Dr. Alice Fusaro has a master's degree in biotechnology for food products (University of Padua, 2006) and a PhD in veterinary sciences (University of Padua, 2014). She is currently a biologist director at the Viral Genomics and Transcriptomics Laboratory, where she coordinates sequencing and genetic analyses of emerging and zoonotic RNA viruses responsible of the major diseases of animals, including avian influenza and Newcastle disease as well as SARS-CoV-2 in humans and animals. Her current research focuses on the evolutionary genetics of RNA viruses responsible of animal infections, with special emphasis on the major mechanisms of virus evolution, the molecular epidemiology of important emerging pathogens and the roles played by mutations, natural selection, recombination and gene flow in shaping patterns of genetic diversity on RNA viruses. She actively participates in various national and international research projects and collaborates with international and European organizations such as FAO, EFSA and ECDC. Since 2020, she has been a member of the EFSA Standing Working Group (SWG) on avian influenza. She is a trainer or keynote speaker at international workshops and congresses and actively participates in training programs promoted by IZSVe and/or international institutions (e.g. UN-FAO, IAEA). She has authored or co-authored over 150 publications, which include peer review articles published in national and international journals and conference presentations.