People

This page only includes current and former group members who have given their permission to appear.  (In other words, it omits a few people Jordan forgot to ask for permission early in the life of the group!)  If you would like to give permission to be listed here, or want to give Jordan an update on your career, please get in touch.

Current group members

Group leader 

Image of Dr Jordan Skittrall
Dr Jordan Skittrall – University Assistant Clinical Teaching Professor and Hon. Consultant in Medical Virology

Jordan studied mathematics in Cambridge as an undergraduate, and completed a mathematical physics PhD, before continuing to medical school and qualifying as a medical doctor. He held a series of postgraduate clinical academic posts, studying and moving his clinical practice towards specialising in infection, first in Brighton then back in Cambridge, before being appointed to his current role in 2026.

He combines research and teaching with clinical practice in virology.

Jordan is a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, where he teaches mathematics to undergraduates taking Natural Sciences.

In his spare time, Jordan plays the piano, and occasionally sings in choirs.

Former group members

Former summer students

Vianca Shah standing in front of a poster, gesturing, at the 2023 Microbiology Society conference
Dr Vianca Shah – former summer student (2022)

Vianca undertook a summer project in 2022 on Hepatitis E virus, between her undergraduate studies and starting clinical school in Cambridge.  She is now a practising medical doctor.

Ilona_Basset_CMS_2022
Ilona Basset – former summer student (2022)
Ilona undertook a summer project in 2022 on the mutagenic potential of the antiviral drug molnupiravir, following her third year studying mathematics in Cambridge. She went on to complete a master’s degree in Russia, during which time she undertook artificial intelligence research and co-founded a startup working on communications technologies; she then spent time working in consulting, and is now a strategy analyst for a construction logistics group.
Emma Beniston crouched smelling yellow roses
Emma Beniston – former summer student (2022)
Emma undertook a summer project in 2022 on Influenza A virus, between her second and third years of undergraduate study in mathematics.  The paper that resulted from her work won a Silver Research Medal from the Royal College of Pathologists.  She is now working towards a Ph.D. based in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics in Cambridge, studying the effects of climate change on the ocean.