Melissa Iacovidou
NDPH Early Career Fellow
Melissa is an NDPH Early Career Fellow working in the Big Data Institute on mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, specifically schistosomiasis, in the SchistoTrack Group. The group strives to improve the effectiveness of treatment for schistosomiasis in Uganda. Having completed two years of postdoctoral research work within the same group, Melissa has analysed spatiotemporal data from the SchistoTrack cohort, characterising the ecological niches of intermediate snail hosts, identifying determinants of cure following praziquantel treatment, and integrating mobility patterns in individual-based models. In her current role, Melissa is aiming to link schistosome transmission and morbidity development and progression using mathematical models, to provide realistic disease burden estimates and inform treatment strategies for endemic countries.
Melissa completed her PhD in Mathematics of Systems at the University of Warwick. Melissa's doctoral thesis included research on malaria models and the effect of increasing realistic mosquito biology when evaluating interventions against the disease. Additionally, she contributed to models for lymphatic filariasis during a part-time research assistantship. Prior to her PhD, Melissa successfully completed Part III of the Mathematical Tripos at the University of Cambridge and earned an MMath in Mathematics from the University of St Andrews.
Recent publications
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Ecological niche stability ofBiomphalariaintermediate hosts forSchistosoma mansoniunder extreme flooding and seasonal change
Preprint
Iacovidou M. et al, (2025)
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Omitting age-dependent mosquito mortality in malaria models underestimates the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets.
Journal article
Iacovidou MA. et al, (2022), PLoS Comput Biol, 18
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Omitting age-dependent mosquito mortality in malaria models underestimates the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets
Preprint
Iacovidou M. et al, (2021)