Meet Dr Marc Manceau working on statistical models that explain pathogen evolution
The French postdoctoral researcher in the Computational Evolution group of Tanja Stadler is developing statistical models which will help health officials to take well-informed decisions. Upon arrival in Basel, Marc was positively surprised by the Swiss traffic behaviour – cars and bikes do stop for pedestrians.
What did you know about D-BSSE before you came here, and what was your motivation to come to ETH Zurich?
I definitely knew about ETH Zurich and its really good reputation for research in all areas of natural sciences and technology but I was not aware of a dedicated department on biosystems science and engineering (D-BSSE) before applying for a postdoc position there. I was particularly attracted by the opportunity to work with one of the leading teams for developing statistical models in epidemiology.
What were your expectations and were your expectations met since you arrived in Basel?
I had this vision of life in Switzerland being more peaceful, and of people in general being politer and more civilized than in France.
And, what were your first impressions?
My first impressions of Basel totally confirmed this vision! Coming from Paris and its crazy traffic, the most impressive contrast concerns the behaviour of people on the road: cars and bikes do stop to let pedestrians cross the road! So far, I really enjoy this peaceful Swiss way of life.
Which research will you pursue at D-BSSE?
During my postdoc at D-BSSE I will continue developing and studying mathematical models, more specifically: models tailored to study epidemics. The long-term goal is to make the most of pathogen sequence data that are now being increasingly sampled during epidemics,
in order to more reliably forecast epidemics and to provide more precise tools for recommendations to health officials and policy makers. I am really super excited to start this first postdoc at D-BSSE.
Which hobby or private interests do you hope to pursue in Switzerland?
I really enjoy outdoor activities, especially those involving spending time in the mountains. I look forward to discovering the famous Swiss railway network to go hiking, ski touring, or climbing in the Swiss Alps!
Thank you and all the best with your research!
After a Bachelor and Master's training in both biology and applied mathematics, Marc Manceau developed a strong interest in mathematical modelling of various aspects in biological evolution. During his PhD in Paris, Marc worked on stochastic models for species diversification and the evolution of species traits in order to better understand macro-evolutionary processes. Since 15 November 2018, Marc is a Postdoc in the Computational Evolution group of Professor Tanja Stadler.