Sarafa A. Iyaniwura

Research

I am interested in developing mathematical modeling and analytical frameworks for analyzing biological systems. My current research at Fred Hutch focuses on developing data-driven mathematical modelling frameworks for understanding B-cell dynamics during vaccine-induced immune response, and using the framework to optimize gremline-targeting and sequential immunization strategies in the context of HIV vaccine. The techniques developed in this research will be applied to design vaccine regimens and improve clinical trial outcome, thereby reducing the time and cost for developing and effective vaccine for HIV.

I am also interested in other aspects of infectious disease modeling both within a host and at the population level, and modeling immune response to infections. Furthermore, I am interested in developing and analyzing reaction-diffusion systems, and developing theoretical framework for analyzing first passage time theory for passive and active Brownian systems.

I use ordinary differential equations (ODEs), partial differential equations (PDEs), agent-based models, and statistical and machine-learning models. To analyze the ODE and PDE models, I employ analytical techniques such as dynamical systems theory, perturbation theory, asymptotic analysis, and biophysical methods, and solve them numerically using finite difference, finite element, and closest point methods.

Grants and Awards

1. 2026

   HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) Travel Award

   Award to attend the 2026 HVTN Translational HIV Vaccine Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Conference and NHP AIDS Symposium.

   San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.

2. 2026

   HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) Scientific Pilot Award

   Period: July 2026 - June 2027.

3. 2024

   The Life Sciences and Dynamical Systems Travel Award

   Award to attend the 2024 SIAM Conference on the Life Sciences (LS24)

   Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., June 10 - 13, 2024.

4. 2024

   MGB-SIAM Early Career Fellow.

   Period: 2024 - 2026.

5. 2020

   Dr. Deepak Kaura Award in the Mathematics of Medicine, UBC.

6. 2020S, 2020W, 2021S, 2021W

   President's Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award, UBC.

7. 2019

   TD Bank Financial Group Graduate Bursary, UBC.

8. 2016 - 2020

   Faculty of Science PhD Tuition Award, UBC.

9. 2014 - 2018

   International Tuition Award, UBC.

10. 2013

    African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Fully-funded Master's Scholarship for African Students, South Africa.

11. 2012

    Best Graduating Student, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

12. 2012

    Best Graduating Student, Department of Mathematics, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

13. 2012

    Silver Award Winner, Annual Nigerian National Mathematics Competition for University Students (NAMCUS), National Mathematical Center (NMC), Nigeria.

14. 2009 - 2012

    University Undergraduate Scholarship, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.