Shishi Luo, Graduate Student
I use tools from stochastic processes, probability theory, and differential equations to make sense of complex biological systems. Much of my dissertation research addresses questions arising from the ecology and evolution of infectious pathogens. Please note: Shishi has left the Mathematics department at Duke University; some info here might not be up to date. - Contact Info:
- Education:
BS | University of Queensland | 2006 |
MS | | 2009 |
BCommerce | University of Queensland | 2006 |
- Specialties:
-
Applied Math
Probability
- Research Interests: Modeling the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases
In my research, I apply mathematics to questions arising from the ecology and evolution of
infectious diseases. Systems in this field display nonlinear population dynamics, exhibit important
behavior at multiple levels (intrahost and interhost), and are adaptive, that is, they undergo
evolution. These properties are common across complex biological systems, and developing tools
to tackle them will not only advance our understanding of infectious disease, but may also
apply to structurally similar systems in other areas of biology. I approach these problems by
seeking the most natural and insightful formulation. This principle, which underlies most of pure
mathematics, is also powerful in elucidating fundamental properties of real biological systems.
This means that rather than use a particular set of established tools, e.g. differential equations
or stochastic processes, individual-based models or mean-field models, numerical solutions or
stochastic simulations, I draw on my broad training in applied mathematics to formulate the
most appropriate and informative model for addressing a specic biological question.
- Keywords:
- Mathematical biology • Infectious diseases • Modeling
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