Raeesa Manjoo-Docrat | Infectious Diseases | Young Researcher Award

Published on by Global Diseases Research

Dr. Raeesa Manjoo-Docrat | Infectious Diseases | Young Researcher Award 

Lecturer | Univeristy of the Witwatersrand | South Africa

Dr. Raeesa Manjoo-Docrat is a developing scholar affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, whose work contributes to the advancement of quantitative epidemiology and public health modelling in South Africa. Her research focuses on the development and application of spatial, age-stratified epidemiological models aimed at understanding disease transmission dynamics within heterogeneous populations. With four peer-reviewed publications and 27 citations, she has established a growing academic footprint supported by an h-index of 2, reflecting the early but significant influence of her work. Her recent open-access article in Heliyon (2025), which applies spatial modelling frameworks to the South African COVID-19 pandemic, exemplifies her commitment to integrating mathematical rigor with real-world public health challenges. Manjoo-Docrat has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams comprising epidemiologists, mathematicians, and public health scientists, enabling her to contribute to robust analytical frameworks and high-quality scientific outputs. These collaborations also highlight her ability to operate effectively within diverse research environments and to engage in evidence-based problem solving that supports both academic and policy-relevant outcomes. Her research sits at the intersection of infectious disease dynamics, health systems planning, and data-driven decision support, positioning her work within a globally relevant domain of applied epidemiology. Beyond academic metrics, her contributions have societal impact by informing approaches to epidemic preparedne  ss, guiding interventions for vulnerable demographic groups, and enhancing understanding of spatial disparities in health outcomes. Through her continued scholarship, Manjoo-Docrat aims to strengthen the integration of mathematical modelling into national and regional public health strategies, ensuring that data-informed insights contribute to improved health resilience and equitable disease control.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

1. Manjoo-Docrat, R., Abdelatif, N., Holloway, J., Dudeni-Tlhone, N., Dresselhaus, C., Mbayise, E., … Makhanya, S. (2025). Spatial age-stratified epidemiological model with applications to South African COVID-19 pandemic. Heliyon, 11(11), e43171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e43171

2. Dresselhaus, C., Fabris-Rotelli, I., Manjoo-Docrat, R., Brettenny, W., Holloway, J., Thiede, R., Debba, P., & Dudeni-Tlhone, N. (2023). A spatial model with vaccinations for COVID-19 in South Africa. Spatial Statistics, 58, Article 100792. Cited by 2.

3. Manjoo-Docrat, R. (2022). A spatio-stochastic model for the spread of infectious diseases. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 533, 110943.  Cited by 16.

4. Fabris-Rotelli, I., Holloway, J., Kimmie, Z., Archibald, S., Debba, P., Manjoo-Docrat, R., … Potgieter, A. (2022). A Spatial SEIR Model for COVID-19 in South Africa. Journal of Data Science, Statistics, and Visualisation, 2(7), 14–45.  Cited by 5.

Josiah Orji | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Global Diseases Research

Mr. Josiah Orji | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Student | Federal University of Technology | Nigeria                         

Mr. Josiah Orji is an applied mathematician specializing in differential equations, mathematical modeling, and numerical simulation, with a focus on biological and medical applications. He excels in translating complex biological processes into mathematical frameworks, conducting analytical and computational analyses, and preparing findings for publication. Currently pursuing an M.Tech. in Applied Mathematics (Distinction) at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, his dissertation explores the modeling and optimal control of malaria transmission dynamics with the impact of an effective vaccine. He holds a B.Tech. in Industrial Mathematics (First Class Honors) from the same university. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, emphasizing malaria and schistosomiasis modeling, and he possesses strong programming skills in MATLAB, Maple, and Python. A PTDF scholar and recipient of multiple academic awards, including the Prof. Reuben Olufenwa Ayeni Award and a NAMCUS Bronze Medal, Josiah has teaching experience at both pre-degree and secondary levels and has served in leadership roles such as President of the Watchman Catholic Charismatic Campus Fellowship. His research interests include mathematical biology, optimal control theory, computational mathematics, and data-driven approaches to disease modeling. He is proficient in LaTeX and web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), a member of professional bodies such as Black in AI and ResearchGate, and remains committed to advancing interdisciplinary research in mathematics, data science, and biomedical systems while mentoring future scientists through teaching, tutoring, and community engagement.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Orji, J. C., Yusuf, T. T., Afolabi, A. S., & Dawodu, K. A. (2025). Integrated malaria control: Impacts of vaccination and combined interventions on disease dynamics. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 11(6), 1–23

2. Chukwuebuka, O. J., Miswanto, M., & Sunday, A. A. (n.d.). Optimal control problems constrained by non-linear ordinary differential equations.

 

Sharmin Musa | Foodborne Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Global Diseases Research

Prof. Dr. Sharmin Musa | Foodborne Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Professor | University of Dhaka | Bangladesh

Dr. Sharmin Musa, Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Dhaka, is an accomplished academic and researcher specializing in parasitology, zoonotic diseases, and vector-borne infections. She earned her Ph.D. in Animal Biology from the University of Manchester, UK, where her doctoral work focused on parental care in burying beetles, complementing earlier research on post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) during her MSc at the University of Dhaka. Over the course of her career, she has led and collaborated on numerous research projects addressing pressing public health concerns in Bangladesh, including malaria among Rohingya refugees, intestinal parasitic infections in slum populations, soil-transmitted helminths, and foodborne parasitic risks linked to street vendors and vegetables. Her prolific publication record spans more than 40 peer-reviewed articles in national and international journals, covering both human and animal parasites. She has supervised multiple Ph.D. and MSc theses, contributing significantly to the development of young scientists in Bangladesh. In addition to research, Dr. Musa has delivered invited talks at international conferences, reflecting her recognition as an authority in parasitology and epidemiology. She is an active member of professional bodies such as the Zoological Society of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Society for Parasitologists, where she has held executive roles. Her academic excellence has been acknowledged with awards, including the Dean’s Award and prestigious fellowships for higher study abroad. Alongside her teaching and research, she has also served in administrative roles, including warden and senate member, demonstrating her leadership within the university community and her enduring commitment to advancing science and public health

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

  1. Barua, P., Banik, K.S., Saha, S., & Musa, S. (2024). Risk factors associated with street food consumption in Dhaka city due to faeco-oral parasitic infection in food vendors. Food and Humanity