Curriculum vitae

  • Doctorate/Ph.D., Infection control and infectious disease , Universiteit van Amsterdam (2020). Click here for thesis.

    Master of Science, Health sciences: infectious diseases and public, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2013). Click here for publication.

  • Scientific researcher and consultant

    • Self-employed 02-2022 – present (Worldwide)

    Conduct research, critical appraisal, and consultancy work in education, public health, infectious diseases, medicine, politics, and policy. Some of the organizations I currently work with: World Health Organization, Medecins Sans Frontiers, McMaster University, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

    • AP Antwerpen University of Applied Sciences (10-2022 - 09-2023) (Belgium)

    Guideline methodologist and researcher on the Belgian low-risk labour guideline using GRADE and Meta-analysis

    • Academisch Medisch Centrum (UMC/AMC) 10-2020- 07-2022 (Netherlands)

    Researcher on COVID-19 guidelines, critical appraisal of recommendations and extraction using GradePRO.

    • World Health Organization, 04-2021 – 10-2021 (Switzerland)

    Update report on the COVID-19 pandemic effect on sexually transmitted infections using systematic review.

    • Academisch Medisch Centrum (UMC/AMC) 06-2015 – 12-2015 (Netherlands)

    Occupational medicine evidence synthesis for guidelines on whiplash and burnout.

    Supervisor

    • Vrije Universiteit, Management, Policy Analysis and Entrepreneurship. 02-2022 - present (Netherlands)

      Supervise Master students during their internship for their research thesis.

    Visiting lecturer and researcher

    • College of Dental Medicine, Qatar University, 01- 2020 – 06-2020 (Qatar)

    Lecture development, teaching and research in field of medicine and dentistry.

    • Weill-Cornell Medicine – Qatar, 03-2019 (Qatar)

    Set up modeling study to estimate the risk of airborne infection transmission.

    Editor
    External editor for the Journal of Clinical and Translational Research.

    Political advisor COVID-19

    • House of Representatives of The Netherlands aka Dutch Parliament
      09-2020 – 04-2022 (Netherlands)

    Provide scientific input and briefing on COVID-19 pandemic to the Members of Parliament of party DENK. Write motions, parlementarian questions, agenda setting, policy development, critical analysis of health policies.

    Ph.D. candidate

    • Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) 12-2015 – 12-2019 (Netherlands)

    Research on the infection transmission risk from aerosols and biofilm in the dental clinic using ML-2 laboratory biofilm studies, clinic sampling, microbiology lab techniques, math modeling, literature studies, development of aerosol sampling techniques.

    Expert (panel) member

    • Dutch Sexually Transmitted Infection Guideline 03-2022 - present (Netherlands)

    Expert and input provider for STI guideline update specific on STI consultation of migrants and refugees, and revision of abnormal vaginal discharge treatment.

    • International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) 03-2017 – 12-2019 (Belgium)

    Expert panel member on the oral ecosystem resistance and resilience. Produced 2 papers, lead groups, project management, research.

  • Algemeen Nederlandse Pers – Registered expert in the General Dutch Press database.

    Dutch mainstream media – Invitation-based expert input provider on public health and infectious diseases.

    Haagse Hogeschool - The Hague University of Applied Sciences
    Member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Health. Covering a period from 2023-2024.

    Sexually Transmitted Infection Dutch Treatment Guideline     - member of the guideline update team. Author/editor/update of Vaginal Discharge and STI Consultation chapter. Include a focus on sexual health in persons with migration background, refugees, asylum seekers and persons with conservative attitudes towards sexual relations in The Netherlands.

    Informer of politicians on public health - public health and inclusive policies from a scientific perspective. Advocate of topics of interest (racial disparities, inclusive healthcare, oral health).

  • Full working proficiency
    English and Dutch

    Spoken production
    French and Maghreb-Arabic

  • Academic Skills

    Meta-analysis
    Proof-reading and editing
    Academic writing
    Statistical analysis
    ML-2 level microbiology lab research
    Scientific research
    Lecturing/Teaching
    Student supervision

    Academic Expertise
    Infectious diseases
    Infection control (including vaccination)
    Public health
    Health disparities
    Sexual and reproductive health
    Microbiology
    Guideline development

    Non-academic skills

    Public speaking
    Science dissemination
    Knowledge broker
    Political and policy advice
    Training

    Fields of interest

    Politics
    Society
    Science translation
    Advocate of minorities rights
    Decolonization of science

“It has been a pleasure to work with Charifa during her 6 months stay with us at Qatar University as a guest lecturer being part of the founding team of the college of dental medicine. Have never seen a more passionate colleague with a constant eye for the impact research - her own and others - can have on society and how it can be translated into evidence-based teaching. Truly hard working and productive for the developing college.”
Dr. Egon Toft former Vice President of Qatar University