In 2022, a global epidemic caused by the mpox virus (MPXV) took the world by surprise, particularly affecting gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBSMSM). Despite a growing understanding of the drivers of transmission, there is still uncertainty about why the incidence of mpox cases suddenly declined, and only a limited number of mpox cases have been detected in Europe after the 2022 outbreak. In addition, the recent emergence of a new subclade, Ib, raises the question of whether a new sustained MPXV outbreak may occur in Belgium or other European countries.

The PhD candidate will be based at the Data Science Institute (DSI) at Hasselt University, and will be working on an interdisciplinary research project in collaboration with the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, and KU Leuven. The main goal will be to develop a mathematical model describing the spread of mpox in the Belgian MSM community. The proposed modelling approach is based on Separable Temporal Exponential Random Graph Models (STERGMs) and the candidate will have the opportunity to work with newly collected data on sexual contact behavior and waning of cellular and humoral immunity. Through simulation studies, the risk of a sustained MPXV outbreak under different epidemiological scenarios will be investigated and the potential impact of interventions assessed, providing valuable insights to guide public health decisions.

Applicants should have a master degree in statistics/mathematics, or related disciplines, good programming skills and an interest in working in a multidisciplinary environment.

The scholarship provides a competitive stipend (https://www.uhasselt.be/en/about-hasselt-university/working-at-hasselt-university/why-work-at-hasselt-university#PhD) and covers the costs of attending conferences and other educational activities (e.g. summer schools).

More info about doing a PhD at Hasselt University and how to apply before the 3th April deadline can be found here:
https://www.uhasselt.be/en/about-hasselt-university/working-at-hasselt-university/vacancies/detail/3271-phd-student-statistics-data-science