Ben Ashby

Mathematical modeling of host and pathogen evolution

Dr. Ben Ashby is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Simon Fraser University and Scientific Director of the Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society. He is a mathematical biologist focused on the ecology and evolution of pathogens and their hosts, using mathematical models to explore how pathogens spread and how key disease-related traits such as infectivity and virulence evolve. Dr. Ashby’s group is especially interested in coevolution, a process of reciprocal adaptations where hosts evolve traits like resistance and tolerance, while pathogens counter-adapt to overcome or avoid these host defenses. 

Research Themes

Mathematical modeling, evolution, hosts, pathogens, coevolution, infectious disease