Laura Ciot

I hold a Veterinary Medicine degree and a Master’s in Veterinary Medicine from the Università di Bologna (Italy, 2019). During my studies, I conducted an experimental thesis on the evaluation of glucocorticoids in wild animals as markers of animal welfare within the One Welfare framework, which integrates animal, human, and environmental well-being.

In 2022, I obtained a Master’s in Zoonosis and One Health from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, specializing in evaluating the effects of human activities on the welfare of wild animals. During this period, I delved into the connections between animal health, human health, and ecosystems, adopting an integrative and multidisciplinary approach.

Currently, I am a PhD student in Terrestrial Ecology at CREAF, where I investigate the causes of pollinator decline, with a particular focus on the effects of pesticides used in agricultural production on the health and welfare of wild bees. This research is part of the STRESS-BEE project, which aims to understand how different stressors affect bee populations in a global context.

I have worked as a research fellow at the Istitut Zooprofilattic Sperimentale delle Venezie (Italy), in the General and Experimental Microbiology Laboratory, contributing to the projects 'EU One Health Zoonoses Report' and 'Eco-epidemiological approach under biotic and abiotic dynamics of TTX biosynthesis in bivalve species'. This experience allowed me to participate in research on zoonoses, focusing on a European public health context.

Additionally, I have been a research fellow and veterinary consultant, and I have worked as a veterinarian in both Italy and Portugal, gaining experience in clinical practice and direct animal welfare initiatives.

My career is defined by a strong interest in the effects of human activities on the health and welfare of animals, both in wild and anthropized environments. With my international and multidisciplinary experience, I strive to contribute to the development of sustainable solutions that integrate ecosystem conservation and animal welfare.