Paulo Verardi, PhD

Professor and Department Head

Pathobiology and Veterinary Science

Dr. Paulo Verardi is a Professor of Virology and Vaccinology and serves as the Head of the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science at the University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR). He is also a member of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL), a Principal Investigator at the Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research (CEVR), and a Research Affiliate at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, CT. Dr. Verardi oversees departmental administration and strategic initiatives, focusing on high-impact research and transformative undergraduate and graduate education.

Under Dr. Verardi’s leadership, the department has undergone a significant curricular overhaul to prioritize experiential and life-transformative learning. He has championed strategic visioning efforts that promote interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation in vaccinology, and student-centered approaches to education. His contributions have enhanced the department’s visibility and impact across state, national, and international levels.

Dr. Verardi’s research spans a wide array of human and animal infectious diseases, with a particular emphasis on vector-borne and emerging threats. He has made key contributions to the development of safer and more effective vaccines for diseases such as smallpox, AIDS, Rift Valley fever, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), Zika virus, and other mosquito- and tick-borne viruses. His work includes innovations in viral vector design, immunomodulation, and advanced safety control mechanisms using repressible gene expression systems. In support of this research, he has significantly expanded activities in platform technologies for rapid vaccine development. He has also served on more than 40 NIH and USDA grant review panels and currently holds a standing appointment on the NIH Vaccines Against Infectious Diseases (VID) study section.

He has served as a consultant for Pfizer’s COVID-19 advisory efforts and has been a member of numerous scientific and educational advisory boards. He has also engaged in Department of Defense-sponsored international training programs focused on biorisk management and response to especially dangerous pathogens.

Dr. Verardi earned his Ph.D. in Comparative Pathology (Molecular Virology) from the University of California, Davis, and holds BS and post-baccalaureate degrees from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. He has received multiple honors for his professional service and scholarship, including awards from the American Society for Microbiology.