Highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, developing effective models of epidemic processes, analyzing the models, and using the models to design control strategies is of utmost importance. The classic epidemic models are SIS (susceptible-infected-susceptible) and SIR(S) (susceptible-infected-recovered-(susceptible)) models. These compartmental group models traditionally do not consider an underlying infection network, assuming equal and simultaneous mixing. However, realistically there is a network that enables the spread of a virus. This course will explore both group and network epidemics models. The necessary background in dynamics, probability, control, matrix analysis, and optimization will be covered. The course will explore the derivations of the models, stability analysis exploring the limiting conditions of the models, identification of the model parameters from simulated and real data, and control strategies for mitigating spread. While disease or virus spread will be the main motivation, we will also consider the spread of ideas, business/farming practices, and computer viruses. 

This ECE 695 course is split into three separate credits and was taught for the first time in Spring 2021:

1. Intro to Mathematical Fundamentals for Systems & Control (syllabus)

2. Epidemic Processes (syllabus)

3. Epidemic Processes over Networks (syllabus)