Omics Expert List
Members of the GEN-FISH Research Team and project partners with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Science Transfer Program believe omics should be more accessible for fisheries managers. It’s our goal to translate the techniques, applications, and benefits of omics technology for fisheries science; for instance, omics could be applied to solve or address many concerns for fisheries in Canada and globally, such as quantifying fish population responses to management actions, or measuring fish stress and health.
The researchers listed below are available to help support the application of molecular tools in fisheries science and management.
| Name | Affiliation | Omics Speciality | Expertise | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Céline Audet | celine_audet@uqar.ca | Université du Québec à Rimouski | Transcriptomics | As an ecophysiologist, I am mainly involved in projects evaluating the physiological adaptability of fishes to their environment. I am specialized in research associated with aquaculture and fisheries, and over the years I developed transcriptomics skills evaluating phenotypic plasticity in brook charr, striped bass, American eel, redfish, Greenland halibut, and winter flounder. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Peter Euclide | peuclide@iu.edu | Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University | Genomics | I am an Assistant Research Professor in the Paul O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. My research uses a combination of modern genomic techniques, fisheries science, and ecology to answer questions related to animal movement and local adaptation that inform management and conservation. My current molecular research centers on techniques such as whole genome sequencing, reduced representation sequencing (RAD or GBS), and GT-seq and Rapture panels. I use data obtained from these approaches to study population genetic structure, develop targeted amplicon panels, investigate the demographic history of fish populations, and evaluate evidence for locally adaptive loci and genes. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Andrea Schreier | amdrauch@ucdavis.edu | University of California Davis | Genomics | I am a molecular ecologist who applies genetic and genomic tools to answer questions with direct relevance to management and conservation of fish and wildlife populations. Particular interests are sturgeon conservation, applying eDNA/eRNA detection to complement other conventional biodiversity monitoring, and developing CRISPR-based genetic tools to facilitate rapid, in-field genetic testing for managers and conservation practitioners. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Timothy Healy | Timothy.Healy@dfo-mpo.gc.ca | Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Genomics Transcriptomics | My research integrates functional genomics and comparative physiology to understand genetic variation within and among species, and to assess genotype-environment and genotype-phenotype associations in the contexts of conservation and management. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Nick Bernier | nbernier@uoguelph.ca | University of Guelph | Transcriptomics | Dr. Nick Bernier is a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph. Nick has broad interests in fish endocrinology and physiology. Using a wide range of approaches, from molecular to whole-animal, his research program focuses on identifying the pathways that regulate the stress response, understanding the developmental and long-term effects of environmental stressors on growth and reproduction, and developing new transcriptional profiling methods and endocrine biomarkers to assess the impact of chronic stressors on fish. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Dylan Fraser | dylan.fraser@concordia.ca | Concordia University | Genomics | Conservation genomics of fishes; adaptive evolution; conservation units; intraspecific variation in fisheries management | Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Margaret Docker | Margaret.Docker@umanitoba.ca | University of Manitoba | Genomics | Expertise largely related to use of environmental DNA and population genetics/genomics for monitoring aquatic species of conservation concern and aquatic invasive species, especially native lampreys and invasive sea lamprey. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Mark Christie | christ99@purdue.edu | Purdue University | Genomics Transcriptomics | The research in my lab focuses on four themes related to whether species and populations can keep pace with rapid environmental change: (1) rapid genetic adaptation, (2) genetic diversity, (3) population connectivity, and (4) rescue. Our work is largely question driven, and while the primary focus of our work is on fish and fisheries, we also study diverse taxa ranging from Daphnia to mammals. To answer questions in each of these themes my lab uses a diverse array of tools ranging from bioinformatics and agent-based models to whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Jean-Sébastien Moore | jean-sebastien.moore@bio.ulaval.ca | Université Laval | Genomics | Evolutionary genetics, population genetics, microsatellites, eDNA, GBS/RADseq, lcWGS | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Scott Pavey | spavey@unb.ca | University of New Brunswick and Canadian Rivers Institute | Genomics Transcriptomics | Founded in 2015, CRI Genomics was created by Scott Pavey PhD, Canada Research Chair. Since it’s inception, CRI Genomics has provided cutting edge ecological genomics services to New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada. Housed in the Canadian Rivers Institute building of UNB Saint John, the lab maintains and uses $1 million of infrastructure. In addition to Dr. Pavey’s NSERC, Research NB, CFI, academic and training staff, he provides customized genomics consultation, project design, bioinformatics, results interpretation and report writing for a wide cross section of genomics applications. Dr. Pavey’s 25 years of experience in the genomics sector brings a wealth of knowledge to any new project. His genomics service staff have advanced post-graduate degrees. