Scenic view of a mountainous landscape with densely wooded green trees, rugged rocky hills, and distant mountain ranges under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Investigating parasite dynamics across scales

My research focuses on how parasites and pathogens spread and respond to change, with a focus on heterogeneity and cross-scale modelling

Colorized microscopic image of numerous purple bacteria with flagella.

Transmission heterogeneity in waterborne disease

Waterborne diseases such as cholera still pose a large global burden, which is expected to worsen with climate change. Not all cholera infections are the same, however, and this heterogeneity has consequences for transmission, impact and control.

Key questions: How does heterogeneity in cholera transmission affect its overall dynamics? What does this mean for intervention success?

Approaches: multi-scale modelling, individual-based models (IBMs), ODEs/PDEs

The image shows a set of complex mathematical equations involving variables, summations, and Greek letters, giving a system of differential equations for modelling disease transmission.

Mistletoe dynamics across scales

European mistletoe (Viscum album) is a parasitic plant that grows on host trees in clumps and is spread by birds. Due to their trackability, mistletoes offer an ideal macroparasite system in which to investigate host-parasite dynamics. Areas of interest include drivers of aggregation, responses to climate change, host specificity and life history strategies.

Key questions: What drives mistletoe aggregation, distribution, demographic processes? How do host, parasite and vector factors interact to shape mistletoe ecology?

Approaches: demographic models (e.g., IPMs), individual-based models (IBMs), species distribution modells (SDMs)

A life history PCA plot with tree and plant silhouettes in the background, showing data points and vectors labeled L_{alpha-omega}, eta_{e}, T, and L_{alpha}.
Tall Robinia tree with mistletoes and sparse branches against a bright blue sky, with a building partially visible in the background.
Map of the United Kingdom showing estimated mistletoe habitat suitability, with higher suitability areas in yellow and green, and lower suitability areas in blue and purple.