Dr Bram Kuijper (he/him)

Bram is a computational biologist, who uses mathematical and simulation models to improve our understanding of fundamental questions in epidemiology, behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology. He is a member of Exeter Evolution and affiliated through the Cornwall Research Hub to the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDSAI). 

Interested in studying one of the Ecology and Conservation programmes with us in Penryn, Cornwall?

While supporting the department's computational research is my main activity, I also coordinate the presence of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at university open days, fairs and schools. If you want to know more about the various degree programmes offered by the Centre for Ecology and Conservation, see here

When is the next Undergraduate Open Day?

See our open day calendar for the next Undergraduate Open Days, during which you can meet the members of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on our Penryn Campus, Cornwall or at our Streatham Campus in Exeter. 

When is the next Postgraduate Open Day?

We are looking forward to showing you our MSc, MByRes and PhD programmes during our bimonthly Explore Postgraduate Cornwall Event, book your place here.

Can't make it to one of the open days? We are happy to meet you during a bespoke meeting.

If you cannot make it to an open day, we also organise meetings on request to have you meet our students studying on and staff teaching on your programme of interest. Meetings can either be face-to-face or online. To book a meeting, please get in touch with me via e-mail.

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Bram Kuijper's research: testing computational models in the lab and field

A large part of Bram's research focuses on the development of mathematical and simulation models to predict (i) the evolution of parental influences on offspring and (ii) how stressors and infectious disease shape an individual's decision making.

To explore these questions, Bram uses a range of theoretical techniques (game theory, quantitative genetics, individual-based simulations, dynamic programming). Bram has expertise in developing scientific software using a range of programming languages, (C++, R, Python, github profile) and has a long-standing experience working with high-performance computing environments.

Broad research specialisms:

• Computational Biology
• Data analysis
• Disease Evolution
• Adapting to stress
• Epidemiology & Statistics
• Behavioral Ecology
• Sex allocation
• Evolution of inheritance systems

Teaching

Bram is heavily involved in teaching quantitative techniques and statistical methods to undergraduate and postgraduate students. He is currently involved in the following modules:

• BIO2414 Evolutionary Ecology, module lead
• BIO3420 Evolutionary Biology in Health and Disease, computer practicals
• BIO3449 Marine Ecology and Evolutionary Conservation in Corsica, lecturer
• BIOM4046 Evolution, Behaviour and Ecology: experimental design, evolutionary computational biology

Bram has also taught modules on scientific programming in Python to the University's doctoral college and co-teaches a biannual course on mathematical epidemiology to MSc students at CERMEL in Lambarene, Gabon.

Positions of responsibility

Bram is currently the academic lead for admissions and open days at the Centre for Ecology and Conservation. 

Join us! Interested in working on the interface between evolutionary theory and data? Interested in joining the group for a postdoctoral, PhD or MbyRes project? Please get in touch to discuss project ideas and funding options.
We welcome new group members who want to understand more about topics such as social evolution, evolutionary theory, sexual selection, sex allocation or the evolution of inheritance. We also welcome any collaborations in which some theory is done as part of an empirical project. No background in theory is required as long as you are willing to learn cool new things about models, genetics, programming and data science.

Office hours

Thursdays 12:00 - 13:00
Fridays 16:00 - 17:00

(booking a meeting with me via outlook is always preferable)