Dr. Eva Enns

This project investigates how the network structure formed by human interactions influences population health and the implications this has for health interventions. The structure of contact networks influences the spread of infectious agents and the likelihood of an epidemic, while social networks allow for the spread of lifestyle habits and health attitudes that may also influence the health of a population. Using concepts from graph theory, optimization, and epidemiology, this project aims to quantify the impact of particular network features on the spread of disease and develop methodologies that leverage knowledge of the network structure to target health interventions such that the overall health of the population is maximized.