggplot2 to replicate one of the ongoing #DuboisChallenge2024 plates. The original plates are part of W.E.B. Du Bois’s legacy from back in 1900, showcased at the Paris Exposition. I’ll be using modern tools such as R. We’ll explore the colors used in the plates and delve into the intricacies of the challenge by understanding the perspective of hand-made graphs in the ‘Duboisian’ style.

Material:

R-Ladies NYC & R-Ladies Rome

Date: June 2024

Abstract: In this video, you’ll learn how to make a website in R with Quarto. We’ll explore the basics of Quarto and how to publish a website. The tutorial is designed to be accessible to beginners, with no prior experience required. By the end of the session, you will have a fully functional website that you can use to showcase your projects and achievements.

Material:

Resources:

Co-authored Publications

List of Co-Authored Publications
year journal title author pubid
2024 The Lancet Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the … AE Schumacher, HH Kyu, A Aali, C Abbafati, J Abbas, ... 8k81kl-MbHgC
2024 The Lancet Global fertility in 204 countries and territories, 1950–2021, with forecasts to 2100: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 NV Bhattacharjee, AE Schumacher, A Aali, YH Abate, R Abbasgholizadeh, ... 5nxA0vEk-isC
2024 BMC public health The state of health in the European Union (EU-27) in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study 2019 JV Santos, A Padron-Monedero, B Bikbov, DA Grad, D Plass, EA Mechili, ... kNdYIx-mwKoC
2024 The Lancet Global, regional, and national stillbirths at 20 weeks' gestation or longer in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 H Comfort, TA McHugh, AE Schumacher, A Harris, EA May, KR Paulson, ... M3ejUd6NZC8C
2024 European Journal of Public Health Exploring Burden of Disease Metrics in EU legislation: A Systematic Analysis J Chen-Xu, DA Grad, N Mahrouseh, S Cuschieri, F Gazzelloni, EA Mechili, ... 4TOpqqG69KYC
2024 CAS E-Forum Loss Modelling from First Principles P Parodi, D Thrumble, P Watson, Z Ji, A Wang, I Bhatia, J Lees, S Mealy, ... UebtZRa9Y70C
2023 Epidemiology & Infection Burden of infectious disease studies in Europe and the United Kingdom: a review of methodological design choices P Charalampous, JA Haagsma, LS Jakobsen, V Gorasso, I Noguer, ... ufrVoPGSRksC
2023 Archives of Public Health Burden of disease attributable to risk factors in European countries: a scoping literature review V Gorasso, JN Morgado, P Charalampous, SM Pires, JA Haagsma, ... 0EnyYjriUFMC
2022 European Journal of Public Health Burden of non-communicable disease studies in Europe: a systematic review of data sources and methodological choices P Charalampous, V Gorasso, D Plass, SM Pires, E Von Der Lippe, ... W7OEmFMy1HYC
2022 BMC public health Methodological considerations in injury burden of disease studies across Europe: a systematic literature review P Charalampous, E Pallari, V Gorasso, E Von der Lippe, ... WF5omc3nYNoC
2021 European Journal of Public Health The state of health in the European Union in 2019 J Vasco Santos, A Padron Monedero, B Bikbov, DA Grad, D Plass, ... eQOLeE2rZwMC
2021 European Journal of Public Health The state of health in the European Union in 2019 JV Santos, AP Monedero, B Bikbov, DA Grad, D Plass, EA Mechili, ... YsMSGLbcyi4C

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