Computational methods for population-size-dependent branching processes. Branching processes are the primary mathematical tool used to model populations that evolve randomly in time. Most key results in the theory are derived under the simplifying assumption that individuals reproduce and die independently of each other. However, this assumption fails in most real-life situations, in particular when the environment has limited resources or when the habitat has a restricted capacity. This project ....Computational methods for population-size-dependent branching processes. Branching processes are the primary mathematical tool used to model populations that evolve randomly in time. Most key results in the theory are derived under the simplifying assumption that individuals reproduce and die independently of each other. However, this assumption fails in most real-life situations, in particular when the environment has limited resources or when the habitat has a restricted capacity. This project aims to develop novel and effective algorithmic techniques and statistical methods for a class of branching processes with dependences. We will use these results to study significant problems in the conservation of endangered island bird populations in Oceania, and to help inform their conservation management.Read moreRead less
New universality in stochastic systems. This project aims to uncover new analyses and effects in the complex behaviour of non-linear systems with random noise. Many systems originate near an unstable equilibrium. This project will develop a new mathematical theory that establishes a universality in the way the long term effect of noise expresses itself as random initial conditions in the dynamics. It will fill gaps in Mathematics and make refinements to existing fundamental scientific laws by in ....New universality in stochastic systems. This project aims to uncover new analyses and effects in the complex behaviour of non-linear systems with random noise. Many systems originate near an unstable equilibrium. This project will develop a new mathematical theory that establishes a universality in the way the long term effect of noise expresses itself as random initial conditions in the dynamics. It will fill gaps in Mathematics and make refinements to existing fundamental scientific laws by including random initial conditions as predicted by our theory. This will advance our understanding of complex systems subjected to noise and will provide significant benefits in the scientific discoveries in Biology, Ecology, Physics and other Sciences where such systems are frequently met.Read moreRead less
Multiscale models in immuno-epidemiology. The spread of a pathogen (for example, a virus or bacteria) through a population is a multi-scale phenomena, influenced by factors acting at both the population and within-host scales. At the population scale, transmission is influenced by how infectious an infected host is. Infectiousness in turn depends on the balance between pathogen replication within the host and immune/drug control mechanisms. This project aims to develop new mathematical framework ....Multiscale models in immuno-epidemiology. The spread of a pathogen (for example, a virus or bacteria) through a population is a multi-scale phenomena, influenced by factors acting at both the population and within-host scales. At the population scale, transmission is influenced by how infectious an infected host is. Infectiousness in turn depends on the balance between pathogen replication within the host and immune/drug control mechanisms. This project aims to develop new mathematical frameworks for simultaneously modelling these two scales. This will provide a platform for the rigorous study of complex biological interactions - such as the emergence and combat of drug-resistance - that shape society's ability to control infectious diseases in human, animal and plant systems.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101344
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$364,981.00
Summary
Advancing genomic-driven infectious diseases modelling. Emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance are among the greatest threats to Australian health and agriculture, and current surveillance tools may fail to detect and mitigate infectious disease outbreaks in real time. This project will develop advanced phylodynamic methods (i.e., mathematical models of infectious disease transmission and pathogen evolution) to enable real-time surveillance of infectious disease outbreaks as t ....Advancing genomic-driven infectious diseases modelling. Emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance are among the greatest threats to Australian health and agriculture, and current surveillance tools may fail to detect and mitigate infectious disease outbreaks in real time. This project will develop advanced phylodynamic methods (i.e., mathematical models of infectious disease transmission and pathogen evolution) to enable real-time surveillance of infectious disease outbreaks as they emerge and monitor levels of drug resistance.Read moreRead less
Epidemics in large populations: long-term and near-critical behaviour. The project aims to prove qualitative and quantitative results concerning aspects of the long-term behaviour of near-critical epidemics, including the probability and duration of a large outbreak, and the total number of people infected. This project is a theoretical study of stochastic models of epidemics in large populations. The project will focus on emerging epidemics, where the average number of contacts, infection and r ....Epidemics in large populations: long-term and near-critical behaviour. The project aims to prove qualitative and quantitative results concerning aspects of the long-term behaviour of near-critical epidemics, including the probability and duration of a large outbreak, and the total number of people infected. This project is a theoretical study of stochastic models of epidemics in large populations. The project will focus on emerging epidemics, where the average number of contacts, infection and recovery rates are such that the basic reproduction number of the disease is near the critical value 1. The project will plan to both analyse particular epidemic models and develop new methodologies applicable in broader contexts. The mathematical predictions will be tested through simulations and comparison to real-world data. The significant outcome of the project should be the advancement in mathematical understanding of infectious disease spread, eventually leading to improved epidemic surveillance and control, and resulting in more effective protection of public health, improved quality of life, and obvious economic benefits.Read moreRead less
