Research

Click on each title below for more information.

Modelling infectious disease: We develop theory on the spread, impact, and in particular, the evolution of infectious disease and their hosts.  We focus on the importance of ecology/epidemiology to evolutionary outcomes and apply mechanistic disease models to specific human and wildlife disease interactions. 

Experimental disease ecology and evolution: We use an insect-virus system to test predictions from evolutionary theory. By manipulating host genetic diversity, nutrition, and population structure, we study how ecological factors influence the evolution of parasite virulence and host resistance. Our work connects empirical experiments to theoretical models, revealing the mechanisms underlying disease evolution.

Disease dynamics in the field: We use models to develop general ecological theory and address questions about specific wildlife and livestock diseases in the field.  We do this through conducting longitudinal surveys of insect virus dynamics through time.