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Modelling, Evidence & Policy - Staff List

Dr Mark Shirley

Lecturer

Background

Lecturer in Biological Systems Modelling

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Research

Research Interests

I am interested in ecological modelling in general, specifically simulation modelling of spatial systems and epidemiology

Current Work

I am currently researching the transmission of diseases in a small-world context. This type of model concentrates primarily on the heterogeneous nature of routes of transmission between individuals in a population, including in models real-world social features such as clustering (where some individuals are more tightly linked with each other than on average), long-distance linkage (where some clusters are connected to others by a low incidence of widely connected individuals) and highly-connected individuals (where members of the network are members of multiple clusters).

My current work also includes modelling aspects of wildlife biology such as competition between red and arctic foxes in Fenno-Scandia and the epidemiology of TB in badger populations in the UK.

Research Group: Centre for Life Sciences Modelling

Teaching

Degree Programme Director for Zoology (BSc and MBiol)


Diversity of Life (Stage 1)

UK Wildlife (Stage 1)

Vertebrate Biology (Stage2)

Current Zoology (Stage 3)

Invasive Species (Stage 4)

Publications

  • Articles

    • Gan JL, Pfeifer M, Soroño TC, Gicaraya VA, Torio ES, van Weerd M, Gatan-Balbas M, Shirley MDF. . Biotropica 2025, 57(5), e70076.
    • Rowland BW, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Brown MA, Budge GE. . Scientific Reports 2021, 11(1), 21953.
    • Rice S, Albani V, Minos D, Fattakhova G, Mells GF, Carbone M, Flack S, Varvaropoulou N, Badrock J, Spicer A, Sandford RN, Shirley MDF, Coughlan D, Hirschfield G, Taylor-Robinson SD, Vale L, Jones DEJ. . Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2021, 19(4), 768-776.e10.
    • Shirley M, Howlett S, Port G. . Insects 2020, 11.
    • Budge GE, Simcock NK, Holder PJ, Shirley MDF, Brown MA, Van Weymers PSM, Evans DJ, Rushton SP. . Nature Communications 2020, 11, 2164.
    • Robertson PA, Mill A, Novoa A, Jeschke JM, Essl F, Gallardo B, Geist J, Jaric I, Lambin X, Musseau C, Pergle J, Pysek P, Rabitsch W, von Schmalensee M, Shirley M, Strayer DL, Stefansson RA, Smith K, Booy O. . Biological Invasions 2020, 22, 2633-2645.
    • Rushton SP, Sanderson RA, Reid WDK, Shirley MDF, Harris JP, Hunter PR, O'Brien SJ. . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2019, 374(1776), 20180267.
    • Holleyman RJ, Deehan DJ, Walker L, Charlett A, Samuel J, Shirley MDF, Baker PN. . Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 2019, 139, 1209–1215.
    • Rushton SP, Sanderson RA, Diggle PJ, Shirley MDF, Blain AP, Lake I, Maas JA, Reid WDK, Hardstaff J, Williams N, Jones NR, Rigby D, Stachan NJC, Forbes KJ, Hunter PR, Humphrey TJ, O'Brien SJ. . Journal of Translational Medicine 2019, 17, 34.
    • Mair L, Mill AC, Robertson PA, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Rodriguez JP, McGowan PJK. . Biological Conservation 2018, 223, 82-96.
    • Ewan VC, Reid WDK, Shirley M, Simpson AJ, Rushton SP, Wade W. . Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 2018, 8, 42.
    • Embleton ND, Berrington JE, Dorling J, Ewer AK, Juszczak E, Kirby JA, Lamb CA, Lanyon CV, McGuire W, Probert CS, Rushton SP, Shirley MD, Stewart CJ, Cummings SP. . Frontiers in Microbiology 2017, 4, 14.
    • Brock TM, Shirley M, Bardgett M, Walker M, Deehan DJ. . Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2017, 25(6), 1801-1806.
    • Thomas M, Khan SK, Phipps N, Shirley MDF, Aldridge S, Fearon PV, Deehan DJ. . Postgraduate Medical Journal 2016, 92(1092), 587-591.
    • Mackie A, Muthumayandi K, Shirley M, Deehan D, Gerrand C. . Journal of Arthroplasty 2015, 30(2), 206-209.
    • Blain AP, Thomas MF, Shirley MDF, Simmister C, Elemraid MA, Gorton R, Pearce MS, Clark JE, Rushton SP, Spencer DA. . Epidemiology and Infection 2014, 142(2), 388-398.
    • Budge GE, Shirley MDF, Jones B, Quill E, Tomkies V, Feil EJ, Brown MA, Haynes EG. . ISME Journal 2014, 8(8), 1588-1597.
    • Shah T, Cloke DJ, Rushton S, Shirley MDF, Deehan DJ. . Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine 2014, 2(4).
    • Mill AC, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Smith GC, Mason P, Brown MA, Budge GE. . Environmental Microbiology 2014, 16(12), 3753-3763.
    • Khan SK, Shirley MDF, Glennie C, Fearon PV, Deehan DJ. . Clinical Interventions in Aging 2014, 9, 2097-2102.
    • Elemraid MA, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Thomas MF, Spencer DA, Eastham KM, Hampton F, Gorton R, Pollard K, Gennery AR, Clark JE, North East of England Paediatric Respiratory Infection Study Group. . Epidemiology and Infection 2013, 141(8), 1697-1704.