New mathematics to improve understanding of anomalously diffusing reactions. Standard mathematical models for particles that diffuse and react are based on assumptions that improving technologies have revealed do not always hold. This project aims to create a mathematical framework that generalises existing approaches, taking into account observations of complicated transport behaviour at many scales, and including the impact of this anomalous transport on reactions. The development of the fram ....New mathematics to improve understanding of anomalously diffusing reactions. Standard mathematical models for particles that diffuse and react are based on assumptions that improving technologies have revealed do not always hold. This project aims to create a mathematical framework that generalises existing approaches, taking into account observations of complicated transport behaviour at many scales, and including the impact of this anomalous transport on reactions. The development of the framework will involve innovative approaches utilising mathematical techniques, including dynamical systems, fractional calculus, and stochastic processes. This project aims to deliver new mathematical models that can be adopted in applications across different discipline areas, and especially in biological systems. Read moreRead less
Mathematical models of 4D multicellular spheroids. Mathematical models have a long, successful history of providing biological insight, and new mathematical models must be developed to keep pace with emerging technologies. Modern experimental procedures involve studying 3D multicellular spheroids with fluorescent labels to show both the location of cells and the cell cycle progression. This 4D data (3D spatial information + cell cycle time) provides vast information. No mathematical models ha ....Mathematical models of 4D multicellular spheroids. Mathematical models have a long, successful history of providing biological insight, and new mathematical models must be developed to keep pace with emerging technologies. Modern experimental procedures involve studying 3D multicellular spheroids with fluorescent labels to show both the location of cells and the cell cycle progression. This 4D data (3D spatial information + cell cycle time) provides vast information. No mathematical models have been specifically developed to interpret/predict 4D spheroids. This project will deliver the first high-fidelity mathematical models to interpret/predict 4D spheroid experiments in real time, providing quantitative insight into innate mechanisms and responses to various intervention treatments. Read moreRead less
Guiding principles and guardrails for genetic association studies. This project aims to investigate deep connections between genetic structure (population genetic processes, linkage disequilibrium and population structure) and the ability to statistically detect genetic variants responsible for variation in traits. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of statistics, mathematics and biology through an innovative, multidisciplinary approach that synthesises and extends founda ....Guiding principles and guardrails for genetic association studies. This project aims to investigate deep connections between genetic structure (population genetic processes, linkage disequilibrium and population structure) and the ability to statistically detect genetic variants responsible for variation in traits. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of statistics, mathematics and biology through an innovative, multidisciplinary approach that synthesises and extends foundational disciplinary results. Expected outcomes of this project include principles and methodology that underpin future genetic association studies by supplying a framework for interpreting results. This should provide significant benefits by reducing false conclusions and their associated costs.Read moreRead less
The mathematics of stochastic transport and signalling in cells. The project aims to develop new stochastic mathematical models of the dynamics of protein transport and cell signalling. The mathematics will link macro scale biological observations to micro scale molecular movements to characterise the relative role that different components and processes play. Expected outcomes are robust mathematical analyses of the transient dynamics of closed, finite capacity queueing networks and biological ....The mathematics of stochastic transport and signalling in cells. The project aims to develop new stochastic mathematical models of the dynamics of protein transport and cell signalling. The mathematics will link macro scale biological observations to micro scale molecular movements to characterise the relative role that different components and processes play. Expected outcomes are robust mathematical analyses of the transient dynamics of closed, finite capacity queueing networks and biological insight into the major control mechanisms in cellular insulin signalling. The project should provide significant benefits via the delivery of new mathematical tools and analysis for stochastic networks, impacting our understanding of metabolic transport, and providing interdisciplinary research training.Read moreRead less
Individualisation for 3D Audio. The project aim is to allow the general listener to enjoy high-fidelity 3-D sound over headphones. Such 3-D audio is of paramount importance when inter-personal communication requires situational awareness, (eg search and rescue, fire-fighting, and air traffic control). To achieve this, the project aims to address one of the toughest problems in audio signal processing: deriving high-fidelity 3-D audio headphone filters from photos and/or 3D scans of ears. The pro ....Individualisation for 3D Audio. The project aim is to allow the general listener to enjoy high-fidelity 3-D sound over headphones. Such 3-D audio is of paramount importance when inter-personal communication requires situational awareness, (eg search and rescue, fire-fighting, and air traffic control). To achieve this, the project aims to address one of the toughest problems in audio signal processing: deriving high-fidelity 3-D audio headphone filters from photos and/or 3D scans of ears. The project plans to address fundamental research questions in statistical shape and data analysis and to perceptually evaluate the 3-D audio methods developed.Read moreRead less