The project aims to understand how climate, land-use, and socioeconomic change interact with landscape level measures of vulnerability to identify the regions of the world that are most susceptible to zoonotic outbreaks. The project will simulate outbreaks of high-risk zoonotic pathogens (e.g. Ebola) across a wide variety of diseases that have ability to spread within human populations. This type of approach could be particularly important in the context of ongoing global changes, such as climate change, that may lead to shifts in disease transmission dynamics and patterns of outbreak risk. The project aims to develop and deploy broad-scale quantitative risk models that will be integrated into zoonotic outbreak risk and planning. These models will be used to inform the WHO pandemic hub's efforts to prevent outbreaks from spreading and to further understand epidemic risk.

The project involves a diverse supervision team of ecologists, epidemiologists, and public health experts and uses mathematical and statistical modelling to create a user-friendly data visualisation and communication system. This interdisciplinary approach will allow the student to develop a range of complementary skills across different fields:

The student will acquire knowledge and skills in designing, developing, and implementing statistical and mathematical models. This includes understanding the underlying principles and assumptions of these models, as well as being able to interpret the results and draw meaningful conclusions. Essential skills for understanding complex ecological systems, which can be used to identify patterns and relationships between different variables that may influence zoonotic disease transmission.
The student will gain enhanced knowledge of the environmental and ecological factors that contribute to the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases, such as understanding the interactions between animals, humans, and the environment, as well as the role of climate change, land-use change, and other environmental factors. Understanding the ecological context of zoonotic disease is important for developing effective management strategies and interventions.
The student will also gain knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of public health, including epidemiology, disease surveillance, and outbreak investigation; as well as the role of public health agencies and organizations and other stakeholders in managing outbreaks and implementing control measures.