Fernandez, Maria

Pilar received her PhD in biological sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Previously, her research focused on Chagas disease eco-epidemiology in indigenous rural communities of northern Argentina. Currently, she is working on simulation models to characterize the reciprocal interaction between human behavior and environmental risk of tick-borne diseases in northeastern U.S. She integrates traditional epidemiological research with an expanded perspective that includes eco-bio-social determinants, their interactions and spatial patterns, employing a complex system approach. Her ultimate goal is to identify critical factors affecting disease transmission, which will aid in the design of improved intervention strategies to alleviate the biological and socio-economic burden of these diseases in affected communities.