Eva Veronesi, Ph.D.
After a large experience on control, surveillance, identification and rearing of mosquitoes (Culex
and Aedes) and sandflies in Italy (CAA) (1996 – 2002), she moved in the UK working as researcher
scientist within the Entomology group (Vector-Borne Viral Diseases Programme) at The Pirbright
Institute (BBSRC, UK) working on vector competence for arboviruses (Bluetongue, African horse
sickness & Schmallenberg) in Culicoides and mosquitoes species. As qualified scientist, I work in
high bio-containment levels (BSL3, SAPO 3&4) and have international accreditation.
Since June 2014, she is working as Senior Scientist at the National Centre for Vector Entomology,
University of Zurich (Parasitology Department) on Vector competence studies for vector-borne
diseases (West Nile and Sindbis virus) within exotic and indigenous population of Swiss
mosquitoes. Ecology and bionomics of mosquitoes and Culicoides species potentially involved on
pathogens transmission. Supervision on mosquito’s surveillance and control.
She received her Bachelor degree in Biology from the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna,
Italy in 1996, and obtained her PhD from the Royal Veterinary College (London, UK) on
“Temperature and strain related variation in the infection and dissemination of bluetongue virus in
Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)”.
She has been working as entomologist since 1995 at the Centro Agricoltura Ambiente, "Giorgio
Nicoli" S.r.l. (Italy) (1995 – 2002) coordination and supervision in the field on mosquito (Ae.
albopictus and Culex pipiens) control, public education, training and teaching, mosquitoes and
sandflies laboratory rearing (Culex pipiens, , Ph. duboscqi) and taxonomy of vectors (mosquitoes,
Culicoides, blackflies and sand flies).
In 2002, she moved in the UK at the Pirbright Institute (former Institute for Animal Health) where
she is still working as Senior Scientist in the Entomology group within the Vector Borne Viral
Disease Programme.
Her main areas of expertise are pathogen-vector interaction mechanisms and vector competence
for arboviruses (Bluetongue, African horse sickness and Schmallenberg viruses) among Culicoides
and mosquitoes species.
She is also involved in training courses for BTV diagnostic, infection of arthropods and virus
investigation techniques.
Major specialties are:
Vector competence; control, surveillance & monitoring of mosquitoes, sandflies and Culicoides;
establishment & maintenance of vector colonies (mosquitoes, sandflies and Culicoides); training in
field entomology & laboratory techniques, project and budget management, research planning and
execution, laboratory set-up and quality control, teaching and training.
She has endeavored in several international research projects such as the Mediterranean Reovirus
Network (MedReoNet), EDENext as well as other European Union funded cooperative projects.
Current collaborations include ARC-OVI, Pretoria (South Africa - SA) on field studies for SA
Culicoides species (characterization of breeding sites, laboratory colonization and pathogen-vector
interaction) and co-supervision of a PhD student at Glasgow University.
Eva Veronesi has organized and co-chaired several International symposia for the Society for
Vector Ecology (SOVE) and the Entomological Society of America. She is also part of the Academic
and the Scientific Committees of the E-SOVE and of the European Mosquitoes Control Association
(EMCA) and she is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Vector Ecology.
Since May 2013, she has been elected as European Director of the Society for Vector Ecology (ESOVE).