Alex Washburne

I connect mathematical models with statistical inferences, especially inferences on phylogenetic trees, to simplify the problem of pathogen spillover. If we can find lineages of organisms with common behavior in a dataset, then we can simplify our question by asking: what traits or other features do members of this lineage share? If, by connecting models of pathogens percolating from wildlife to people with inferences we make in spillover count datasets, we can identify pinch points in the pathway to spillover, then we can point out pinch points and weaknesses for management interventions of spillover.