Special Short Course Series for
Healthcare Professionals, Researchers and Students
- Delivered by the University of Nicosia, ranked among the top 501-600 universities globally according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025.
- Implemented by University of Nicosia, the 1st university globally to receive triple accreditation for online learning quality.
- Conducted by internationally distinguished University of Nicosia Medical School faculty with field expertise in applied epidemiology and biostatistics for clinical and public health research.
- Targets skill growth in data analytics, a critical area encompassing two of the top five fastest-growing employment skills globally (LinkedIn, 2020). Employers increasingly prioritize skill groups like critical thinking and analysis, emphasizing their growing prominence in the lead-up to 2025 (WEF, Future of Jobs, 2020).
Reserve your position by 27 March 2025
- Overview
- Course Schedule
- Instructors
- What you will receive
- Start Date
- Course Fees
- Overview
- Course Schedule
- Instructors
- What you will receive
- Start Date
- Course Fees
Course Description
This course delves with developing and honing academic and scientific writing skills for communicating effectively research findings arising from observational and/or interventional clinical and public health research investigations to the scientific community, patient organizations, policy-makers and the wider general public. It also seeks to develop grant writing skills for compiling competitive grant applications for funding clinical and public health research investigations. Topics include academic and scientific writing skills for compiling original research manuscripts arising from observational studies or interventional clinical trials according to STROBE and CONSORT Guidelines respectively, as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses according to PRISMA Guidelines. Topics also include toolbox skills for effective academic writing and presentation of statistical results, impactful compilation of graphical and non-graphical abstracts, insightful reviews of journal manuscripts, and effectual presentation of research findings to both scientific and lay audiences. The course concludes with academic writing for grant funding applications and ethical issues regarding plagiarism, particularly in relation to the use of Artificial Intelligence. Toolbox skills are applied in each module with practical applications of real world scenarios from clinical and public health research.
Who is this course for and why should I take it?
This course is intended for undergraduate and graduate students in allied health fields, research investigators and/or healthcare professionals involved in clinical or public health research seeking to master their academic and scientific writing skills and striving to enhance their research outputs and impact in both the academic community and society
at large. The course is also ideal for those in the academia who have an interest in further advancing and mastering their academic and scientific writing skills and publishing in high impact factor journals. Acquiring knowledge and skills in academic and scientific writing is important for any practitioner that seeks to provide evidence-based solutions for real-world medical and public health challenges that require the communication research findings. Academic and scientific writing is increasingly important across fields, including research, commercial sector (relating to i.e. health technology and administration, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry), non-governmental organizations and governmental public health work.
The course provides practical skills for developing and mastering academic and scientific writing skills for communicating findings from observational and interventional research studies, including clinical and public health research. Upon course completion, attendees will have acquired the required knowledge and skills for compiling impactful academic and scientific writing outputs targeted to the scientific community via publication in high impact factor journals and oral presentations in scientific conferences, as well as patient organizations, policy-makers and the wider general public.
