Dr. Zoe Barnes is the Head of Product Development for Oxitec’s OX5034 programs.  Zoe is responsible for delivering successful field trials of OX5034 to pave the way to commercialization in Brazil and to test and validate Oxitec’s new deployment of Aedes aegypti using our just-add-water product.  Zoe's efforts include pulling in data from all field trials globally and driving the timelines for product commercialization. 

Zoe joined Oxitec in 2008 as a research scientist in R&D working in the mosquito strain development team.  In 2010, Zoe coordinated the on-the-ground rearing and release of Oxitec’s first self-limiting mosquito field trial in Grand Cayman resulting in population suppression.  On return, keen to continue to develop as a scientist, Zoe carried out a PhD with Oxitec and Imperial College London focusing on detailed characterization of self-limiting strains and how to maximize the insect quality.  After completing her PhD, this work continued with the new focus of OX5034, leading the work of scaling the produce ready for field release, and the subsequent development of the release device.