Programming and Support

Training themes:

Linking within- and between-host dynamics

• within-host models that integrate resource competition among vital host functions and immune defenses

• nested mathematical modeling to integrate within- and between-host dynamics

• mathematical modeling of non-linear feedbacks between co-infections at the individual and population levels 

• analysis of metagenomics data to describe host microbiomes and their influence on infectious disease susceptibility 

• application of mutualism theory to reveal the importance of symbionts in providing protection against parasites

Scaling host and population dynamics through host heterogeneity

• GIS analyses to quantify how spatial structuring leads to infection risk 

• mathematical and statistical network analysis to study how contact networks drive the spread of disease and to provide recommendations for effective intervention strategies

• spatial and individual-based modeling approaches to study the effects of individual history, movement and land use on transmission 

• landscape genetics and genomics, and phylodynamics

 Integrating population and community dynamics

• community ecology modeling to investigate importance of particular host species in amplifying or diluting the transmission of pathogens

• ecophysiological modeling of the thermal performance and limits of hosts, vectors and pathogens

• phylogenetic approaches to integrate molecular biology and evolutionary theory to study between-species transmission

• spatial mathematical and statistical modeling to quantify spillover risks; comparative immunology to assess community infection risks

 Population-region scaling

• cross-scale mathematical and statistical modeling that account for two-way feedbacks

• inclusive epidemiological study design to improve inference of genetic, genomic and metagenomics data
  integration of epidemiological data with phylogenetic techniques to create traceback investigations

• species distribution models and eco-informatic “big data” approaches to spatiotemporal disease mapping

Programmatic events are open to ALL students, not just those supported by the training grant.

Laney Graduate School

Graduate Division of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

• IMP - Immunology & Molecular Pathogenesis
• MMG - Microbiology & Molecular Genetics
• PBEE - Population Biology, Ecology & Evolution

Rollins School of Public Health

• EPI - Epidemiology
• EHS - Environmental Health Sciences
• BIOS - Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

Dissertation committee:

Include at least one faculty member from a different program (e.g. PBEE student needs at least one faculty member from IMP or EHS)

Support:

IDASTP will support:

• 4 students per year (2 third-years and 2 fourth-years)

• Trainees are supported for 2 years (their third and fourth year)

• Trainees must be enrolled in IMP, PBEE, EHS, MMG, EPI or BIOS programs 

• Stipend will support students for 2 years

• $1,000 per year for travel to conferences, workshops or fieldwork

• $1,000 per year for research-related costs

How to apply