My personal and professional journey

Júlia López Mercadal

Nationality: Spanish · 13/04/1995

Work experience

SNSF Postdoctoral Researcher Agroscope and WSL [ 01/02/2025 – 31/01/2027 ]

City: Cadenazzo | Country: Switzerland

SNSF (Swiss National Science Foundation) Postdoctoral Fellowship 2023

https://www.snf.ch/en/kYhb2KwG7Fhe2f93/news/snsf-swiss-postdoctoral-fellowships-2023-48-approved-projects

Link to my project: https://data.snf.ch/grants/grant/224952

Scientific Project manager National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety of France (ANSES) [ 01/09/2023 – 31/12/2024 ]

City: Angers | Country: France

Scientific and technical assistance on a horizon scanning exercise in view to crisis preparedness on plant health for the EU territory (horizon scanning) - GP/EFSA/PLANTS/2022/07. This project involves the JRC, ANSES and EFSA.

Individual Scientific Advisor Expert European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) [ 01/09/2023 – 31/03/2024 ]

Internship Plant Health Risk Assessment European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) [ 01/09/2022 – 31/08/2023 ]

City: Parma | Country: Italy

Traineeship in the Plant Health Risk Assessment Team. Supervisor Dr. Ewelina Czwienczek

Collaborator Scientific Researcher University of the Balearic Islands [ 2022 – Current ]

Collaborator Researcher of the Applied Zoology and Conservation Animal Group (ZAP).

Scientific Researcher University of the Balearic Islands [ 01/05/2018 – 31/08/2022 ]

City: Palma | Country: Spain

Researcher of the Applied Zoology and Conservation Animal Group (ZAP).

Technician Lokimica S.A. [ 01/05/2017 – 31/10/2017 ]

City: Palma | Country: Spain

Technical supervisor for the Pest Control Company Lokimica.

Volunteering Centre de Recuperacio de Fauna Silvestre de Menorca [ 15/06/2016 – 31/08/2016 ]

City: Ciutadella | Country: Spain

Volunteering in the Menorcan Recuperation Center, mainly focused on birds and terrestrial turtles.

Education and training

Ph.D., Doctorate in Biomedical and Evolutionary Biotechnology University of the Balearic Islands [ 30/11/2018 – 26/09/2022 ]

Field(s) of study: Zoology, Applied Entomology | Final grade: Excellent Cum Laude | Thesis: Seasonality, life cycle and vectorial capacity of Xylella fastidiosa insect vectors in the main crops of the Balearic Islands

The general objectives of the thesis were i) macrocosm and microcosm studies of the vectors in the major agrosystems of the Balearic Islands; ii) Prevalence of X. fastidiosa in the vectors and vectorial capacity of potential vectors; iii) Test a cultural method against vectors.

MSc Biotechnology Applied to Environment University of the Balearic Islands [ 10/2017 – 09/2018 ]

Field(s) of study: Zoology, Applied Entomology | Thesis: "Bionomia de la poblacio d'Aedes albopictus de Palma de Mallorca"

Master thesis about bionomics and wing geometric morphometrics analysis of the tiger mosquito.

BSc Biology University of the Balearic Islands [ 09/2013 – 06/2017 ]

Field(s) of study: Zoology, Applied Entomology | Thesis: "Estudi de la poblacio d'Aedes albopictus a les Illes Balears"

Study of the tiger mosquito distribution in Menorca and Mallorca by field work monitoring using oviposition traps.

Scientifics stays in public or private centres

[ 18/10/2021 – 21/11/2021 ]

Centro do Investigaçao de Montanha (Instituto Politécnico Bragança) Bragança (Portugal)

Prof. Dr. Jose Alberto Pereira

Objective: Biological control of Xylella fastidiosa vectors.

[ 2019 ]

Université Catholique de Louvain Brussels (Belgium)

Prof. Dr. Claude Bragard

Objective: Artificial diet of Xylella fastidiosa vectors and molecular analysis.

SUPERVISING BACHELOR, MASTER AND OTHER STUDENTS

Bachelor thesis:

Andreu Real Gil. 2024. Caracterizacion morfometrica de las especies de flebotomos (Diptera:Phlebotominae) de Baleares. Universitat de les Illes Balears. Supervisor: Prof Miguel Angel Miranda.

Pau Mercadal Frontera. 2019. Estudi de l'anatomia del sistema sensorial i l'aparell bucal dels vectors del bacteri Xylella fastidiosa. Universitat de les Illes Balears. Supervisor: Prof Miguel Angel Miranda.

Master thesis:

Pau Mercadal Frontera. 2021. Estudio de la eficacia de las trampas cromáticas para la captura de vectores de Xylella fastidiosa. Universitat de les Illes Balears. Supervisor: Prof Miguel Angel Miranda.

