Research
ACCDMi researchers use data science, applied mathematics, and statistics to advance disease ecology modelling.
1. ONE Health and zoonotic infections (Led by Dr. Javier Sanchez)
Projects: Avian influenza models, spillover risk, amphibian disease ecology.
Baafi, J. and A. Hurford. Effect of Climate Warming on Mosquito Population Dynamics in Newfoundland. Under review.
Mack, J., M. WZ Li and A. Hurford. Using an evolutionary epidemiological model of pandemics to estimate the infection fatality ratio for humans infected with avian influenza viruses. Under review.
2. Stochastic modelling, epidemic forecasting, and small jurisdictions (Led by Dr. Edward Susko)
Projects: Inference for stochastic models, epidemic forecasting, spatial-temporal risk in small communities, outbreak modelling, stochastic control, and advocacy for small jurisdictions.
Anokye, F., M. WZ Li, S. Walker, and A. Hurford. Quantifying SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spread and the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Under review.
Li, J., Ho, L.S.T. and Susko, E. (2026). Exploring the Impact of Bubble Strategies on the Spread of Infectious Diseases Communications in Statistics - Simulation and Computation.
Li, J. Efficient Bayesian Inference for Change Points Detection in Infectious Disease Models. Fourteenth Annual Canadian Statistics Student Conference. Statistical Society of Canada. Hamilton, Ontario, May 30, 2026.
ACCDMi-tools is a Github repository that advances the Simulation-Grounded Neural Network approach for forecasting. This work is lead by Binod Shrestha.
Fofana A., …, J. Arino, J. Watmough, M. Li, and A. Hurford. Building infectious disease modelling capacity to support small jurisdictions and communities in Canada. In prep.
3. Dynamical systems and control in disease ecology
Projects: Hybrid dispersal models, imperfect vaccination, tumour models with therapy, seasonality and dispersal, and optimal control strategies.
- Plank, M.,… A. Hurford.. Joint economic and epidemiological modelling of alternative pandemic response strategies. Under review.
4. Modelling education (Led by Dr. Amy Hurford)
Projects: Online outreach resources, local outreach events, and training workshops.
A. Hurford. What is mathematical modelling? And how to be great at it. Blundon Seminar, Memorial University. May 21, 2026. Audience: ~30 high school students with aptitude and interest in mathematics.
A. Hurford. What is mathematical modelling? And how to be great at it. Plenary lecture, Canadian Undergraduate Mathematics Conference, McMaster University. Audience ~40 conference participants. June 25, 2026.