ECE Praesidium
The purpose of the ECE Praesidium is to ensure the regular organization of the European Congress of Entomology – ideally every four years – and to promote the integration and collaboration of entomological institutions across Europe.
Dr. David Giron is an entomologist with a rich and integrative scientific approach, merging research, training, innovation, and public engagement. With several years of expertise in insect nutrient acquisition and allocation strategies, his work bridges functional and evolutionary ecology to unravel the adaptive mechanisms driving insect interactions with their biotic environment—be it through host-parasitoid dynamics or complex plant-insect-microorganism relationships. His research, rooted in nutritional ecology and evolutionary ecophysiology, delves into the evolution of the endophytic lifestyle and the role of endosymbiotic bacteria in host-plant manipulation. A Ph.D. graduate in Ecology from the University of Tours (2002) and a former postdoc at the University of Bangor (Wales) and at the University of Georgia (USA), Dr. Giron now serves as Director of the Insect Biology Research Institute (IRBI) and CNRS senior researcher. Beyond the lab, he designs instruments, advises on scientific and institutional projects, and leads major interdisciplinary initiatives across scales—always guided by a systemic view of insects as ecological, economic, sociological, and even artistic actors.
Dr. Habil. Mircea-Dan Mitroiu is an Associate Professor at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iasi, Romania, where he teaches Invertebrate Systematics and several other related subjects. He holds a PhD in Entomology and is interested in the taxonomy of parasitic wasps, especially of the mega-diverse Chalcidoidea superfamily. He was a visiting scientist in many natural history museums across the world and was a Fulbright senior researcher at the University of California, Riverside. His most recent scientific contributions include several chapters in ‘Chalcidoidea of the World’ – a landmark volume on the systematics and biology of chalcidoid wasps.
Prof. Ruth Müller is leading the Unit Entomology at Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, PoloGGB Genetics and Ecology Platform in Italy and Unit Medical Entomology at Goethe University in Germany. She is specalized in mosquito ecology and their control. In order to contribute to public health surveillance and control of vector-borne diseases, her teams monitor native and exotic mosquitoes, study the vector biology and ecology, assess the environmental risk and test the efficiency of vector control tools and strategies, and contribute to One Health solutions for real-life vector-borne problems.
Archie Murchie is an agricultural entomologist at the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He leads the Pest and Plant Pathogen Surveillance unit, which has responsibility for scientific approaches to surveillance of pests, pathogens and invasive species harmful to crops, forestry, livestock and human health. Included within this remit is the improvement of monitoring strategies for pests and their natural enemies within an integrated pest management framework. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and was Honorary Secretary for 10 years, involved in the organisation of many international and local entomological conferences including previous European Congresses.
Dr. Ralf Nauen is an insect toxicologist/biochemist working on functional (toxico)genomics, molecular entomology, fundamental and applied aspects of insecticide/acaricide mode of action and detoxification, as well as biochemical and molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance and its management. He received his PhD from the University of Portsmouth (UK) and is a Bayer Distinguished Science Fellow. In 2013 he was awarded to become Fellow of the Entomological Society of America and in 2014 he received the prestigious American Chemical Society International Award for Research in Agrochemicals, in recognition of his outstanding and influential research into insecticide and acaricide modes of action and resistance. He authored more than 290 scientific papers/book chapters with more than 35,000 citations (h-index 95). He received the Highly Cited Researcher award (Clarivate, Web of Science) 2018-2024. He is appointed Visiting Professor by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Executive Editor and Editorial Board member of various well-known journals in the field.
Professor of Entomology at the University of Napoli Federico II (Italy) and Visiting Professor at Newcastle University (UK). The study of the molecular physiology of insect multitrophic interactions is at the core of his research interests, along with biotechnologies for insect control that can be developed based on this knowledge. His work particularly focuses on insect immunity and immunosuppression strategies by parasites and pathogens, and on how environmental stress can alter insect immunocompetence. In 2014 he was awarded the Cozzarelli Prize by the National Academy of Sciences of U.S.A. In 2022, he was elected EMBO member in recognition of outstanding contributions to life science research. Currently serves as President of the Italian National Academy of Entomology. He is member of the Council for International Congresses of Entomology and of the Praesidium of European Congresses of Entomology.