UNIVERSITY TEACHING

Subject: Pest of importance for Agriculture and Ornamental plants. Agronomic Engineering University of the Balearic Islands (Escuela Politecnica Superior) 03/2022 – 06/2022

Laboratory seminar: Identification of agronomic importance' arthropods University of the Balearic Islands - Faculty of Science 06/2021

Class: Insect vectors in agriculture. The case study of Xylella fastidiosa in the Balearic Islands University of the Balearic Islands - Faculty of Science 05/2021

Support in laboratory practices from 2015 to 2022 under the supervision of Pr Miguel Angel Miranda (Zoology. Biology bachelor).

Teaching

Language Skills

Mother tongue(s): Catalan | Spanish

Other language(s):

English C1

Italian B2

French B2

Portuguese A1

German A1

Digital Skills

    • DistillerSR

    • Microsoft 365

    • TpsDig, Tpsrelw e TpsU

    • Processamento de texto Latex

    • SAS

    • R and R- studio

    • PAST

    • MorphoJ for morphometric analysis

    • MediSys

    • Phoris

    • EIOS

  • Coordinator and volunteering of the platform "11 de Febrero" Organizer of activities to promote women in Science: https://11defebrero.org [ 2021 – Current ]

    • Social media

    • Wordpress

    • Website management

    • Head of the website team

    Links: https://11defebrero.org/coordinacion-2022/ | https://11defebrero.org/coordinacion-2023/ | https://11defebrero.org/coordinacion-2024/ | https://11defebrero.org/coordinacion-2025/

    Member of the Spanish Society of Applied Entomology [ 2022 – Current ]

    Link: https://www.seea.es/

    Member of the Società Entomologica della Svizzera Italiana [ 2025 – Current ]

    Link: http://www.entomosensi.ch/

    Expert of the Commission on Environment for the Spanish Council of Biologists Expert on Entomology, representing the Council of Biologists from the Balearic Islands [ 2022 - Current]

    Link: https://cgcob.es/quienes-somos/comisiones-del-consejo/

    Member of the General Board of the Council for Biologists of the Balearic Islands Colegio Oficial de Biologos de las Islas Baleares [ 2019 - Current]

    Link: http://cobib.es/

  • Training on EUROSTAT and TRACES European Food Safety Authority [ 2022 – 2023 ] City: Parma | Country: Italy

    Course: Writing an evidence dossier for an Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE) European Food Safety Authority [ 09/2022 ] City: Parma | Country: Italy

    Course: SAS Basic Knowledge on Statistical Analytics Software and Statistical Analytics Studio European Food Safety Authority [ 09/2022 ]

    Course: Theory and practice of mixed fixed and random effect models. Application to Natural Sciences using R Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales y CSIC [ 02/2022 – 03/2022 ] City: Madrid

    Course: Agricultural pest and disease management in the Farm to Fork context COIAL [ 26/10/2021 ]

    Course: Bioindicators and methods for monitoring species in terrestrial ecosystems UIMIR and IME [ 07/05/2021 – 08/05/2021 ]

    Course: Introduction to geometric morphometrics (online edition) Universidad Católica del Maule [ 07/2020 ]

    Course: Certified Peer Reviewer El Sevier - Researcher Academy [ 05/2020 ]

    Course: Professional user of phytosanitary products ASAJA [ 01/03/2019 – 01/04/2019 ]

    Course: Official course on fish and corals Palma Aquarium [ 03/2018 ]

    Course: From Darkness to Shadows: The fight against malaria and forgotten diseases in the 21st century University of the Balearic Islands [ 05/2017 ]

    Course: Theoretical-Practical Course on Methods for Studying Carnivorous Mammals (non-invasive methodologies) Biolearn [ 01/2017 ]

    Course: Globalization and biodiversity: the case of invasive alien species in island ecosystems University of the Balearic Islands [ 06/2016 ]

    Course: Course on Biology, Management and Conservation of Sea Turtles Palma Aquarium [ 03/2016 ]

    Course: English language immersion Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo [ 2016 ]

    Course: Open Water Diver PADI [ 2010 ]

  • Risk and course of Xylella infections in forestry and agricultural woody plants (to Dr F. Dennert) Funded by: Forest and Wood Research Funding Switzerland (WHFF-CH). [2024 - 2026] Link: https://www.wsl.ch/de/projekte/ri-xylella/

    Horizon scanning for plant pests Funded by: European Food Safety Authority [ 09/2023 – 12/2024 ]
    Link: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/horizon-scanning-plant-pests

    Collection of data and information in Balearic Islands on biology of vectors and potential vectors of Xylella fastidiosa Funded by: European Food Safety Authority (GP/EFSA/ALPHA/2017/01)
    Link: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2021.EN-6925

