As one of SFU's most outstanding graduate students from the Faculty of Science, Dr. Nicola Mulberry is recognized with the Governor Genera’s Gold Convocation Medal. On behalf of SFU, we congratulate Dr. Mulberry on her outstanding achievements.

Dr. Nicola Mulberry’s doctoral research focused on the complex mechanisms behind the spread of certain pathogens, particularly the pneumococcus and SARS-CoV-2. Her thesis, entitled, Mechanisms behind the spread: infectious disease models & applications, included mathematical models that she developed for understanding explicit mechanisms behind the spread of these pathogens. This research addresses real questions and challenges faced by public health agencies and communities globally and was supported by an NSERC graduate scholarship.

Separate from her work on her thesis, Mulberry was seconded to the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) during the COVID19 pandemic. While working there, she helped develop mathematical models that helped inform the pandemic response in British Columbia.

Mulberry’s supervisors, Drs. Caroline Colijn and Alexander Rutherford, are, “impressed with the quality of her work: in its technical strength, scientific imagination, independence, and tenacity in the challenging circumstances of infectious disease research during the pandemic.” 

They further stress that the work she’s completed during her studies is outstanding and was “done largely independently, and addresses real, nuanced and challenging questions for public health and for the evolution of complex bacterial populations. Her command of the literature, the modelling techniques and her mastery of the art of interdisciplinary research are truly exceptional.”

Says, Mulberry, “I am honoured to receive this award from SFU. I am indebted to my supervisors, Drs. Colijn and Rutherford, for their mentorship and support. I am grateful for the time I spent in the SFU math department."

Mulberry is currently undertaking postdoctoral research in the department of Biosystems Science & Engineering at ETH Zurich where she is expanding her research to investigate challenges in developmental biology.