I am a quantitative ecologist, especially as applied to disease ecology and conservation biology. I use fairly simple differential equations as my modelling tool of choice and am particularly interested in the issues involved in linking models to data: the processes of parameter estimation, model fitting and model testing. Although I am a modeller, I try to spend time in the field – it is impossible to model anything without actually experiencing the system firsthand (Well, that's my excuse for getting to as many interesting places as I can). I have worked on a range of taxa, including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and echinoderms and in habitats ranging from coral reefs to temperate forests and deserts. I'm interested in supervising a range of projects in conservation biology and disease ecology, ideally ones linking quantitative approaches and theory to the situations and problems.