She has a master's degree in Statistics and Actuarial Sciences from University of Sannio in Italy. After she had finished her degree she realized that she wanted to challenge herself and do a PhD abroad.
- I have always been interested and charmed by the great help of statistics within the medical field, so I decided to look for a PhD in biostatistics.
Wastewater analysis
- The research project in which I am involved as part of my PhD is called SEWPROF.
SEWPROF is a large EU-project which involves researchers from many different institutions from several European countries.
The aim of the project is to investigate the use and abuse of licit and illicit drugs by the European population through the analysis of drugs detected in wastewater. This also includes investigating the consumption of licit and illicit drugs by the Norwegian population.
Salvatore’s involvement in the project is in improving the methodology.
- As a statistician my own part of the project has been mostly focused on the improvement of the statistical methodology usually applied to wastewater-based data, she says.
- This way we are be able to investigate the temporal patterns of the use of drugs throughout a week period.
Growing global health concern
- The use of illicit drugs is a growing global health concern and drug use has a numbers of negative health effects, Salvatore says.
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a new methodology within the drug use epidemiology and can help to investigate the extent of the problem.
- WBE can be used to monitor the spread of the problem in specific community and prepare preventive actions. It is a powerful tool that needs to be combined with adequate statistical methods.
The Phd candidate believes that the Wastewater-based epidemiology approach will be extended to the whole of Europe within ten years’ time. She hopes that frequent monitoring campaigns will be carried out, covering most of the European countries.
- I am confident that in the future, more researchers will be interested in wastewater-based epidemiology as a possible tool to investigate the use of illicit drugs.
Cultural differences
Moving from the warmer climate in the south of Italy to the much colder Norway posed some challenges for Salvatore when she first came here three years ago.
- There are a lot of cultural differences compared to Italy, and it was quite tough in the beginning, especially with the language and the cold temperatures.
But by now the phd- candidate is well established in Oslo and feels fortunate to be working at SERAF and at the University of Oslo.
- I could not have been luckier. The environment at SERAF is really friendly and everyone has welcomed me nicely, Salvatore says.
Working in a research environment has also taught her what is takes to be a good researcher, and what qualities are important if you want to succeed.
- For me a good researcher needs to be curious, independent, enthusiastic, optimistic and most of all needs to believe in what he or she does, she explains
Childhood dreams
Back home in Italy the statistician used to help out as a carpenter at her father’s company during her breaks from school or university.
- I always liked to learn new things, so during this time I learnt how to drive a truck and an excavator, she says.
When Salvatore was young however, her dream was to become a football player at the Italian female team, and leading them to win the World Championship. But she realized she had to make other plans for her future.
- After a while I realized that my talent just wasn’t strong enough, she laughs.
On the other hand, she is doing very well as a statistician at SERAF.