- Two of the top five fastest-growing skills for employment are related to data analytics. (LinkedIn, 2020)
- The top skills and skill groups which employers see rising in prominence in the lead up to 2025 include groups such as critical thinking and analysis. (WEF, Future of Jobs, 2020)
100% Online
Asynchronous & synchronous activities
4 Weeks
6 hours per week
Prerequisites
Introductory and/or Advanced biostatistics using SPSS software or equivalent
Taught by world-renowned academics and research investigators | per lecturer: a) average Scopus h-index: 26; and, b) average Scopus citations: 3,500
Certificate
Certificate awarded upon course completion
Taught
English
Course Schedule
Introduction to academic and scientific writing
3 APR. 2025 | 15:00-16:30
Dr E. Critselis
Toolbox skills: Effective writing skills
3 APR. 2025 | 16:30-18:00
Dr S. Achilleos
Toolbox skills: IMRAD for academic and scientific writing
8 APR. 2025 | 15:00-16:30
Dr S. Achilleos
Toolbox skills: Effectual presentation of statistical results
8 APR. 2025 | 16:30-18:00
Dr A. Quattrocchi
Academic writing for composing narrative reviews
10 APR. 2025 | 15:00-16:30
Dr E. Critselis
Scientific writing for systematic reviews and meta-analyses according to PRISMA Guidelines
10 APR. 2025 | 16:30-18:00
Dr A. Quattrocchi
Scientific writing for compiling original research manuscripts according to STROBE and CONSORT Guidelines
29 APR. 2025 | 15:00-16:30
Dr E. Critselis
Tool box skills: Compiling impactful non-graphical and graphical abstracts
29 APR. 2025 | 16:30-18:00
Dr S. Achilleos
Tool box skills: Submitting abstracts and journal manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journal
6 MAY. 2025 | 15:00-16:30
Dr A. Quattrocchi
Tool box skills: Conducting peer reviews of journal manuscripts submitted for publication
6 MAY. 2025 | 16:30-18:00
Dr P. Salameh
Academic writing for grant funding applications
8 MAY. 2025 | 15:00-16:30
Dr E. Critselis
Ethical issues and plagiarism in the AI era
8 MAY. 2025 | 16:30-18:00
Dr Lina Tolma
Communicating research findings to the scientific community and health policy-makers
15 MAY. 2025 | 15:00-16:30
Dr E. Critselis
Communicating research findings (including infographics and lay summaries) to the general public
15 MAY. 2025 | 16:30-18:00
Dr C. Demetriou
Meet the Faculty
Elena Critselis
BSc, MPH, PhD
Course Lead & Instructor
Associate Professor in Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School
About×
Dr Elena Critselis
Dr Critselis holds a BSc (Dean’s List) in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University, a Master of Public Health with a dual concentration in Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Global Health from Yale University School of Public Health, and a PhD in Epidemiology, Nutrition from Harokopio University. Building on integrated epidemiological approaches, Dr Critselis’ research interests focus on elucidating the lifestyle determinants for the optimal prevention and management of chronic age-related non-communicable diseases, including in particular cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Her interests also encompass the propagation of “bench-to-bedside” research methodological approaches for optimizing the translational potential of promising basic research and state-of-the-art -omics findings into clinical and public health practice. Dr Critselis has published 88 publications in international scientific journals with >3,500 citations (Scopus h-index: 31), >60 presentations in scientific conferences, 2 book chapters published by renown international publishing houses, and >35 invited lectures at academic and research institutions. She is the recipient of 8 national and international awards from European scientific and professional societies.
Souzana Achilleos
BSc, MSc, DSc
Course Instructor
Assistant Professor in Environmental Health, Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School
About×
Dr Souzana Achilleos
Dr Achilleos holds a BSc degree in Chemistry from the National and Kapodistrian University in Athens, Greece; a Master of Science in Environmental Health from Cyprus International Institute for the Environment and Public Health in Association with Harvard School of Public Health; and a DSc (Doctor of Science) degree in Environmental Health from Harvard University in Boston, MA, USA. Her research interests include exposure assessment, environmental epidemiology, and public health; and particularly the investigation of sources, fate and transport, and effects of air pollution, including dust storms, on human health. Dr Achilleos has published >30 publications in international scientific journals with >900 citations (Scopus h-index: 16).
Christiana Demetriou
BSc, MPH, PhD
Course Instructor
Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School
About×
Dr Christiana Demetriou
Dr Demetriou holds a BSc (Highest Honors) in Biological Sciences from Geneva College in Pennsylvania USA, a Master of Public Health from Imperial College London (ICL) (awarded with Distinction) and a PhD in Clinical Medicine Research from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at ICL. She was also awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Biomedical and Healthcare Education by St George’s University London. Dr Demetriou’s research interests include the epidemiology of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, and she is particularly interested in the role of diet, including early life nutrition, in the risk and clinical phenotype of these diseases. In addition, Dr Demetriou is interested in the field of biological embedding, the process through which external exposures, especially early life exposures, become internalized to influence health, as well as in the molecular investigation of the common links between chronic diseases (“diseasome”). Dr Demetriou has published 68 publications in international scientific journals with 1,181 citations (Scopus h-index: 19).