    • Close A, Robertson C, Rushton S, Shirley M, Vale L, Ramsay C, Pickard R. . European Urology 2013, 64(3), 361-369.
    • Cloke D, Moore O, Shab T, Rushton S, Shirley MDF, Deehan DJ. . American Journal of Sports Medicine 2012, 40(2), 433-439.
    • Mill AC, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Murray AWA, Smith GC, Delahay RJ, McDonald RA. . Epidemiology and Infection 2012, 140(2), 219-230.
    • Carter SP, Chambers MA, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Schuchert P, Pietravalle S, Murray A, Rogers F, Gettinby G, Smith GC, Delahay RJ, Hewinson RG, McDonald RA. . PLoS One 2012, 7(12), e49833.
    • Chambers MA, Rogers F, Delahay RJ, Lesellier S, Ashford R, Dalley D, Gowtage S, Davé D, Palmer S, Brewer J, Crawshaw T, Clifton-Hadley R, Carter S, Cheeseman C, Hanks C, Murray A, Palphramand K, Pietravalle S, Smith GC, Tomlinson A, Walker NJ, Wilson GJ, Corner LAL, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Gettinby G, McDonald RA, Hewinson RG. . Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2011, 278(1713), 1913-1920.
    • Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Sheridan EA, Lanyon CV, O'Donnell AG. . Epidemiology and Infection 2010, 138(6), 915-926.
    • Hodgson S, Shirley M, Bythell M, Rankin J. . BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2009, 9(1), 52.
    • Shirley MDF, Elmhagen B, Lurz PWW, Rushton SP, Angerbjorn A. . Canadian Journal of Zoology 2009, 87(12), 1170-1183.
    • Dadvand P, Rankin J, Shirley MDF, Rushton SP, Pless-Mulloli T. . Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2009, 23(1), 58-65.
    • Wilkinson D, Bennett R, McFarlane I, Rushton S, Shirley M, Smith G. . Journal of Wildlife Diseases 2009, 45(4), 1062–1088.
    • Rushton SP, Humphrey TJ, Shirley MDF, Bull S, Jorgensen F. . Epidemiology and Infection 2009, 137(8), 1099-1110.
    • McNally RJQ, Rankin J, Shirley MDF, Rushton SP, Pless-Mulloli T. . International Journal of Epidemiology 2008, 37(5), 1169-1179.
    • Lurz PWW, Shirley MDF, Geddes N. . Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 2008, 31(1), 29-39.
    • Pless-Mulloli T, Glinianaia SV, Rankin J, Pearce MS, Rushton S, Ghosh R, Lurz P, Sanderson R, Shirley M, Diggle P, Fanshawe T, Charlton M, Parker L. . European Epimarker 2008, 12(2), 1-12.
    • Gurnell J, Rushton SP, Lurz PWW, Sainsbury A, Nettleton P, Shirley MDF, Bruemmer CM, Geddes N. . Biological Conservation 2006, 131(2), 287-295.
    • Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Macdonald DW, Reynolds JC. . Journal of Wildlife Management 2006, 70(4), 1102-1110.
    • Rushton SP, Lurz PWW, Gurnell J, Nettleton P, Bruemmer CM, Shirley MDF, Sainsbury A. . Epidemiology and Infection 2006, 134(3), 521-533.
    • Shirley MDF, Rushton SP. . Epidemiology and Infection 2005, 133(6), 1023-1032.
    • Shirley MDF, Rushton SP. . Epidemiology and Infection 2005, 133(6), 1023-1032.
    • Shirley MDF, Rushton SP. . Ecological Complexity 2005, 2(3), 287-299. In Press.
    • Shirley MDF, Rushton SP. . Ecological Complexity 2005, 2(3), 287-299.
    • Lurz PWW, Hewitt SM, Shirley MDF, Bruce J. . Carlisle Naturalist 2005, 13, 1-15.
    • Gurnell J, Lurz PWW, Shirley MDF, Cartmel S, Garson PJ, Magris L, Steele JW. . Mammal Review 2004, 34(1-2), 51-74.
    • Lurz PWW, Geddes N, Lloyd AJ, Shirley MDF, Rushton SP, Burlton B. . Forestry 2003, 76(1), 95-108.
    • Shirley MDF, Rushton SP, Smith G, South AB, Lurz PWW. . Ecological Modelling 2003, 167(1-2), 139-157.
    • Lurz PWW, Shirley MDF, Rushton SP, Sanderson RA. . Acta Oecologica 2002, 23(3), 205-212.
    • Barr JJF, Lurz PWW, Shirley MDF, Rushton SP. . Environmental Management 2002, 30(3), 342-351.
    • Gurnell J, Clark M, Lurz PWW, Shirley MDF, Rushton SP. . Biological Conservation 2002, 105(1), 53-64.
    • Mair J, Shirley MDF, Rushton SP, Port GR. . Journal of Animal Ecology 2001, 70(5), 875-876.
    • Shirley MDF, Rushton SP, Young AG, Port GR. . Journal of Applied Ecology 2001, 38(2), 401-411.
    • Lurz PWW, Rushton SP, Wauters L, Bertolino S, Currado I, Mazzoglio P, Shirley MDF. . Landscape Ecology 2001, 16(5), 407-420.
    • Shirley MDF, Sibly RM. . Ecology 2001, 82(11), 3257-3262.
    • Hale ML, Lurz PWW, Shirley MDF, Rushton S, Fuller RM, Wolff K. . Science 2001, 293(5538), 2246-2248.
    • Shirley MDF, Armitage VL, Barden TL, Gough MC, Lurz PWW, Oatway DE, South AB, Rushton SP. . Journal of Zoology 2001, 254(3), 367-373.
    • Shirley MDF, Sibly RM. . Evolution 1999, 53(3), 826-836.
    • D.A. Bohan,P. Brain,D.M. Glen,C.W. Wiltshire,L. Hughes,M. Shirley,G. Port. Decision making in slug pest control: Slug population dynamics in space and time. Aspects of Applied Biology 1997, 50, 323-332.
    • M.D.F. Shirley,S.P. Rushton,G.R. Port,A.G. Young. Decision making in slug pest control: Simulation models of slug populations. Aspects of Applied Biology 1997, 50, 333-340.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

