Jorge A. Alfaro-Murillo
PhD Candidate in Mathematics
Contact
Email: alfaro@math.purdue.edu
Office: MATH 739
Department of Mathematics, Purdue University
150 N. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2067
Next talks
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Presentation at SIAM Conference on Applications of Dynamical Systems, session MS112.
A Time Since Last Infection-Dependent Epidemiological Model
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Presentation at The Society for Mathematical Biology Annual Meeting and Conference, session CS16 Biomed 1.
Modeling the effects of the introduction of a universal vaccine for influenza
Research
My main interest is the applications of mathematics to biology. So far I have worked with deterministic models in epidemiology and ecology; in particular, seasonality and appearance of new strains for influenza, transmission dynamics of raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis), and interactions of plant toxins, herbivores and predators in the succession of a boreal forest.
My thesis project deals with a general epidemiological model that includes a transmission rate and a susceptibility to reinfection, both dependent on the time since the last infection of the individual. From the mathematical point of view, it is a strongly continuous non-linear semigroup for which I am trying to analyze the asymptotic behavior.
My advisor is Professor Zhilan Feng. Along with all her other current students, we have quite an active group in mathematical biology in the department. We organize a seminar at least once per week.
I am also working on another project, with Ken Kellner, in modeling the interactions of acorn weevils and small mammals in the succession of oak trees. We recently got a grant from the PGSG to conduct experiments for a year.
CV
For a list of my publications and academic achievements you can check my CV.
Teaching
- Spring 2013
Not teaching any course.
- Fall 2012
Calculus For The Life Sciences I, sections 011 and 021.
Other
- On I presented a talk at the Basic Skills
Workshop, organized by the AWM Purdue University called
\(\mathrm{B{\scriptstyle{IB}}\!\TeX ing}\).
\(\mathrm{B{\scriptstyle{IB}}\!\TeX}\) is a reference management
software for formatting lists of references. Keeping your
references in \(\mathrm{B{\scriptstyle{IB}}\!\TeX}\) is the
equivalent of writing your drafts in \(\mathrm{\LaTeX}\): when you
want to publish, it is enough to download a style file from the
journal’s website and change a line in your .tex file.
Part of the material covered is available in this page.
About
I am originally from Costa Rica. I have two BSc degrees from the University of Costa Rica, one in Economics and the other in Mathematics.
This is my fifth year as a PhD Student in Mathematics at Purdue University. I am also doing coursework for a MSc degree in Mathematical Statistics at the Statistics Department. I expect to be done with both degrees by the end of 2013 and start my post-doctorate in January, 2014.