Jonas Brock

Jonas Brock is a Guest Scientist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and Assistant Programme Manager for BVD & IBR at Animal Health Ireland. He holds a PhD from Friedrich Schiller University Jena's Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (2021), focusing on epidemiological modeling of IBR control and eradication. His research integrates advanced modeling techniques to address challenges in disease control, cost-benefit analysis, and science communication. He leads the Ecological Epidemiology (EcoEpi) project group, focusing on strategic planning for viral control programs in livestock systems.

Education

• PhD in Epidemiological Modeling (2018–2021), Friedrich Schiller University Jena
• MSc in Geoinformatics (2015–2018), Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Research Interests

Brock specializes in epidemiological modeling for livestock diseases, particularly BVDV and BoHV-1. His work emphasizes:

• Cost-benefit analysis of disease eradication strategies
• Quantitative approaches to disease spread modeling
• Integration of machine learning with expert knowledge
• Policy alignment with European Animal Health Law

Scientific Contributions

His publications span epidemiological modeling frameworks, climate change impacts on disease vectors, and methodological advancements in landslide susceptibility analysis. Notable work includes:

• Long-term strategies for African swine fever management
• Large-scale models for BoHV-1 eradication in Ireland

Awards

Brock has been recognized for:

• Konrad-Bögel-Award for veterinary epidemiology (2021)
• Thesis Award for landslide susceptibility modeling (2020)
• Multiple Young Scientist Awards for conference contributions

Lab & Collaborations

Leads the EcoEpi Group within the UFZ's Department of Ecological Modelling. Collaborates closely with Animal Health Ireland and the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine.