# James Azam - intro **URL:** \ **Category:** Introductions\ **Tags:** contributor, researcher\ **Created:** [8 August 2024 12:15 UTC](https://community.epinowcast.org/t/james-azam-intro/240 "2024-08-08T12:15:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jamesazam](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/community.epinowcast.org/jamesazam/32/121_2.png) [@jamesazam](https://community.epinowcast.org/u/jamesazam)\ **Post date:** [8 August 2024 12:15 UTC](https://community.epinowcast.org/t/james-azam-intro/240/1 "2024-08-08T12:15:23Z")
Hi everyone, I’ve been a part of this community for some time but have not yet introduced myself, so here goes. My name is James Azam and I am currently a Research Software Engineer with the [Epiverse-TRACE Initiative](https://epiverse-trace.github.io/). I work on [epichains](https://epiverse-trace.github.io/epichains/) within Epiverse-TRACE and contribute to existing packages, mostly in the forecasting/nowcasting ecosystem, like [EpiNow2](https://epiforecasts.io/EpiNow2/) and occasionally, [scoringutils](https://epiforecasts.io/scoringutils), and [epinowcast](https://github.com/epinowcast/epinowcast). My original training was in Actuarial Science but I started pivoting towards infectious disease modelling when I did two masters in mathematical sciences (mostly taught) and mathematics by research at [SACEMA](https://www.sacema.org/). My PhD research was in developing compartmental models for assessing the impact of interventions. An example of this is [an assessment of the use of measles vaccines outside the cold chain for outbreak response](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34481696/), an assessment of the impact of emerging variants on outbreak response impact. I also consulted briefly for a health data science startup in Cape Town, South Africa, where I contributed to the development of a COVID-19 model. I am new to the application of Bayesian methods in nowcasting and forecasting, but I am picking up on it as I go on my current job. Sam and Seb’s passion for the topic is infectious and you start to show symptoms after a short time of exposure (with a delay). Although I enjoy coding, I equally enjoy the so-called soft skills like (science) communication and the [art of explanation](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Explanation-Communicate-Clarity-Confidence/dp/1472298446). So, I always seize the opportunity to contribute in that area. I have published [some work](https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IxRpXp8AAAAJ&hl=en) in that regard. In my day-to-day software development, when I’m reviewing documentation, my main question usually is “would a beginner understand this?”. Hence, I tend to be a bit harder in my reviews of software documentation (READMEs, vignettes, etc.). I am new to the technical pre-requisites needed to contribute to the models and methods here, but I can contribute to improving documentation, and refactoring or improving existing code. Documentation is often treated as a second-class citizen in research software development but I think it is essential to grow a community of users and new contributors. I am competent in compartmental modelling, though, so if there’s ever a chance to have a conversation around that, I would be keen to contribute. ---
**Author:** ![samabbott](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/community.epinowcast.org/samabbott/32/5_2.png) [@samabbott](https://community.epinowcast.org/u/samabbott)\ **Post date:** [8 August 2024 20:18 UTC](https://community.epinowcast.org/t/james-azam-intro/240/2 "2024-08-08T20:18:14Z")
> [@jamesazam](#): > > Sam and Seb’s passion for the topic is infectious and you start to show symptoms after a short time of exposure (with a delay). wow 😆 🤣 😂 > [@jamesazam](#): > > Documentation is often treated as a second-class citizen in research software development but I think it is essential to grow a This is so true! > [@jamesazam](#): > > I am competent in compartmental modelling, though, so if there’s ever a chance to have a conversation around that, I would be keen to contribute. Predictably with my new all Julia all the time I am very excited by the SciMl ecosystem ([https://sciml.ai/](https://sciml.ai/))