Internationally respected mosquito- and vector-borne disease expert Yvonne-Marie Linton has been chosen as the new director for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL).
Linton, most recently a Research Entomologist and Curator of Diptera at the Smithsonian Institution, has had a career focused on bringing entomology expertise to the global stage to prevent and fight vector-borne diseases.
Her experience spans 25 years of biomedical research and public outreach across more than 30 countries and four continents.
She will lead the team at FMEL, located in Vero Beach, Florida, as they conduct research and provide public stakeholder input on topics related to known and emerging mosquito- and other vector-borne disease threats, such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, West Nile, Oropouche virus and more.
Robert Gilbert, UF/IFAS dean for research and executive director for academic affairs, said Linton will bring an international viewpoint to vector-borne disease research and prevention.
“She will be able to build on our strong programs at FMEL and bring them into their next era as a global leader in mosquito- and vector-borne disease research, prevention and eradication,” he said. “We are fortunate to gain the expertise she brings from the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Army.”
Linton said her mission will be to champion cutting-edge biomedical research solutions to detect, mitigate and solve emerging and persistent vector-borne diseases by providing solution-driven services to the center’s stakeholders.
“I am truly honored to join the Gator Nation. UF/IFAS is one of the nation’s premier educational institutions, globally respected for its top-tier academic prowess, cutting-edge research outputs and One Health data-driven stakeholder solutions to ensure sustainable environmental, human and animal health and food security, shaping a better future for us all,” she said.
During her time as research director of the U.S. Army’s Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit housed within the Smithsonian Institution, she led the first One Health Branch in the U.S. military, expanding it to focus on cutting-edge surveillance of disease-spreading insects, new ways of characterizing pathogens and AI-based biting insect identification systems.
Her vision for FMEL is to strengthen it as a world-class research and public education center, addressing the ongoing threat of emerging, persistent and unforeseen vector-borne diseases to the residents of Florida and beyond.
She aims to advance the laboratory through a One Health approach – which is a healthcare approach that balances the health of people, animals and ecosystems – by expanding stakeholder collaborations and global partnerships.
“As incoming Center Director for FMEL, my goal is to expand the local, national and global footprint of FMEL as a sustainable, world-renowned educational and research center of excellence,” she said. “Key to this strategic plan is nurturing and expanding faculty strengths, embracing the latest cutting-edge genomic and AI technologies and integrated pest management advances and developing strategic collaborative partnerships with local stakeholders, academia and industry.”
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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