Research & Discovery

March 25, 2022 | Jessica McBride, PhD - College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

Paulo Verardi Appointed Head of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science

International expert in vaccinology and virology, Verardi takes the helm at the end of August 2022

Paulo Verardi

Paulo Verardi, head of the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science. (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

Following a national search, UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources is pleased to announce that Paulo Verardi, Ph.D. will serve as the next head of the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science. Verardi will be taking over for current head Steven Geary, Ph.D.  Geary will return to teaching and research after serving in this role for 11 years.

“I am thrilled that Dr. Verardi will expand his role within CAHNR as head of this department,” says Dean Indrajeet Chaubey. “He is an internationally recognized expert in cutting-edge vaccine research. He has also already exhibited strong leadership as a faculty member in the department, most recently spearheading the revision of its undergraduate curriculum.”

Verardi, a native of Brazil, came to UConn in 2008 after completing his PhD and postdoctoral fellowships at the University of California-Davis. His research focuses on vaccine and immunotherapeutic vector development. He is an active member of UConn’s Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research and currently has over $3 million in direct external research funding. Recently, his research has focused on platforms for the rapid development and deployment of vaccines for emerging and re-emerging threats, such as SARS‑CoV‑2 (the pathogen that causes Covid-19) and mosquito- and tick-borne viruses like Zika virus and Powassan virus. Verardi also has extensive experience working with industry partners to commercialize technology developed through his research.

“I am honored to have been selected to lead the department that has been my professional home for over 13 years,” Verardi says. “The Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science not only conducts innovative research to protect society from infectious diseases, but also helps to train the next generation of scientists and health professionals that the world needs. I am excited to now take a leading role in my department to advance our mission of education, research, and service.”

Verardi’s appointment as department head will begin in late August 2022.

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