Yvonne-Marie Linton Named Director of University of Florida's FMEL

VERO BEACH, Fla. — 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.

She will lead the team at FMEL 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,” she said. “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.” 

Her experience spans 25 years of biomedical research and public outreach across more than 30 countries and four continents. 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.”