Robert Koch Institute

Contact person

Katharina Alpers and Sofie Gillesberg Raiser

Robert Koch Institut (RKI)

Tel. + 49 30 18 754 36 90 and +49 30 18 754 27 52
Fax. + 49 30 18 754 35 33

Description of the institute

The Robert Koch-Institute (RKI) is the central federal institution responsible for disease prevention and control in Germany. It has about 1 500 employees and is located mainly in Berlin.

The EPIET fellows are based in the Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology. The department consists of the following seven units:

• Focal Point for the Public Health Service, Crisis Management, Outbreak Investigation and Training Programmes
• Surveillance
• Immunization
• HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections
• Gastrointestinal Infections, Zoonoses and Tropical Infections
• Respiratory Infections
• Healthcare-associated Infections, Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance and Consumption

Around 200 enthusiastic professionals from various countries work at the department, most of whom speak English fluently and are very motivated to accommodate fellows from other countries and provide support.

The German Postgraduate Training in Applied Epidemiology (PAE), which is an EPIET-associated programme (EAP), is also placed in the department (www.rki.de/pae (link is external)). EPIET fellows are integrated in the PAE-programme and may be offered the opportunity to enrol in the Master of Science in Applied Epidemiology (MSAE) programme (120 ECTS points). The MSAE is organized in cooperation with the Berlin School of Public Health, Charité University, and is incorporated into the EPIET- and PAE- training courses and activities.

There is a strong cooperation with other departments within the institute especially the Department for Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, the Centre for International Health Protection (ZIG) and the RKI laboratories. The laboratories cover virology, bacteriology, parasitology and mycology and serve as a training site for the European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme (EUPHEM).

Training opportunities

Germany is a large country with a growing infrastructure for infectious disease epidemiology. EPIET- and PAE-fellows have extensive opportunities to participate in a wide range of outbreak investigations, the development, implementation and evaluation of surveillance systems and epidemiological studies, and teaching and communication activities. The results of the projects are published in international or national peer-reviewed journals. Short-term international assignments are supported. 

All necessary support including modern computer equipment, communication and library facilities (providing access to all relevant publications) is available. The fellows are fully integrated into the work of the department and have access to all information and databases of the department. The EPIET fellows participate in the following PAE activities:

• Induction days: presentation of the department, the German Surveillance System, and the projects offered
• Weekly PAE meetings with all fellows: presentation of projects and discussion of methods from conception to presentation of results
• PAE scientific seminar (“Jour fixe”) 2-4 times per year
• Lab module (1 week) at the laboratories of the institute
• Visits to local health authorities

In addition, it is possible to have an assignment with the Public Health Intelligence Team at the Information Centre for International Health Protection (INIG) at RKI. Here the fellow will be able to get an insight into international Public Health intelligence.

Occasionally, PAE will offer single modules together with the UK-FETP. EPIET-Fellows are also welcome to join these. 

Training supervision

Epidemiologists working in the Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology offer supervision for projects and outbreak investigations. They are familiar with the EPIET training objectives and many of them are EPIET-, PAE- or EIS- graduates themselves (see below). Expert statistical support is provided throughout the training to all fellows.

Language requirements

Even though most supervisors are fluent in English, German is the working language at the department. Therefore, applicants should have at least basic German skills (reading and speaking). Willingness to speak German is crucial especially in outbreak investigations when fellows interact with people outside RKI. Berlin offers a variety of German language courses.

Training history

Number of EPIET fellows trained at Department: 22

Number of PAE graduates working at Department: 48

Number of EPIET graduates working at Department: 12

Number of EIS alumni working at Department: 1

Number of EUPHEM graduates working at RKI: 3