    Desarrollo de estrategias de erradicación, contención y control de Xylella fastidiosa en España: proceso de infección y respuesta de genotipos Funded by: Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad del Gobierno de España (ERTA2017-00004-C06-04) [ 01/01/2018 – 30/06/2022 ]

    Contratación de un servicio para el Control biológico de la procesionaria del pino mediante parasitoides de huevos, Pitiusas, 2021-2024 Funded by: Consell d'Eivissa [ 01/10/2021 – 31/10/2024 ]

    Diversidad y posibles impactos de los ectoparásitos sobre las aves de Menorca Funded by: Institut Menorqui d'Estudis [ 01/01/2022 – 31/12/2022 ]
    Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PMjTGRg-f5MnXieTBQIEmweLsBiDvgIV/view?usp=drivesdk

    Estudi de la prevalença d’arbovirosi i altres patògens transmesos per dípters en el sector ramader de les Balear Funded by: Govern de les Illes Balears [ 26/07/2021 – 25/07/2022 ]

    Bases per el control del mosquit verd (F. Cicadellidae) al cultiu de vinya a les Illes Balears Funded by: Govern de les Illes Balears [ 01/05/2018 – 31/10/2018 ]

  • #HILOTESIS 2022 La teva tesi en un fil de Twitter Divulgation of the work done during my PhD by a twitter thread. [ 2022 ] University of the Balearic Islands
    Link: https://twitter.com/julia_lopez9/status/1520041494513700864?s=20&t=Mg1evbc6IQ94Alx_OzKmFQ

    Cuéntame 11F Divulgation of the work done during my PhD by a YouTube video to make visible the work of women in science. [ 2021 ] Plataforma 11 de Febrero España
    Link: https://youtu.be/eaFJRcmJT9c

    Young Researchers Initiative [ 2019 ] European Food Safety Authority

  • Organization Commettee: Second International Workshop on Horizon Scanning

    Year: 2025. Place: Paris (France). Organization: ANSES and ESFA

    Organization Commettee: First Webinar on Horizon Scanning for Plant Health - EFSA Dashboard

    Year: 2024. Place: Online. Organization: ANSES and ESFA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4MA2JlNZVM

    Social Media Manager: 4th European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa
    Year: 2023 · Place: Lyon (France) · Organization: EFSA

    Organization Commettee: European conference on Xylella fastidiosa: finding answers to a global problem
    Year: 2017 · Place: Mallorca (Spain) · Organization: UIB and EFSA

    Organization Commettee: 7th International congresss of the society for vector ecology (SOVE). New technology conquering old vectors?
    Year: 2017 · Place: Mallorca (Spain) · Organization: UIB

  • Journal of Applied Entomology

    Frontiers in Veterinary Science

    Journal of Medical Entomology

    Acta Tropica

    Acta Biologica Colombiana

  • SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowships (SPF) [ 01/02/2025 – 31/01/2027 ]
    Host institutions: Agrocope and WSL (Switzerland)
    Link: https://www.snf.ch/en/m1NtWp4nTELQixlu/funding/horizon-europe-swiss-postdoctoral-fellowships

    Mobility grant awarded by the IBER-XYFAS network [ 2021 ]
    CYTED Network "IBER-XYFAS: Ibero-American Network for the surveillance of Xylella fastidiosa" (Ref. 119RT0569)

    Beca para el estudio para el fomento de la opcupación curso 2020-2021
    Ayuntamiento de Alaior

    Beca para el estudio para el fomento de la opcupación curso 2019-2020
    Ayuntamiento de Alaior

    Young Researchers Initiative
    European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

    Beca para el estudio para el fomento de la opcupación curso 2018-2019
    Ayuntamiento de Alaior

    Beca para el estudio para el fomento de la opcupación curso 2017-2018
    Ayuntamiento de Alaior

    Beca de carácter general para el curso académico 2016-2017
    Dirección Provincial del Ministerio de Educación y Cultura - Secretaría de Estado de Educación, Formación Profesional y Universidades del Gobierno de Espanya

    Beca de carácter general para el curso académico 2015-2016
    Dirección Provincial del Ministerio de Educación y Cultura - Secretaría de Estado de Educación, Formación Profesional y Universidades del Gobierno de Espanya

    Ayuda para realizar un curso de inmersión en lengua inglesa
    Dirección Provincial del Ministerio de Educación y Cultura - Secretaría de Estado de Educación, Formación Profesional y Universidades del Gobierno de Espanya

    Beca de carácter general para el curso académico 2014-2015
    Dirección Provincial del Ministerio de Educación y Cultura - Secretaría de Estado de Educación, Formación Profesional y Universidades del Gobierno de Espanya

    Beca de carácter general para el curso académico 2013-2014
    Dirección Provincial del Ministerio de Educación y Cultura - Secretaría de Estado de Educación, Formación Profesional y Universidades del Gobierno de Espanya

Let’s connect and explore opportunities together!

Contact me