Dr Caroline Franco

Biography

I am a mathematical modeller with a Doctorate in Physics from the Institute of Theoretical Physics - Sao Paulo State University, and Masters and Bachelor degrees in Physics from the Sao Carlos Institute of Physics - University of Sao Paulo.

After being awarded with my Doctoral degree in 2022, I worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Teaching Fellow in Modelling for Global Health within the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford. During this period, I also had experiences as an expert modelling consultant in projects commissioned by the World Health Organization, The Global Fund and the UK Health Security Agency.

In 2023, I have joined the University of Aberdeen as a Lecturer in the Institute of Applied Health Sciences in the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition.

Prizes and Awards

2020 Best Applied BioMath Poster prize, Annual Meeting of the Society for Mathematical Biology - eSMB2020.

2020 Best PhD student Oral Presentation award, XLII Congresso Paulo Leal Ferreira de Física. Sao Paulo State University.

2020 PhD Research Internship Abroad, Sao Paulo Funding Agency, Brazil. University of Oxford.

2018 Doctoral Fellowship, Sao Paulo Funding Agency, Brazil. Sao Paulo State University.

2017 NDM Summer Studentship Programme, University of Oxford.

2016 Master’s Fellowship, Sao Paulo Funding Agency, Brazil. University of Sao Paulo.

2015 Undergraduate Research Bursary, Sao Paulo Funding Agency, Brazil. University of Sao Paulo.

2014 BSc Studentship Abroad, Science Without Borders Programme, Brazil. University of Liverpool.

2013 Undergraduate Research Bursary, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Brazil. University of Sao Paulo.

2012 BSc studentship abroad, Santander Universidades, Brazil. University of Porto.

Research Overview

I am interested in the use of mathematical models to simulate infectious disease dynamics, aiming primarily to inform health policy making and promote equitable access to health modelling skills.

During the COVID-19 health crisis, I have actively collaborated with the Observatório COVID-19 BR and the COVID-19 Modelling (CoMo) Consortium to develop mathematical models to inform policy making in Brazil and other countries. Recently, I was involved in a UKHSA commission with the aim to evaluate the UK COVID-19 testing response and prepare for future pandemics.

Currently, I am developing collaborations with local and global health organisations to support disease control and elimination, as well as working on basic research to develop better population-based models which incorporate heterogeneities observed at individual-level.