Students and trainees

Recruitment

I am looking to support graduate students with a strong interest in mathematical biology, who are interested in deriving, analyzing, parameterizing and validating dynamical systems models in ecology and epidemiology.

Future potential research projects include:

  • advancing infectious disease modelling in adjacent disciplines;
  • avian influenza and wildbird and mammal population dynamics;
  • evolution of pandemic influenza;
  • rabies establishment in Newfoundland;
  • population dynamics of disease vector populations;
  • evolutionary epidemiology during a pandemic in response to control measures.

You must submit your documents for consideration here. I will review submitted applications beginning November 1 of each year for admissions in the following September. All positions remain open until filled. Applicants that email me, rather than using the above link, may not be considered.

Advertising

I advertise available positions on the Society for Mathematical Biology Forum, IDDjobs and the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution job listings. I advertise available graduate student positions during the month of October. Postdoctoral fellowship positions are advertised based on the the timing of funding decisions.

Current trainees

  • Giuseppe Pasqualino (PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies, 2023) Stability transition of persistence and extinction in an avian influenza model with Allee effect and stochasticity.

  • Francis Anokye (PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021) Epidemic models for public health decision making and health care resource planning in smaller jurisdictions. Awards: ACCDMi Scholarship (2025).

  • Joseph Baafi (PhD in Biology, 2020) Control of infectious disease.

  • Laura Bruce (Medical Student, 2024) Estimating Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Transmission in Newfoundland and The Impacts of Interventions on Elimination.

  • Joshua Mack (MSc in Biology, 2024) Evolutionary adaption and zoonotic spillover of avian influenza. Awards: ACCDMi Scholarship (2025), TD Environmental Bursary (2025), Northern Training Supplement Program (2024).

  • Abdou Fofana (PDF, co-supervised with Jude Kong, 2025-). Learning from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: building modelling frameworks that consider regional differences Awards: AI4PH Scholarship, 2025.

Resources for trainees in the Hurford Lab. To write an abstract please following the guidance described in How to write a Nature summary paragraph. To learn how to write please read Scientific writing made easy by Turbeck and colleagues.

Graduates

  • Miranda Wallace (MSc in Data Science, 2024-25). Predicting Regional Measles Spread Using a Spatial SEIR Model and Machine Learning.

  • George Adu-Boahen (MSc in Mathematics, 2022-25). Optimal control strategies in epidemic models: analysis of community and traveler isolation strategies under resource constraints.

  • Amin Afshari (Honours 2025, SURA 2024). Elimination, Suppression, or Mitigation? A Mathematical Framework for Cost Comparison of COVID-19 Pandemic Response Strategies and Mathematical models for the immune system. Current: PhD student, Simon Fraser University.

  • Dr. Zahra (Mohammadi) Cook (PDF, 2021-2023). Understanding the impact of travel restrictions on COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador. Current: Python Instructor, Canadian Institute for Health Information.

  • Dr. Bo Zhang (PDF, 2021-2023, co-supervised with Shawn Leroux). Predicting spruce budworm outbreaks in Newfoundland.

  • Dr. Maria M. Martignoni (PDF, 2020-2022). Disease ecology models for COVID-19. Current: Postdoctoral fellow, Georgia State University.

  • Joshua Renault (USRA, 2020, 2021). Mathematical models for COVID-19.

  • Jake Prosser (MSc in Biology, 2019-2023). Mathematical models for the control of marine parasites. Current: Data analytics, New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data, and Training.

  • Dr. Joany Marino (PhD in Biology, 2016-2020, co-supervised with Suzanne Dufour). Mechanistic models of ecological interactions. Awards: MITACS Globalink. Current: Postdoctoral fellow, University Medicine of Greifswald

  • Dr. Abdou Fofana (PhD in Biology, 2015-2020). Spatial extension of the theoretical framework of the trade-off hypothesis for virulence evolution. Current: PDF, Memorial University, after Postdoctoral Research Associate, Boston University.

  • Joe Moran (MSc in Biology, 2017-2020, co-supervised with Nicolas Lecomte). The spread and persistence of rabies in the Arctic: a modeling study.

  • Fabio Frazao (MSc in Environmental Science, 2015-2018). The cascading effects of selective logging on seed dispersal and carbon stocks in the Brazilian Amazon. Awards: ACENET fellowship. Current: PhD student, Dalhousie University.

  • Sovit Chalise (MSc in Biology, 2014-2016). Biodiversity measures to summarize antibiotic resistance. Current: HS GovTech Solutions Inc.

  • Dr. Josie Hughes (PDF, 2013-2016). Modelling and analysis to support antimicrobial stewardship Current: Research Scientist, Environment and Climate Change Canada.

  • Matt Rittenhouse (MSc in Biology, 2014-2016). Effects of seasonally varying temperature and salinity on the dynamics os sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) Data analyst, Goodlife fitness.