Parameter Identification of Age-Structured Epidemic Models
Speaker: Professor Junyuan Yang
Complex Systems Research Center, School of Mathematics & Statistics, Shanxi University
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Location: Ross building N532
Abstract: Parameter identifiability analysis aims to determine whether model parameters can be uniquely determined from observable outputs. This is a critical step in epidemiological forecasting and the design of effective control measures. In this talk, we systematically review the theoretical foundations and practical applications of parameter identifiability and propose a framework for analyzing structural parameter identifiability. By integrating local and global identifiability techniques, we construct a hierarchical structure for parameter identifiability in age-structured epidemic models. Using Monte Carlo simulations and approximate Bayesian estimation methods, we identify parameters that are practically unidentifiable. This is joint work with Ziyi Wu and Maia Martcheva.
About the Speaker:
Junyuan Yang, Ph.D., is a Professor at the Complex Systems Research Center, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Shanxi University, China. He received his Ph.D. from the Beijing Institute of Information and Control. He held a postdoctoral position at Wilfrid Laurier University from 2012 to 2013, and visiting positions at the University of Florida (2014–2015) and the University of Victoria (2025–present). He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal papers and serves on the editorial boards of two international journals. He has been the principal investigator on multiple projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. His research interests include mathematical biology, game theory, and complex networks.
