Hello!
I'm Ana Bento
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health
Who
I'm an Assistant Professor @ Indiana University - Bloomington in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health & the EEB department. I'm an eco-epidemiologist with a focus on ecology and evolution of infectious diseases. I earned my Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolution at Silwood Park, Imperial College London advised by Prof. Mick Crawley. After a MRC postdoctoral fellowship with Prof. Christl Donnelly, at Imperial College, Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Department, I accepted a postdoctoral position at the Odum School of Ecology, UGA, to work with Prof. Pejman Rohani on the ecology & evolution of vaccine preventable childhood diseases, where I am currently and until end of July 2019.
Why
I'm fascinated by trying to understand the frequency, magnitude and shape of seasonal disease dynamics and the effects of population heterogeneity. Primarily, identifying evolutionary, ecological and demographic drivers of (re-) emergence and seasonality of infectious disease systems, with the aim of informing vaccination and other control public health policies. Scaling up individual-level interactions to understand the population-level outcomes (e.g., the evolution of virulence or immune evasion).
What
My research focuses on the ecology of infectious diseases in humans and other animals. My research agenda seeks to understand the dynamics of biological populations and epidemics, focusing on how to bring experimental and observational data together with mathematical theory. The majority of my body of work has been on vaccine preventable diseases dynamics, with a view to understanding fundamental processes in ecology and evolution. My ongoing research falls into the following themes: (i) pathogen evolution and phylodynamics; (ii) seasonal disease transmission; (iii) maternal immunization; (iv) anthropogenic effects (e.g. vaccines).
How
My approach is to use theoretical models to understand how human and other animal systems behave generally, while simultaneously seeking to confront and validate models with data and make predictions. I use a combination of mathematical modelling, phylodynamics approaches and cutting-edge statistical inference techniques. With these methods I am able to make quantitative, testable predictions and confront process-based models with data. This is the central premise of my research program and the common thread of my work. For more details check out my lab.
Ongoing projects
A selection of projects I'm involved in much of my current research is based on understanding long-term data on spatio-temporal incidence patterns of microparasitic infections such as pertussis, measles and bovine tuberculosis. In my work, I formalize scientific hypotheses as mathematical models to make precise predictions and powerful inference.
Bacterial Evolution & immune evasion
We are developing mechanistic models of pertussis evolution across scales.
In collaboration with Andy Preston, Sam Scarpino, Matthew Hahn, Luis Rocha, Eric Harvill & Michael Weigand
Tick borne disease emergence in the Midwest
Using Indiana as a Early warning system for tick expansion in the Midwest.
In collaboration with Karo Oomodior, Keith Clay, Dan Becker, Curt Lively & Ellen Ketterson
Drivers of pertussis dynamics
Bayesian coalescent framework to formally tests drivers of evolution in B. pertussis populations
In collaboration with Pejman Rohani & Aaron King, Thijs Bosch
Herd immunity erosion: source and sink dynamics
Characterise disease dynamics and vaccine coverage, estimate the epidemiological impact of vaccine hesitancy, and identify the spatial scale of herd immunity.
In collaboration with Pejman Rohani, Shweta Bansal, Saad Omer & Murali Haran
Vaccine waning immunity
England & Wales and particular states in the US incidence times series of pertussis for different vaccine eras.
In collaboration with Pejman Rohani, Aaron King & Felicia Magpantay
Evolution of antiviral resistance
Computationally test the hypothesis that increased HA binding avidity is associated with increased rates of Oseltamivir resistance.
In collaboration with Sam Scarpino & Deven Gokhale
Influenza viral attributes
Emergence and pathogenesis of influenza viruses, with a focus on identification of attributes which influence tropism, pathogenicity, and evolution of influenza viruses.
In collaboration with Jasmina Luczo, Mark Tompkins & Pejman Rohani
Impact of maternal vaccination
The historical pertussis literature indicates that maternal vaccination may potentially lead to a reduction in the efficacy of routine infant immunization. We studied the possible downstream consequences of maternal immunization.
In collaboration with Lourdes de Lima, Daniele Leite, Pejman Rohani
Within herd dynamics
Epidemiological impact of control & immunisation activities on within-herd bovine tuberculosis outbreaks
In collaboration with Christl Donnelly
Environmental drivers of plant-herbivore dynamics
In temperate regions the seasonal pattern of plant productivity and senescence is influenced strongly by the prevailing weather. For herbivores the onset of spring is particularly important for survival and growth, while subsequent plant production will potentially influence lactation and recovery of body mass before the next breeding season.
In collaboration with Mick Crawley, Josephine Pemberton, Steve Albon & Dan Nussey
Selected Publications
Epidemiological impact of control and immunisation activities on within-herd bovine tuberculosis outbreaks
Bento & Donnelly. 2019. Scientific Reports
Feeding the disparities: the geography and trends of breastfeeding in the United States
Garnier, Bento et al. 2019 Vaccine
Won't you be my neighbor?
Bento, Omer, Haran, Rohani & Bansal ( in prep available upon request)
B. pertussis epidemiology, transmission & evolution in the vaccine era
Bento, King, Taujale, Bosch & Rohani. in review (available upon request)
Climatic effects of plant productivity and herbivore performance in St Kilda
Bento et al. in review (available upon request)
Warming and vegetation community dynamics in a wild red deer population
Bento et al. nearing submission (available upon request)
Spring temperature and rain mediate summer growth in the Park Grass experiment
Bento et al. nearing submission (available upon request)
Teaching & Mentoring
I have been fortunate to create and teach a variety of classes and mentor several outstanding undergraduate and MSc. and Ph.D. students.
Three unifying principles guide my teaching and mentoring approach:
(i) combining foundational principles with practical application
(ii) guided active learning
(iii) quantitative reasoning
These are some courses I have designed and or taught:
Introduction to Scientific Computing
Statistics and Computing in R for Ecologists and Epidemiologists (Indiana University- Bloomington
Machine learning
Introduction to machine learning with R - applied to ecological problems (2019 @ Odum School of Ecology)
Computational Modeling
Computational Modeling ECOL 8540 - applied to infectious disease systems (May 2018 @ IDEAS, UGA)
Introduction to modelling
Introduction to modelling with R - apply population models (2017 @ Odum School of Ecology)
Mathematical Models
Introduction to Mathematical Models Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases (2013-2014 @ Infectious Disease Epi. Dept Imperial)
Generalised Linear Modeling in R
Statistics and Computing in R for Ecologists (2009-2012 @ Silwood Park Imperial)
Media Coverage
IDEAS Data Clinic
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Wonk! Magazine
Will add link soon
The Female Scientist
Will add link soon
Social Me
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Ana I Bento © 2019 | Background image R code adapted from data imaginist