    • Robertson PA, Roy S, Mill AC, Shirley M, Adriaens T, Ward AI, Tatayah V, Booy O. . In: Island Invasives 2017 Conference. 2019, Dundee, Scotland: IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC).
    • Robertson PA, Roy S, Mill AC, Shirley M, Adriaens T, Ward AI, Tatayah V, Booy O. . In: Island Invasives: Scaling up to Meet the Challenge. 2017, Dundee, UK: IUCN.
    • Mill AC, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Smith GC, Mason P, Brown MA, Budge GE, Sandhutton UK. . In: International Statistical Ecology Conference. 2014, Montpellier, France: ISEC.
    • Mercer CH, Macdonald N, Shirley MDF, Aicken CRH, Estcourt CS, Keane F, Brook MG, White PJ, Cassell JA. . In: Lancet. 2013, The Lancet Publishing Group.
    • Elemraid MA, Eastham KM, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Spencer DA, Thomas MF, Hampton F, Gorton R, Pollard K, Gennery AR, Clark JE. . In: Thorax: Winter Meeting of the British Thoracic Society. 2011, Westminster: BMJ Group.
    • Thomas MF, Blain AP, Shirley MDF, Simmister C, Elemraid MA, Gorton R, Pearce MS, Clark JE, Rushton SP, Spencer DA. . In: European Respiratory Society Annual Congress. 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
    • Hodgson S, Karunapema P, Dadvand P, Shirley M, Bythell M, Rankin J. . In: 21st Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. 2009, Dublin, Ireland: Epidemiology: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
    • Hodgson S, Shirley M, Rankin J. . In: Epidemiology. 2008, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
    • Rushton SP, Cliff D, Shirley MDF, Pearce M, Gorton R, Clark J, Spencer DA. . In: Thorax: Winter Meeting of the British Thoracic Society. 2008, London, UK: BMJ Group.
    • Mcnally R, Rankin J, Shirley M, Rushton S, Pless-Mulloli T. . In: 19th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. 2007, Mexico City: Epidemiology, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
    • Glinianaia SV, Pless-Mulloli T, Rankin J, Pearce MS, Charlton M, Parker L. . In: Vulnerability of the Fetus and Infant to ambient pollutants and reduced food intake in pregnancy. 2007, Krakow, Poland.
    • Lurz PWW, Pless-Mulloli T, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Glinianaia SV, Rankin J, Pearce MS, Parker L. . In: Vulnerability of the Fetus and Infant to ambient pollutants and reduced food intake in pregnancy. 2007, Krakow, Poland: Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego.
    • McNally RJQ, Rankin JM, Shirley MDF, Rushton SP, Pless-Mulloli T. . In: 19th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. 2007, Mexico City, Mexico: Salud Publica de Mexico: Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica.
    • Lurz P, Rushton S, Pless-Mulloli T, Edwards R, Shirley M. . In: Epidemiology: ISEE/ISEA 2006 Conference. 2006, Paris, France: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
    • Port GR, Shirley MDF, Collier RH, Bohan DA, Symondson WOC, Glen DM. . In: The BCPC international congress : crop science & technology 2003. 2003, British Crop Protection Council.
    • Shirley MDF, Port GR, Young AG. Weather in relation to long and short term modelling of slug damage. In: Crop Protection in Northern Britain. 1999, Dundee.
    • M.D.F. Shirley,S.P. Rushton,G.R. Port,A.G. Young. Spatial modelling of slug populations in arable crops. In: British Crop Protection Council Brighton Conference - Pests & Diseases. 1998, Brighton.

