The Department of Biology is excited to invite you to a special seminar at the 2025 Undergraduate Students Research Symposium by Biology faculty member, Dr. Maciej Boni, a Professor in the Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine here at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. Please see the details below and flyer attached for more information. 

Speaker: Dr. Maciej Boni | Professor | Department of Biology | Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine | Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Title: “What is computational epidemiology?  Can it help you build a career in global health?

Abstract: What is epidemiology?  What is computational epidemiology?  Will we need more or fewer epidemiologists since we just went through a world-changing pandemic?  Epidemiology is the study of disease distribution and determinants in populations, while computational epidemiology enhances this discipline by applying mathematical modeling, data science, and computational techniques to analyze complex disease dynamics. In the wake of COVID-19, we face not a reduction but an urgent expansion in our need for skilled epidemiologists, particularly those with backgrounds in computer science and mathematics. This integration of traditional epidemiological principles with advanced computational approaches is modern epidemiology and is the next frontier for public health.  Given the current political climate, will we still have a public health system and a global health community in 2030? My guess is yes. I will present some of the world's biggest infectious disease problems -- recent and future -- and will show what has been done and what needs to be done to answer these questions.