The Born Once - Die Once research team brings together expertise in demography, mathematical and statistical modeling, and biodemography to investigate the fundamental symmetries between birth and death processes. Led by Principal Investigator Annette Baudisch, our interdisciplinary group applies innovative mathematical approaches to uncover hidden regularities in fertility patterns that mirror well-established mortality laws. Through this ERC-funded project, we aim to pioneer a transdisciplinary framework that investigates the basic principles of formation and dissolution across biological and social systems. By using the regularities of mortality modeling for fertility analysis, we seek to transform population forecasting and deepen our understanding of the cornerstones of existence—birth and death.
The Team
Principal Investigator
Annette Baudisch
I work as a Professor of Demography at SDU. My expertice is in in mathematical and evolutionary biodemography. My research focuses on comparative biodemography and the evolution of aging patterns across species. I mainly develop concepts, models, and theory and coordinate and supervise all the tasks of the Born Once - Die Once project.
Postdoc
Paola Vazquez-Castillo
I investigate the modal age at birth (the most common age to give birth), exploring whether this measure and its trends can be paralleled to the mode in mortality research. I also admin this project website and work in the organization of the workshop.
Postdoc
Serena Vigezzi
I am examining the relationship between trends in mortality and fertility across countries. Specifically, I am using the known limit to fertility to investigate whether we are approaching a similar limit to survival.
Postdoc
Silvio C. Patricio
I study how the order in which children are born shapes the timing of births, using ideas and models from mortality research to identify common patterns in the pace and shape of life’s beginnings.
Researcher
Trifon I. Missov
I am testing whether we can draw parallels between the birth hazard (as defined by the B1D1 framework) and the hazard of death. Namely, whether there is an age range when the two hazards share the same shape and its accompanying characteristics.
Alumni
José Manuel Aburto
Ryohei Mogi
Close Collaborators
Eric Bapteste
Antonino Polizzi
Henrik-Alexander Schubert
