Bi-Co Mathematics Colloquium with Dr. Nicholas Landry
Professor Nicholas Landry from the University of Virginia will give a talk titled "Realistically Modeling Diseases: From Data to Models and Back Again."
Abstract: Data-informed mathematical models are necessary to accurately model the spread of diseases. Such models can bridge the divide between epidemiology, dynamical systems, and data science. I will describe the process of developing an expert-informed contagion model through the lens of hospital-acquired C. difficile and the roadblocks and opportunities that emerged. C. diff transmission is assumed to be mediated through infected surfaces, represented as a bipartite person-to-environment contact network, leading to bursty infection dynamics driven by contaminated rooms. I will also talk about a project that emerged from this study which examines the effectiveness of inferring a contact network from time-series data derived from both simple and complex contagion processes. We find that networks are more easily reconstructed from complex contagions if the network is dense or the dynamic saturates, and that simple contagions are better otherwise. I will conclude by describing future applications to the spread of information.
ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ welcomes the full participation of all individuals in all aspects of campus life. Should you wish to request a disability-related accommodation for this event, please contact the event sponsor/coordinator. Requests should be made as early as possible.