Fernando Mardones

Fernando O. Mardones is a veterinary epidemiologist and Senior Lecturer in One Health and Aquaculture at the University of Edinburgh. He holds a PhD in Epidemiology and a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis, and a veterinary degree from the University of Chile.

His research focuses on the prevention and control of infectious diseases in aquaculture, with particular emphasis on bacterial and parasitic pathogens, antimicrobial use and resistance, and climate-sensitive disease dynamics. His work integrates epidemiology, data science, and One Health and Planetary Health approaches to improve animal health, sustainability, and resilience in aquatic food systems.

Fernando has led and contributed to interdisciplinary research projects in collaboration with industry, regulators, and international organizations across Europe, Africa and Latin America. His research on salmonid diseases -including Piscirickettsia salmonis, sea lice, and emerging pathogens - combines epidemiological modelling, spatial analysis, and risk-based surveillance to inform evidence-based decision-making.

He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, contributed to policy-oriented outputs, and serves on editorial boards and scientific advisory groups. He is also an expert consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in aquatic epidemiology and One Health.

Fernando is strongly committed to teaching and capacity building. He has designed and delivered undergraduate and postgraduate courses in epidemiology and One Health, supervised graduate students and early-career researchers, and held academic leadership roles. Through his research, teaching, and international engagement, he aims to support the development of sustainable, ethical, and resilient aquatic food systems.