July 15, 2022 | News | Welcome to the MPIDR

Manal Elzalabany Is the New Research Coordinator for the COVerAGE-Database

© MPIDR

Coming from the World Health Organization Regional Office in Cairo, where she worked as an epidemiologist and data analyst focusing on COVID-19 data management and analysis, Manal Elzalabany now coordinates the COVerAGE-DB project at the MPIDR. In her free time she wants to play the violin again more often.

What question drives you most in your research?

The re/emergence of infectious diseases, especially in times of wars and conflicts and the implications of conflicts on health systems, morbidity and mortality interests me the most. At the MPIDR, I am working as coordinator of the COVerAGE database. I think it is a good opportunity to explore COVID-19 data as an example to understand the epidemiology of the pandemic in conflict-affected countries in contrast to the situation in non-conflict-affected countries.

What are you particularly looking forward to as you start working at MPIDR?

Meeting and working with colleagues on interesting research projects. Although I have an epidemiology background, many times I feel relevant to the topics MPIDR researchers are working on, such as: online surveys and behavioral data, and mortality-related topics. I am also looking forward to doing my PhD in the next year or so and being at the MPIDR is great for networking. 

What do you like most about Rostock?

Rostock is a nice city. I like the weather. People are welcoming and smiley. I also like that everything is in walking distance and that the city is not loud in the evenings. 

What are you obsessed with at the moment besides demography?

I like classical music and classical literature. I used to learn and practice the violin before doing my masters. I hope being in Rostock would be a good chance to resume it.