Our 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.