Robert Zinna

Dr. Robert Zinna is an Associate Professor of Biology at Mars Hill University, affiliated with the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ecology & Conservation Biology, Natural Sciences, and Zoology. His academic journey includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Winthrop University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from Washington State University, preceded by work as an imaging technician at the Medical University of South Carolina. He later served as a Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Fellow at the University of Arizona, studying mosquito responses to Zika virus.

Research Focus

Dr. Zinna's interdisciplinary research spans entomology, evolutionary biology, data science, and ecology. Key projects investigate:

• Canine heartworm distribution in Western North Carolina
• Stream health assessment via aquatic insects
• Tardigrade ecology and microscopic invertebrates
• Impact of microplastics on mosquitoes

He actively recruits students for invertebrate zoology research.

Academic Leadership

Beyond research, he leads Mars Hill University's Data Analytics minor and collaborates with the Esports program, bridging scientific inquiry with emerging digital disciplines.