I originally trained in Mathematics at Imperial College London, then did a PhD on statistical pattern recognition applied to digital sky surveys. For my postdoctoral research, undertaken at the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, I kept working with similar statistical techniques, but changed domain to genetics and genomic science, working in genetic epidemiology.
Since 2017, I have been based in Malawi, at MLW, where I head the Statistical Support Unit.
Research
My research is in the field of applied biostatistics. My (statistical) research interests lie in (i) flexible multivariable regression modelling, in particular applied to serological data to inform vaccine schedules, (ii) methods for diagnostic accuracy studies and (iii) statistical software for applied epidemiology. Originally, my background lies in statistical genetics, classification and related pattern recognition techniques, many of which fall under the more general banner of machine learning. I also provide biostatistical support to clinical trials and observational, epidemiological or immunological studies. I have continued to pursue my interests in statistical genetics through analysis of transcriptomic data from human challenge experiments. Finally, I am deeply passionate about building biostatistical capacity in Malawi and the wider sub-Saharan African region.
Current positions
Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme (MLW) - member of Senior Management Team, Research Strategy Group, Heads of Department, co-chair of the Training and Development Committee, head of the Statistical Support Unit, head of the Biostatistics Associate Research Group
LIGHT Consortium - statistics lead
Start 4 All - statistics lead, member of the Senior Management Group, Central Ledership Team and the Malawi research team
Teaching
I teach on the DLTROP204 - Epidemiology and Statistics programme.
Further relevant expertise, professional memberships, awards
Royal Statistical Society - GradStat
International Biometric Society - member, member of the Malawi Region executive committe, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee
International Statistical Institute - regular member
HIC-Vac Network - associate member