  • Reports

    • Ramsay CR, Adewuyi TE, Gray J, Hislop J, Shirley MDF, Jayakody S, MacLennan G, Fraser C, MacLennan S, Brazzelli M, N'Dow J, Pickard R, Robertson C, Rothnie K, Rushton SP, Vale L, Lam TB. . NIHR Journals Library, 2015. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) 19(49).
    • Vale L, Adamson A, Critchley J, Rushton S, Kelly S, Shen J, Shirley M, Mason H, Donaldson C, Armstrong N. . London: Â鶹´«Ã½ and the University of Stirling as part of the Public Health Research Consortium, 2011. B5-07A.
    • Macdonald DW, Tattersall FH, Johnson PJ, Carbone C, Reynolds JC, Langbein J, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF. . London: Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs, Her Majesty's Government, 2000.

  • Reviews

    • Gan JL, Grainger MJ, Shirley MDF, Davis S, Watson M, Dube S, Pfeifer M. . Environmental Evidence 2025, 14, 10.
    • Gan JL, Grainger MJ, Shirley MDF, Pfeifer M. . Environmental Evidence 2023, 12, 15.
    • Ramsay C, Pickard R, Robertson C, Close A, Vale L, Armstrong N, Barocas DA, Eden CG, Fraser C, Gurung T, Jenkinson D, Jia X, Lam TB, Mowatt G, Nea DE, Robinson MC, Royle J, Rushton SP, Sharma P, Shirley MDF, Soomro N. . Health Technology Assessment 2012, 16(41), xiv, 313.
    • O'Donnell AG, Young IM, Rushton SP, Shirley MD, Crawford JW. . Nature Reviews Microbiology 2007, 5(9), 689-699.