Rocio Marilyn Caja Rivera, PhD

Rocio Marilyn Caja Rivera, PhD, is a native of Peru, earning Bachelor and Licentiate degrees in Mathematical Sciences from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima. She received a fellowship from the Mexican Council of Science and Technology and the Organization of American States for her doctoral dissertation, 'Control Policies and Vector Behavioral Effects in Vector Host Interactions with Novel Applications for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Peru.' Her research involved building mathematical models, using descriptive and Bayesian-inference statistical methods, and implementing computational techniques to understand vector-host pathogen interactions in endemic settings.

After completing her Doctorate at the Center for Research in Mathematics (CIMAT) in Mexico, Rocio worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame and the Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research at the University of South Florida. She collaborated with the Neglected Tropical Disease Modelling Consortium, contributing to research on vector-borne diseases (microparasites and macroparasites) in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Rocio has published her research in esteemed journals covering applied mathematics, medical sciences, and global health.

Additionally, she enjoys participating in multidisciplinary workshops and international conferences as both organizer and lecturer. Rocio, a bilingual PhD Applied Mathematician, is eager to join the Disease Burden Simulation Program at St. Jude to apply her skills in mathematical modeling and data analysis, collaborate with global multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to impactful research benefiting children worldwide.