Tell us a bit about yourself and your background
I first studied BSc Natural Sciences at University of Leeds where I majored in Computational Mathematics and Nutrition. Following this, I completed a MSc in Modelling for Global Health at University of Oxford. During this I specialised in malaria transmission modelling and worked as a visiting researcher at University of Cape Town.
My research focused on the development and application of mathematical modelling to predict the transmission dynamics of P.vivax malaria in Venezuela. In collaboration with local researchers, I estimated the potential impact of mass drug administration control strategies in the country.
Since then, I have worked as a mathematical modeller at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In this position, I am evaluating the potential impact of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (PMC-SP) in infants across Africa. In addition, I am developing an app which incorporates transmission, SP resistance and economic models to guide PMC-SP decision-making on the continent. I presented this research and app at two international conferences and will continue working on this project throughout my PhD.
How did you become interested in health data science?
I have always enjoyed multidisciplinary research, more specifically at the intersection between healthcare and scientific programming. During my MSc I undertook a module where I trained and tested ML models to predict CVD mortality rates using population-level risk factor data. This made me want to specialise in the application of AI and ML in healthcare.
What attracted you to the HDR UK programme?
The HDR UK programme places importance on flexibility, multidisciplinary study and collaboration, all of which are aspects of research I enjoy and value. The programmes provides generous support both in forming collaborative relationships and financially. For example, HDR UK partners with research hubs across the country including universities, NHS and industry to help facilitate the use of health data in research.
The structure of the programme provides a year to develop skills and discover your reseach interests before proposing a PhD project. This aligns with my goal to gain in-depth techical skills in ML and AI before developing a project, and allows time to form collaborative relationships with academic and industry partners.
What are you looking forward to about the PhD ?
I look forward to learn about current health issues in the UK from experts, before developing a project centered around using health data to discover insights that improve people’s lives.
I am excited by the idea of collaborating with industry partners and charities throughout my PhD to learn directly from healthcare professionals. Furthermore, I look forward to working closely with organisations who could apply my research in real-life settings to see first-hand the potential impact of health data research.
Do you have plans for the future?
Throughout my PhD, I aim to gain in-depth skills in ML, AI and data science, all of which are transferable to different industries. I am open to many careers in the healthcare field, and will use the next few years to undertake internships and network with professionals in both academia and industry.
