Emilia Rodríguez

Emilia Rodríguez is a Biotechnology undergraduate student from Ecuador, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. She is currently an intern at the Animal Biotechnology Laboratory at Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE and in the Amphibian and Reptile Management Area at Fundación Herpetológica Gustavo Orcés – Vivarium de Quito, the only NGO in Ecuador dedicated exclusively to reptile and amphibian conservation. 

At the Vivarium, she provides daily care, feeding, monitoring, and handling for individuals rescued from illegal wildlife trafficking, witnessing the physiological and behavioral impacts of this trade on herpetofauna. 

Alongside her work in animal management, she has collaborated on molecular analyses focused on the detection of chytrid fungus in the Andean marsupial frog (Gastrotheca riobambae), integrating tools such as qPCR into conservation efforts. She is particularly interested in emerging infectious diseases affecting wildlife and their broader ecological and social implications in megadiverse regions. 

Emilia is also interested in toxinology and the study of snake venoms, particularly in the context of antivenom development and its importance for public health in Ecuador. She hopes to continue building bridges between biotechnology and herpetology, contributing to conservation and One Health perspective in her country.