Alex Best
Senior Lecturer and group leader
My research interests cover the dynamics of infectious diseases at a range of biological scales, from the interactions between pathogens and immune cells within hosts, to the population dynamics of ecological populations faced with disease, to the co-evolution of hosts and their parasites. Currently, I am particularly interested in using models to predict and advise on disease spread in forests.
After gaining a BSc in Maths & Philosophy (Durham) and an MRes in Mathematical Biology (York), I studied for my PhD in the Animal & Plant Sciences department at Sheffield under the supervision of Prof. Mike Boots. Postdocs in Sheffield (Animal & Plant Sciences) and Exeter (Biosciences) followed. In 2013 I returned to Sheffield but across the road in the School of Mathematics & Statistics as a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow. In September 2016 I was appointed a Lecturer and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2026.
Click here for my CV. Click here for my Google Scholar page.
Ryan Grossman
PhD student
Host-parasite coevolution
My current research interests focus on population and ecological dynamics of infectious disease systems. In particular, I will be working on the evolutionary modelling of host-parasite associations, concentrating on the coevolution of hosts and their parasites which infect them. Factors I will take into account are, but not limited to, spatial structure, and various trade-offs that arise as a result of the host developing costly resistive strategies against invading parasites.After completing my undergraduate and masters studies in Mathematics at the University of Manchester, I am very happy to join the University of Sheffield, and this great research group.
Jack Woodruff
PhD student
The impacts of spatial structure on the ecology and evolution of infectious disease
My current research interests focus on spatial structure within infectious disease models. My first area of research will be focusing on vertical transmission, and how this affects host reproductivity within a spatially structured model. During my PhD, I hope to begin to apply spatially structured infectious disease models to forests. Having finished my integrated Masters in Mathematics (York) back in 2020, I am enjoying returning to the study of mathematics.
Former students
Charly Pain - PhD Student (2021 - 2025)
Rhizobia-legume symbiosis and phage-bacteria co-evolution
Next step: Research scientist at Fera Science Ltd.
Megan Oliver - PhD Student (2021 - 2025)
Host evolution to multiple parasites
Next step: Student support advisor at Sheffield Hallam University.
Prerna Singh - PhD Student (2019 - 2023)
The evolution and coevolution of host tolerance to parasites
Next step: Postdoctoral research position at Princeton University.
Laminu Idris - PhD Student (2017 - 2022)
Modelling the resistance of bacteria through bet-hedging strategies
Next step: University teaching post.
Charlotte Ward - PhD Student (2017 - 2020)
The impact of seasonality on disease dynamics
Next step: Research ecologist at British Trust for Ornithology.
Caterina Vitale - PhD Student (2016 - 2020)
The ecology and evolution of host tolerance to disease
Next step: Graduate job at international consultancy firm.
Charlotte Ferris - PhD Student (2015 - 2019)
The evolution of host defence in variable environments
Next step: Trained to become a secondary-school maths teacher.
Jaspreet Toor - PhD Student (2013 - 2016)
The evolution of hosts and parasites in complex communities
Next step: Postdoctoral research position at Imperial College, London.