In recent years, computer science has been used to model the spread and determine risk for various infectious diseases. This project aims to explore different computational models for C. Difficile , a bacterial infection that involves disruption of healthy bacteria in the colon and is often acquired in hospital settings. To investigate and combat hospital-acquired infections, our first aim is to provide daily risk predictions that patients in Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) will acquire C. Difficile . Next, our research will investigate different antibiotics that have causal effects on increasing C. Difficile risk. Particularly, we are interested in determining which antibiotic out of a set of antibiotic options to treat a patient will pose the least causal risk of acquiring C. Difficile for the patient.

I am participating in the SuperUROP program because I want to gain more research experience in applying computer science to healthcare problems. I hope to explore different computational models and understand more about infectious diseases, especially in the context of the current pandemic. In addition, I would like to learn how to set up a successful long-term research project.