Nikoleta Anicic

Nikoleta Anicic is a Scientific Collaborator in Vector Ecology at the Department of Environment Constructions and Design (DACD) at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), where she focuses on monitoring and researching invasive mosquito species and their ecological impacts.

Education:

• PhD in Evolutionary Ecology, University of Namur (Belgium), 2017
• Master of Science in Biology with specialization in environmental microbiology and ecology, University of Zurich, 2017
• Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2014

Anicic's research centers on vector ecology with particular expertise in mosquito monitoring and control. Her work combines molecular biology, entomology (specializing in mosquitoes), data management, ArcGIS, and programming in R to address public health challenges posed by invasive species. She has developed specialized skills in high-resolution optical identification of mosquito eggs and spatio-temporal modeling of invasive species dynamics. Her research has direct applications for arboviral disease surveillance and prevention, particularly for diseases like Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika transmitted by invasive Aedes species.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a strong interdisciplinary approach spanning entomology, environmental microbiology, and computational ecology. Her research trajectory shows progression from fundamental ecological studies on subterranean biodiversity and freshwater zooplankton to increasingly applied work on invasive mosquito surveillance. Recent publications demonstrate sophisticated integration of machine learning techniques with traditional ecological monitoring to predict seasonal mosquito population dynamics across multiple European countries.

Nikoleta Anicic leads and participates in numerous research projects focused on invasive mosquito surveillance across Swiss cantons (including Zurich, Uri, Glarus, Schwyz, and the Romandy region) and Liechtenstein. These projects involve close collaboration with cantonal environmental offices and national authorities, with SUPSI serving as the national coordination center for invasive species monitoring designated by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. Her work directly informs Swiss public health strategies for controlling invasive mosquito species including Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus, and Ae. koreicus.

At SUPSI, Anicic is a core member of the Vector Ecology Sector (SECOVETT) within the Institute of Microbiology. She contributes significantly to the Swiss mosquito network, providing scientific expertise for developing monitoring protocols, analyzing field samples, and interpreting spatial patterns of mosquito invasion. Her recent presentation at the 26th International Conference on Subterranean Biology demonstrates her continued engagement with broader ecological questions beyond her primary mosquito research focus.