Adriana Vella, PhD (Cambridge)
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Malta
Prof. Adriana Vella has been active in conservation and biodiversity research for 25 years as a full-time academic at the University of Malta. Her field and laboratory research work has allowed new discoveries and expanded knowledge in the area of conservation and molecular genetics linked to diverse species from the Maltese Islands. She has also supervised research projects focusing on both marine species, such as bony and cartilaginous fish, cetaceans, turtles and, terrestrial species, such as bats, hedgehogs and invertebrates, since 1998 thus contributing to upgrading the scientific information required to improve conservation measures for local to regional biodiversity. The various projects have covered field distribution surveys and molecular genetics to identify and study these species genetically. Adriana has also founded the Biological Conservation Research Foundation, ngo so as to facilitate voluntary work on vulnerable species and habitats in Malta and the Mediterranean.
