Yi Ting Chew, MSci
PhD student | Yale School of Public Health | Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
Public Health Modeling Unit | 350 George St. | New Haven, CT 06510
Email: [email protected]
MSci in Natural Sciences (Systems Biology) – University of Cambridge
BA in Natural Sciences (Pathology) – University of Cambridge
During my undergraduate studies, I was fascinated with how models help us make sense of infectious disease dynamics and help test our assumptions with mathematical rigor. Wildlife surveillance is challenging and I saw the limitations of relying only on epidemiological data for understanding complex disease ecology. I undertook my Master’s degree in Systems Biology and worked within the Disease Dynamics Unit at the University of Cambridge to improve my skills in statistics and genomic technologies. Specifically, I was keen to research how I could use pathogen genomes to reconstruct the transmission dynamics of diseases that evade timely detection. I developed a phylodynamic simulation framework for inferring inter-species transmission of tuberculosis and discovered that phylogenies could help distinguish between distinct spillover dynamics even with incomplete sampling. After completing my MSci, I worked with the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) on the phylodynamic inference of transmission dynamics of COVID-19 outbreaks in migrant worker dormitories. Currently, my research interests are in identifying the drivers of transmission of mosquito-borne viruses using a combination of methods in modeling, simulation, and population genetics. When I’m not in front of a monitor, I’m likely thinking of good noodle recipes or out walking and getting bitten by a million bugs.
