The Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro (FKM UNDIP), hosted an international postdoctoral academic visit by Dr. Wangjong Lee from Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea, at the Public Health Genomics Laboratory from 22–28 November 2025. The program was hosted by the Master of Epidemiology Program (Magister Epidemiologi) FKM UNDIP and implemented as part of the World Class University (WCU) Program of Universitas Diponegoro.
This program represented a strategic initiative to strengthen the integration of epidemiology and genomics in public health research, particularly in the surveillance and control of malaria and other vector-borne diseases. The program began with coordinated logistical support and customs clearance for advanced molecular research equipment, including PCR and DNA extraction systems, ensuring the readiness of genomic facilities at FKM UNDIP.
As part of the WCU Postdoctoral Program, FKM UNDIP received molecular laboratory equipment from Kangwon National University, significantly enhancing its capacity for genomic epidemiology, molecular surveillance, and translational public health research. Technical briefings accompanied the handover, covering laboratory standards, quality control, and biosafety practices essential for epidemiology-driven molecular studies.
Throughout the week, Dr. Lee delivered a series of scientific lectures and hands-on technical sessions attended by undergraduate and graduate students in epidemiology and related disciplines. The sessions covered host–parasite interactions in Plasmodium knowlesi, genomic approaches to mosquito-borne disease surveillance, DNA extraction and quality control for vector samples, PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR) for epidemiologic analysis, and gene cloning and protein expression for biomarker discovery.
These activities strengthened participants’ competencies in applying molecular and genomic tools to epidemiological research, supporting evidence-based disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and risk assessment. The program also fostered opportunities for future collaborative research, joint publications, and student mentoring in molecular epidemiology and public health genomics.
This international postdoctoral program underscores FKM UNDIP’s commitment to advancing Epidemiology and Genomics as a core academic strength, reinforcing its role in global health research and international collaboration through the WCU UNDIP initiative, with the Master of Epidemiology Program serving as the primary host and academic coordinator.
