Professor Nik Cunniffe

  • • Head of Theoretical and Computational Epidemiology
  • • Director of Teaching
Available to supervise doctoral students
Professor Nik Cunniffe

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About

Nik Cunniffe is Head of Theoretical and Computational Epidemiology at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge.

Previous Positions

2021 to 2022 - Associate Professor - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, England

2018 to 2021 - University Senior Lecturer - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, England

2016 to 2018 - University Lecturer - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, England

2009 to 2016 - Unestablished University Lecturer - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, England

2009 to present - College Lecturer in Natural Sciences (Part-Time) - Girton College, University of Cambridge, England

2008 to 2011 - Associate Lecturer in Mathematics (Part-Time) - The Open University, England

2008 to 2009 - Teaching Associate, Department of Plant Sciences - University of Cambridge, England

1998 to 2002 - European Research Manager - Autonomy Corporation, Cambridge, England

1997 to 1998 - Analyst Programmer - Alphametrics Ltd, Cambridge, England

Qualifications

2007 - PhD in Mathematical Biology - University of Cambridge, England

2003 - MSc in Modern Applications of Mathematics - University of Bath, England

1997 - MPhil in Computer Speech and Language Processing - University of Cambridge, England

1996 - MA in Mathematics - St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge, England

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Awards and Fellowships

2021 - Syngenta Award - American Phytopathological Society

2016 - Schroth Face of the Future Award - American Phytopathological Society

2015 - Pilkington Prize for Teaching - University of Cambridge, England

2009 - Official Fellow - Girton College, University of Cambridge, England

Committees

2020 to present - Editorial Board for PhytoFrontiers - American Phytopathological Society

2019 to 2021 - Elected Board Member - British Society for Plant Pathology

2018 to present - Editorial Board for Phytopathology - American Phytopathological Society

2017 to present - Editorial Board for Tropical Plant Pathology - Brazilian Phytopathological Society

Research

Research Group 

Theoretical and Computational Epidemiology

Research Overview

I focus on modelling the spread, detection, evolution and control of plant pests and pathogens. My theoretical work uses deterministic, stochastic, and spatial models to improve strategic understanding. My applied work concentrates on using models to understand how detection and control can be optimised.

School of Biological Sciences Theme Affiliations

Organisms, Evolution and Ecology

Infection and Immunity

Publications

Selected publications

Optimal Resistance Management for Mixtures of High-Risk Fungicides: Robustness to the Initial Frequency of Resistance and Pathogen Sexual Reproduction 13 January 2023 Phytopathology Nick P Taylor & Nik J Cunniffe How growers make decisions impacts plant disease control 22 August 2022 PLOS Computational Biology Rachel E Murray-Watson, Frédéric M Hamelin & Nik J Cunniffe Optimal strategies to protect a sub-population at risk due to an established epidemic 12 January 2022 Journal of the Royal Society Interface Elliott H Bussell & Nik J Cunniffe Epidemiological and ecological consequences of virus manipulation of host and vector in plant virus transmission 30 December 2021 PLOS Computational Biology Nik J Cunniffe, Nick P Taylor, Frédéric M Hamelin & Michael J Jeger Optimising risk-based surveillance for early detection of invasive plant pathogens 12 October 2020 PLOS Biology Alexander J Mastin, Timothy R Gottwald, Frank van den Bosch, Nik J Cunniffe & Stephen Parnell

Teaching and supervision

Available to supervise doctoral students

Undergraduate Natural Sciences Tripos Part IA Mathematical Biology

Undergraduate Natural Sciences Tripos Part IB Mathematical & Computational Biology

Undergraduate Natural Sciences Tripos Part IB Plant & Microbial Science

Undergraduate Natural Sciences Tripos Part II Plant Science

Research Supervision

I have supervised six PhD students to successful completion and am currently lead supervisor of four further students at the University of Cambridge.