Thom is principally a mathematical modeller whose work interests span the spectrum of public health research. His work within the Centre takes a Systems Dynamics approach to studying the healthcare sector – investigating how demographics shape the demands of healthcare servicing, their financial sustainability, and the unique challenges they introduce. He specialises in infectious diseases, incorporating key demographic information into epidemiological forecasting, and identifying underutilised data sources in understanding epidemiological processes. Methodologically, he is experienced in stochastic modelling techniques, hierarchical Bayesian frameworks, and quantitative risk assessment methods. Thom is actively engaged with the wider societal outreach of scientific work, translating research materials for use in schools by creating audio and video content for general audiences.

Prior to joining LCDS, Thom worked as a Research Associate within Imperial College London’s MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis. During the pandemic, he worked as part of the real-time modelling team, helping provide fortnightly forecasts to SPI-M-O. For this, he was awarded a Modelling and Data Support Award by Professors, Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty. He simultaneously studied the impact of key vaccine delivery policy decisions, and the hospitalisations averted by changes to the dosing interval of the COVID-19 vaccines. He has additionally researched a variety of zoonotic pathogens and spillover events – predominantly of H5N1 avian influenza. He completed his DPhil in Systems Biology within the University of Oxford’s Biology department, investigating the perseverance of bacterial pathogens in commercial poultry flocks.