My research focuses on understanding the regulation of insect oogenesis and the evolutionary transitions that have shifted from panoistic to meroistic ovary types, using the cockroach Blattella germanica as a model organism. We aim to identify the signals determining the right time to start ovarian follicle growth and maturation, searching for similarities and discrepancies in gene functions and networks compared to the polytrophic ovary of more modified insect species. Currently, our work explores the role of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) as regulators of mRNA expression during ovarian development. These small non-coding RNAs are emerging as key players in gene regulation, and we are examining their specific functions in the context of insect oogenesis.
Emmanouil Roditakis is Department Head and Associate Professor of Agricultural Entomology and Pharmacology at the Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences of the Hellenic Mediterranean University. Roditakis is working on Integrated Management of key pests in the Mediterranean region with emphasis on novel green and synthetic insecticides. Evaluation of efficacy levels is one of the main axis of Roditakis Lab in combination with in depth characterization of insecticide resistance phenomena and establishment of resistance management tactics. Development and establishment of alternative pest control approaches, including beneficial, entomopathogens, pheromones, minerals oils, minerals, plant extracts etc. is the other axis of research activities. The past years a wide network of collaborators has been established by Roditakis that attracted substantial funding from the industry, the EU and National resources for the development of novel pest management control tactics. Roditakis is serving as Subject/ Associate editor and reviewer of top scientific journals, organizer of seminars and scientific conferences, supervisor of PhD candidates as well as advisor of the Regional Public sector are included among a diverse range of outreach activities. Finally, Roditakis served as chair of the previous European Congress of Entomology (ECE 2023, Heraklion Crete), and currently is an Adjutant member of the Council of the International Congresses of Entomology (CICE).
Dr Jenni Stockan holds a PhD degree in riparian ecology and a BSc in ecology from the University of Aberdeen and a MSc in wildlife biology and conservation from Napier University, Edinburgh. She is employed at the James Hutton Institute and responsible for delivering entomological and ecological research to meet the needs of the Scottish Government and other funders. She currently manages the Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme’s work package on Biodiversity and Ecosystems. Her research focusses on the impact of abiotic and biotic drivers of insect biodiversity change and associated ecosystem services. She has published over 30 papers and over 40 contract reports, book chapters and other publications. She supervises PhD, MSc and BSc students. She has convened many local, national and international conferences including the XIV International Conference on Ephemeroptera, XVIII International Symposium on Plecoptera and the first International Wood Ant Symposium.
Research Director, Agriancyra Biotech, Ankara, Turkey
Umut Toprak is a Professor of Entomology at Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture, Türkiye, and currently leads the Molecular Entomology (MOLEN) Laboratory. Dr. Toprak completed his Ph.D. at the University of Saskatchewan, Dept. of Biology, Canada in 2011 and has also worked as a visiting research scientist at Purdue University (USA), Iowa State University (USA), and Christian Albrechts University (Germany). Dr. Toprak’s expertise is molecular insect physiology, biochemistry, and pathology with a specific focus on insect digestive physiology, lipid metabolism, diapause physiology, host-pathogen interactions (defense physiology), and neurophysiology (neuropeptides). His ultimate goal is the development of novel pest control strategies targeting insect physiological systems using dsRNA (RNA interference), venom- (spider venoms), or microorganisms (Baculoviruses and B. thuringiensis). Dr. Toprak has acquired research funds with a budget of over $3,000,000 and published over 70 papers cited around 3000 times. Dr. Toprak has editorial responsibilities in various insect physiology and biochemistry journals and textbooks and currently serves as a member of the Publication Council of the Entomological Society of America.
