Barbara Merlo graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy in 2001, and received her Ph.D. degree at the Veterinary Clinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy in 2007. She received a Diplomate ECAR in 2011. She was an Assistant Professor at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (Veterinary Clinical Department Faculty of Veterinary Medicine until 31 December 2010), University of Bologna, Italy from March 2006 to September 2014, and responsible for LRBA from April 2014 to April 2021. She has been an Associate Professor at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy since September 2014. She has been a member of the Panel for Area 07 (Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences) of the University Commission for Research Evaluation (VRA Commission) since July 2022.