Sylke Maes is a junior researcher in the Unit of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. She holds a Master's degree in Movement and Sports Sciences, with a major in Biomedical Research, from KU Leuven, and an Advanced Master in Global Health from Ghent University. Her research focuses on arboviral disease transmission and its drivers, with a particular emphasis on the role of small-scale human mobility. Using statistical and spatio-temporal analyses, she investigates how daily movement patterns influence disease risk and transmission dynamics, currently investigating intra-city epidemic spread. Her work aims to generate evidence that can inform vector control strategies and public health decision-making.

"Understanding how arboviruses spread within cities is essential for designing targeted public health interventions. By studying the spatio-temporal dynamics of epidemics, we hope to identify where and when transmission is most likely to occur."