Annalisa Quattrocchi
BS, MS, PhD, EPIET alumnus
Course Instructor
Assistant Professor in Epidemiology, Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School
About×
Dr Annalisa Quattrocchi
Dr Quattrocchi holds a BSc (with Honors) in Biological Sciences from University of Catania (Italy), a MSc (with Honors) in Human Biology (with Honors) from University of Catania (Italy), a PhD in Translational Biomedicine from University of Catania (Italy), and the EPIET (European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training) diploma from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC, Sweden). Her research interests include cancer epidemiology, social determinants of health, nutritional epidemiology and early life exposure on health outcomes, with particular focus on the development of chronic diseases in adult life. Furthermore, Dr Quattrocchi is interested in the field of infectious disease epidemiology, from surveillance to risk analysis for infection prevention and control. Dr Quattrocchi has published 57 publications in international scientific journals with >3,200 citations (Scopus h-index: 22).
Pascale Salameh
PharmD, MPH, PhD, HDR
Course Instructor
Professor in Epidemiology, Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School
About×
Prof Pascale Salameh
Prof Salameh holds a PhD from Bordeaux University, a Master of Public Health and a PharmD form Lebanese University. She is a Full Professor of Epidemiology and a pharmacist, an expert in research direction, accreditation and education quality. Currently, she is a Professor of Epidemiology at the Lebanese University, at the Faculties of Pharmacy, Medicine, Public Heath, and Doctoral School of Sciences & Technologies. She is also a Quality Representative of the Lebanese University and leads educational programs’ accreditation projects at the health related faculties of the Lebanese University. Medal of the French National Academy of Pharmacy. She has extensive experience in research design, data collection, management and advanced statistical analysis. She has 565 publications in peer-reviewed journals with >8,000 citations (Scopus h-index: 40), several book chapters and hundreds of oral presentations and scientific posters in the fields of medical epidemiology, clinical pharmacy, higher education and public health.
Eleni (Lina) Tolma
BSc, MPH, PhD
Course Instructor
Associate Professor in Clinical Population and Public Health, Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School
About×
Eleni (Lina) Tolma
Dr Tolma received her undergraduate degree in Pharmacy from Duquesne University (USA) upon earning a scholarship from AMIDEAST/Fulbright Commission. She continued her graduate studies at the University of South Carolina (USA) where she received her MPH and PhD degrees in the field of Public Health with concentration in Health Promotion, Education and Behaviour. Her main research interests include the promotion of early detection of breast cancer, especially among minority populations, and the promotion of positive youth development as a mechanism of decreasing risk-taking youth behaviours. Dr Tolma has published 50 publications in international scientific journals with >700 citations (Scopus h-index: 15).
What you will receive
- Access to live sessions with instructors
- Access to materials prepared by the course instructors, including presentations, assignments and additional reading material
- Access to SPSS licensed software
- Professional Certificate of Completion
Start Date
- 03 April 2025
- 15:00 -18:00
Course Fees
Total cost is 450 EUR for all 14 sessions and certificate of completion, with discounts available. Discount of 30% available for ≥5 participants from same organization. Please contact Irene Papadopoulou at papadopoulou.i@unic.ac.cy for the promotional code.
Payment need to be made in full prion to course initiation.
For additional information:
Irene Papadopoulou
Senior Course Administrator
Direct: +357 22 471 997 | Main: +357 22 471 900 | Fax: +357 22 471 947 | E-mail: papadopoulou.i@unic.ac.cy