Associate Research Professor at Institute of Research in Health Sciences (IRSS), Burkina Faso.
Dr. Bilgo Etienne is an accomplished research scientist specializing in medical entomology, parasitology, and vector-borne diseases. He currently serves as an Associate Research Professor at the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS) under the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST) in Burkina Faso. He also leads the Microbiology and Parasitology Department at Sya Innovation Center and maintains affiliations with international institutions including the University of Glasgow (UK) and University of Maryland (USA). Dr. Bilgo has significantly contributed to the fight against malaria and dengue in sub-Saharan Africa through innovative vector control strategies and translational research. His leadership in multi-institutional collaborations and his mentorship of early-career researchers have strengthened research capacity in West Africa. Recognized both nationally and internationally, Dr. Bilgo has received multiple prestigious fellowships and awards. He has been instrumental in securing research grants from globally renowned organizations such as the Wellcome Trust, EDCTP, and the Islamic Development Bank. His work bridges academic excellence and real-world impact, targeting diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Dr. Bilgo remains committed to advancing public health through scientific innovation, training, and global partnerships.
📝Publication Profile
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🎓Education
Dr. Bilgo Etienne holds a Ph.D. in Applied Biological Sciences (Medical Entomology), awarded in 2018 by the University Joseph Ki-Zerbo (formerly University of Ouagadougou), Burkina Faso, under joint supervision with IRSS–Centre Muraz and the University of Maryland, USA. His PhD was co-supervised by Professors Abdoulaye Diabaté, Antoine Sanon, and Raymond St. Leger. Prior to that, he completed a Master’s degree in Biology and Animal Ecology (Entomology) in 2012 and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biology (Animal Biology and Physiology) in 2010, both from University Joseph Ki-Zerbo. Throughout his academic journey, Dr. Bilgo was awarded competitive national scholarships from the Government of Burkina Faso to support his master’s thesis and doctoral research. His strong educational background has enabled him to develop deep expertise in entomology, ecology, and vector-pathogen interactions. The interdisciplinary and international nature of his academic training laid the foundation for a research career that is both scientifically rigorous and globally impactful. His postdoctoral training further expanded his scientific competencies and collaborative network across Africa, Europe, and the United States.
💼Professional Experience
Since 2025, Dr. Bilgo has served as a “Maître de Recherche” (Senior Research Professor) accredited by the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES). Prior to this, he was a “Chargé de Recherche” (Assistant Research Professor) at IRSS/CNRST from 2021 to 2024 and held the position of Attaché de Recherche (Senior Postdoctoral Fellow) between 2019 and 2021. His international postdoctoral fellowships include appointments at the University of Maryland’s St. Leger Lab (2018–2019), the Islamic Development Bank program at ACE/ITECH-MTV (2019–2020), and the EDCTP/MRC WANETAM Fellowship (2019–2020). Dr. Bilgo is currently Head of the Microbiology and Parasitology Department at the Sya Innovation Center and serves as an affiliate researcher at Centre Muraz and INSP. He also holds academic roles as an Affiliate Lecturer at the University Nazi Boni and a collaborative researcher at the University of Glasgow and University of Maryland. Over the years, he has supervised graduate and postdoctoral researchers and led several multicentric research projects. His career demonstrates a strong blend of research leadership, institutional development, and cross-border scientific collaboration.
🔬Research Interest
Dr. Bilgo Etienne’s primary research interests lie in medical entomology, parasitology, integrated vector management, and translational research for tropical disease control. His scientific focus is on mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue, with an emphasis on biological control, pathogen-vector interactions, and the use of entomopathogenic fungi. He is deeply involved in designing and evaluating innovative vector control tools tailored for low-resource settings. His multidisciplinary work also intersects with microbiology, molecular parasitology, and public health, aiming to bridge lab discoveries with community-level disease prevention. Dr. Bilgo is committed to capacity building in Africa and has co-developed strategic partnerships with institutions in the UK, USA, and across West Africa. Through his involvement in projects like ANTIVeC and the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE), he contributes to research that is not only academically robust but also socially relevant. His interests further include mentoring early-career scientists, developing diagnostic platforms, and assessing the ecological safety of vector control technologies.
🧠Research Skills
Dr. Bilgo possesses a comprehensive skill set in field entomology, parasitology, molecular diagnostics, vector-pathogen interaction studies, and biosafety-level research techniques. His core technical competencies include laboratory and field-based mosquito rearing, vector infection assays, microbiome analysis, and pathogen detection using PCR and immunological techniques. He is experienced in conducting randomized field trials, entomological surveillance, and integrated vector management experiments. His ability to lead large, multidisciplinary research teams across institutions highlights his project management and scientific leadership skills. Dr. Bilgo is also proficient in grant writing, research ethics, protocol development, and scientific communication. His exposure to international research environments in the US, UK, and Africa has equipped him with cross-cultural collaboration and mentoring abilities. Moreover, his involvement in high-impact publications and award-winning research demonstrates his capability to produce rigorous and innovative scientific outputs. As a trainer and mentor, he continues to impart these skills to a new generation of African scientists, advancing research excellence across the continent.
