E2M2: Ecological & Epidemiological Modeling in Madagascar


Applications for the next E2M2 (to be held in Jan 2024) will become available in September 2023!


E2M2class

January 5-14, 2024

Madagascar Biodiversity Center, Antananarivo & Centre ValBio, Ranomafana National Park

We are pleased to announce the sixth annual E2M2: Ecological and Epidemiological Modeling in Madagascar, to be held January 5-14, 2024, with time split between Madagascar Biodiversity Center (MBC) at Tsimbazaza in Antananarivo and Centre ValBio (CVB) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. The course will include a 1-day introduction to basic programming in R (‘R Bootcamp’) to be held at MBC, followed by a week-long intensive workshop at CVB aimed to provide an introduction to the use of dynamical models in understanding ecological and epidemiological data. Finally, students will have the opportunity to present research plans in a final symposium to follow the workshop, once again at MBC on January 14, 2024.

Throughout E2M2, students will participate in a series of interactive lectures and computer-based tutorials and learn to fine-tune model-based research questions, develop clear model frameworks and corresponding equations, and fit models to real-world data. All students will work closely with peers and faculty to develop a research plan for an ongoing or existing project integrating dynamical modeling with data collection and/or analysis in a biological system of their choosing. These research plans can then be used as a foundation for future dissertation or grant proposals.

The course will be targeted towards students in their third cycle or higher in biology, mathematics, medicine, public health, or related fields, though all are welcome to apply. The course will be taught primarily in English, though a subset of the faculty will be available to offer some translation into French and/or Malagasy. A working knowledge of the English language is required for admission; however, we will do our best to make the material accessible to students who find English challenging.


The application window will open in September 2023. Please check back at this website for updates.

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact Cara Brook (cbrook@uchicago.edu) or Fidisoa Rasambainarivo (fidy@mahaliana.org) with any questions or concerns.


A working outline of our 2024 syllabus is available for your perusal here, and materials from previous years’ courses can be accessed at E2M2 2022, E2M2 2020, E2M2 2019 and E2M2 2018.


Misaotra betsaka from the E2M2 organizing team!

Cara Brook, Tanjona Ramiadantsoa, Fidy Rasambainarivo, Hafaliana Christian Ranaivoson, Andres Garchitorena, Angelo Andrianiaina, Santino Andry, Gwen Kettenburg, Sophia Horigan, Kendall Fitzgerald