Doctoral candidates

I have a master’s in Animal Nutrition from Canada, and a second master’s in Epidemiology from The Netherlands, where I got my first experience with infectious disease modelling.

After graduating, I worked as a junior researcher on a model for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). In May 2025, I moved to Toulouse, France to start a PhD in the VIVACE network under the supervision of Tim Vergne and Jose Gonzales.

My project will be to extend and calibrate HPAI transmission models to assess vaccination impacts on transmission, surveillance, and biosecurity, with the goal of minimising both disease impact and vaccine use.

Outside of work I like to read, and go for walks in cities and nature.

I am Teodora, born and raised in Constanta, Romania, a city located at the Black Sea.

My background combines global public health, infectious diseases and One Health. I am very excited for my PhD project, in which I will design a model to explore how bird flu affects animals and the environment. This model will consider vaccination of domestic birds against the virus, different farm scenarios and control strategies! Throughout the PhD project,

I will be based at Wageningen University and Research in The Netherlands, and will be supervised by Dr. Henk Hogeveen, Dr. Bart van den Borne and Dr. Wilma Steeneveld.

Fun fact about me: I’ve danced my whole life, and I’ve recently even started performing aerial circus arts!

My name is Solomon Ajoseh, and I am from Nigeria. I hold an MSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Florida, with a background in agribusiness management, supply chain analysis, and consumer behaviour.

My PhD research examines how farmers’ behaviour influences the effectiveness of vaccination and biosecurity efforts in controlling avian influenza. By exploring the real-world decisions farmers make, the project aims to support more effective disease control and inform evidence-based policies in the poultry sector.

I am based at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands, and my research is co-supervised by Dr. Jaap Sok, Dr. Armin Ruser, and Dr. Henk Hogeveen.

Outside of research, I enjoy playing football and participating in community outreach programs.

My name is Oumaima Kadiri, originally from Morocco, and I have a background in veterinary medicine and epidemiology. I earned a degree from ESCP Business School in Paris and gained professional experience in France before embarking on a PhD focused on animal health and infectious disease surveillance.

My research, conducted within the VIVACE consortium, investigates innovative strategies to enhance surveillance of avian influenza in vaccinated poultry populations, with particular emphasis on environmental sampling and transmission modelling.

I am based at IAV Hassan II in Rabat, under co-supervision with INRAE Toulouse (UMR IHAP).

Outside of research, I love traveling with friends, exploring local cuisines, and playing UNO, though I admit I can be a competitive and sometimes sore loser.

My name is Ina, I am from Germany and I hold a Master’s degree in Applied and Molecular Biotechnology from RWTH Aachen University. Through various research experiences, I developed an interest in public health, vaccine-preventable diseases, and phylodynamic approaches. In September 2025,

I joined the VIVACE network to pursue a PhD under the supervision of Dr Simon Dellicour at the Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL) at Université Libre de Bruxelles in Brussels, Belgium, and co-supervised by Dr. Claire Guinat at INRAE in Toulouse, France.

My PhD project will focus on ecological, spatial and phylodynamic analyses to investigate the dispersal of avian influenza under different vaccination strategies.

In my free time you will find me in dance class, on the badminton court or in front of my computer!

I am Yanshi, born and raised in India, and have a background in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry. I moved to United Kingdom in 2021 to obtain my Master’s in Public Health. Thereafter, I gained professional experience in infectious disease epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College and the UK Health Security Agency.

In September 2025, I started my PhD in the VIVACE network at Utrecht University, The Netherlands under the supervision of Dr. Egil A.J. Fischer and Dr. Gerdien van Schaik.

My project is focused on risk-based and cost-effective HPAI surveillance upon implementation of vaccination in the European (epizootic) context.

Reading, hiking and exploring new places are some the things that I do in my free time.

My name is Jessica Yazbek, originally from Lebanon. I hold a master’s degree in Biochemistry and a second master’s in Functional Genomics and Proteomics, during which I worked on AMR bacteria.

I later worked as a research assistant at Human Link, gaining expertise in influenza surveillance, before embarking on my PhD journey in the VIVACE network.

My project will explore how vaccination shapes the genomic evolution and transmission of avian influenza by comparing samples collected from vaccinated and unvaccinated farms. I will be based at SEVAB, Université de Toulouse, and at the CSEIV, NRC, Egypt, under co-supervision of Pr. Christelle Camus, Pr. Siham Fellahi, and Dr. Rabeh El-Shesheny.

Outside of research, I love traveling, dancing, and reading.

I am Déesse Tabet, from Lebanon, where I also completed my studies. I hold a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and a second Master’s in Functional Genomics and Proteomics. I will pursue a PhD within the VIVACE network.

My project will evaluate the efficacy of commercial vaccines against avian influenza viruses under field conditions in Egypt, examining how vaccine performance is influenced by circulating viral lineages, contributing factors, and vaccine adjuvants.

I will be based at SEVAB, Université de Toulouse, and at the CSEIV, NRC, Egypt, under the supervision of Pr. Christelle Camus, Pr. Siham Fellahi, and Dr. Rabeh El-Shesheny.

Fun fact: I love traveling, discovering new cultures, and trying new foods.   

My name is Sinda Srairi originally from Tunisia, with a background in veterinary medicine and epidemiology ( master degree).

I’m starting a PhD on The Economic Burden of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Policy Assessment of Poultry Vaccination. In simple terms, I’ll explore how bird-flu outbreaks affect farmers and economies, and how vaccination strategies can reduce both costs and disease impact.

I’m based at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, co-supervised by Professor Jonathan Rushton and Dr Johanna Wong.

I love traveling but never set off without a jar of Tunisian harissa, our famous chili paste, to spice up meals wherever I go.

My name is Mohamed Elsayes, I am from Egypt. I have a master’s degree in microbiology from Ain Shams University. I have background in molecular biology and virology, along with practical experience in influenza surveillance. During my research work at Centre of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses (CSEIV), National Research Centre, Egypt, I gained basic knowledge in broad areas of influenza viruses and coronaviruses Research.

My PhD project will focus on identification of escape H9 and H5 influenza mutants due to vaccination.

I will be based at INRAE in France, and my research is co-supervised by Dr. Mariette Ducatez and Dr. Siham Fellahi.

Outside of research, I love playing football and chess.

I’m Laura, from France. I hold a Master’s degree in Integrated Management of Zoonoses and Tropical Animal Diseases from the National Veterinary School of Toulouse (ENVT).

My PhD project focuses on evaluating poultry vaccines, aiming to adapt immunological assays from human to animal research to better understand immune responses to avian influenza vaccination. I’m based at the University of Siena in Italy, under the supervision of Claudia M. Trombetta and co-supervision of Silvia Grappi.

Outside of my research, I’ve been a volunteer and first-aid trainer with the French Red Cross for over eight years. I’m always on the move, and my parents affectionately call me their globe trotter!

I am Nicolás, originally from Colombia, but I completed most of my education in France, where I recently obtained a Master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a specialisation in Infectious Diseases, from Claude Bernard University in Lyon.

I will be based in Rotterdam, as part of Dr. Mathilde Richard’s team at Erasmus MC’s Viroscience department, and co-supervised by Dr. Mariette Ducatez. My PhD focuses on understanding how poultry vaccination influences the evolution of avian influenza A (H5) viruses, how it affects immune responses in birds, and on assessing the zoonotic and pandemic risks posed by circulating strains.

Beyond science, I enjoy history, travelling, tasty food, cycling, swimming, photography, and I’m particularly fond of board games!