🏆Awards and Honors
Dr. Bilgo Etienne has earned multiple national and international recognitions for his scientific contributions. He is a recipient of the 2022–2027 ARISE Fellowship, supported by the European Union and African Academy of Sciences, for groundbreaking work on malaria and dengue control. In 2020, he received the Burkina Faso Ministry of Higher Education’s Prix d’Excellence de la Recherche Scientifique, recognizing him as the best researcher under age 40. He co-received the AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize in 2020 for a top-ranked publication in Science. Other prestigious fellowships include the Wellcome Trust International Postdoctoral Fellowship (2019–2023), Islamic Development Bank Postdoctoral Fellowship (2019–2020), and the NIH-funded postdoc at the University of Maryland. He was selected as a Rising Star by Grand Challenges Africa and one of the top 10 Young Investigators by ASTMH. Additional accolades include the Brian Sharp Award in 2018, the GRC Carl Storm Fellowship, and early-career travel grants to international conferences. These honors not only recognize his research impact but also his role as a scientific leader and mentor in Africa and beyond.
📈Author Metrics
As of the latest available data, Dr. Bilgo Etienne has demonstrated a growing scholarly impact in the field of medical entomology and infectious disease research. His citation metrics are as follows:
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Total Citations: 560
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h-index: 11
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i10-index: 11
These metrics reflect Dr. Bilgo’s consistent contributions to high-impact scientific research, particularly in vector-borne disease control and microbiology. His work has garnered international recognition, with publications cited across multidisciplinary studies focusing on malaria, dengue, vector control technologies, and translational entomological research. The h-index and i10-index further indicate his productivity and the relevance of his research output within the scientific community.
📌Publications Top Notes
1. Transgenic Metarhizium rapidly kills mosquitoes in a malaria-endemic region of Burkina Faso
Authors: B. Lovett, E. Bilgo, S.A. Millogo, A.K. Ouattarra, I. Saré, E.J. Gnambani, et al.
Year: 2019
Citations: 125
2. Targeting male mosquito swarms to control malaria vector density
Authors: S.P. Sawadogo, A. Niang, E. Bilgo, A. Millogo, H. Maïga, R.K. Dabiré, F. Tripet, et al.
Year: 2017
Citations: 74
3. Native entomopathogenic Metarhizium spp. from Burkina Faso and their virulence against the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii and non-target insects
Authors: E. Bilgo, B. Lovett, R.J. St. Leger, A. Sanon, R.K. Dabiré, A. Diabaté
Year: 2018
Citations: 62
4. Improved efficacy of an arthropod toxin expressing fungus against insecticide-resistant malaria-vector mosquitoes
Authors: E. Bilgo, B. Lovett, W. Fang, N. Bende, G.F. King, A. Diabaté, R.J. St. Leger
Year: 2017
Citations: 51
5. A review of progress toward field application of transgenic mosquitocidal entomopathogenic fungi
Authors: B. Lovett, E. Bilgo, A. Diabaté, R. St. Leger
Year: 2019
Citations: 41
6. Delftia tsuruhatensis TC1 symbiont suppresses malaria transmission by anopheline mosquitoes
Authors: W. Huang, J. Rodrigues, E. Bilgo, J.R. Tormo, J.D. Challenger, et al.
Year: 2023
Citations: 34
7. Transgenic Metarhizium pingshaense synergistically ameliorates pyrethroid-resistance in wild-caught, malaria-vector mosquitoes
Authors: E. Bilgo, B. Lovett, K. Bayili, A.S. Millogo, I. Saré, R.K. Dabiré, A. Sanon, et al.
Year: 2018
Citations: 29
8. Environmentally friendly tool to control mosquito populations without risk of insecticide resistance: the Lehmann’s funnel entry trap
Authors: A. Diabaté, E. Bilgo, R.K. Dabiré, F. Tripet
Year: 2013
Citations: 29
9. Field assessment of potential sugar feeding stations for disseminating bacteria in a paratransgenic approach to control malaria
Authors: E. Bilgo, A. Vantaux, A. Sanon, S. Ilboudo, R.K. Dabiré, M. Jacobs-Lorena, et al.
Year: 2018
Citations: 22
10. Infection of highly insecticide-resistant malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii with entomopathogenic bacteria Chromobacterium violaceum reduces its survival, blood feeding, and reproduction
Authors: E.J. Gnambani, E. Bilgo, A. Sanou, R.K. Dabiré, A. Diabaté
Year: 2020
Citations: 21
🧾Conclusion
Dr. Bilgo Etienne exemplifies the new generation of African scientists driving innovation in global health. His academic journey, rooted in Burkina Faso and expanded through international collaborations, reflects a strong commitment to research excellence, capacity building, and societal impact. With a specialization in medical entomology and vector control, he tackles pressing public health challenges such as malaria and dengue using integrative, science-based solutions. His professional path from postdoctoral fellow to research professor and department head—demonstrates a trajectory of continuous growth and leadership. Dr. Bilgo’s ability to secure competitive fellowships and prestigious awards underscores his scientific credibility and global relevance. Moreover, his mentorship of young researchers and affiliation with top-tier institutions enhance his contributions to scientific advancement in Africa. His work is not only academically influential but also deeply aligned with public health priorities in endemic regions. As he continues to lead multidisciplinary research and training initiatives, Dr. Bilgo stands out as a catalyst for transformative health research and innovation on the African continent.