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Sean Rogers | srogers@ucalgary.ca | University of Calgary; Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre | Genomics Transcriptomics | Sean Rogers is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary and Executive Director of the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC) on the west coast of British Columbia. Sean leads an internationally recognized research program in ecological genomics and evolutionary biology focused on how species adapt and persist in the face of rapid environmental change. His work integrates molecular ecology, population genomics, and field-based research to investigate the genetic basis of adaptation, population divergence, and resilience to environmental stressors. Using marine and freshwater fishes as model systems, his research examines how natural populations respond to pressures such as climate change, invasive species, and habitat alteration. His work contributes to the integration of genomic tools into conservation science and fisheries management, supporting evidence-based decision-making and biodiversity stewardship. He currently serves as Senior Editor for Molecular Ecology and Associate Editor for Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Amelie Segarra | asegarra@ucdavis.edu | University of California Davis | Genomics Transcriptomics | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
|
| Trevor Krabbenhoft | tkrabben@buffalo.edu | University at Buffalo | Genomics Transcriptomics Proteomics | My lab runs the multi-omics nanopore sequencing facility at University at Buffalo. We generate and analyze long read DNA sequences, DNA/RNA methylation and other epigenetic methods, Hi-C/Pore-C, and RNA-seq datasets. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Wendylee Stott | Wendylee.Stott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca | Fisheries & Oceans Canada | Genomics | Use of genomics as it relates to management and restoration of aquatic organisms. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Colin Garroway | colin.garroway@umanitoba.ca | University of Manitoba | Genomics | Population genomics, spatial genomics, and conservation and management genomics | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Markus Hecker | markus.hecker@usask.ca | University of Saskatchewan | Genomics Transcriptomics | I have been applying environmental omics approaches to address the potential impacts of environmental contaminants and other stressor to aquatic ecosystems. My research involves the development and application of new approach methods (NAMs) to characterize the specific mechanisms by which environmental stressors affect fishes and amphibians under controlled and field conditions. Furthermore, I have contributed to metagenomics and other genetic screening tools to support monitoring of aquatic ecosystems for invasive species and microbial community composition. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Patricia Schulte | pschulte@zoology.ubc.ca | University of British Columbia | Genomics Transcriptomics | Dr. Patricia (Trish) Schulte's research program investigates the mechanisms fish use to respond to abiotic environmental stressors such as high temperature and hypoxia in fish across levels of biological organization and across timescales. Her work links genomics, epigenomics, biochemistry, and physiology to the performance of fish in a changing environment. Her pioneering work on inter-individual variation in resilience to environmental change has significant implications for both aquaculture and the conservation of natural fish populations in a changing world. She works on a wide range of fish species including salmonids, white sturgeon and stickleback, among others. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Paul Bentzen | paul.bentzen@dal.ca | Dalhousie University | Genomics | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
|
| Victoria Heath | vlsheath@mun.ca | Memorial University | Genomics Transcriptomics | I am a PhD student working on the genetic and transcriptomic mechanisms behind thermal tolerance in Atlantic salmon juveniles in Newfoundland rivers. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Dany Garant | dany.garant@usherbrooke.ca | Université de Sherbrooke | Genomics | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
|
| Ivan Cadonic | ivancadonic9@gmail.com | University of Alberta | Transcriptomics Proteomics | I've worked with small RNA transcriptomic datasets, from read alignment all the way to phenotypic analysis of predicted effects. Additionally, I've worked with differentially expressed proteomic datasets to analyze phenotypic (GO & KEGG) effects. I'm also experienced in designing studies for omics based analysis, and bioinformatic analysis. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Kim Scribner | scribne3@msu.edu | Michigan State University | Genomics | I am Professor (Emeritus) in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University (MSU) associated with several departments and inter-disciplinary programs including the Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Program and the Genetics and Genomics Program. I was also a member of the Partnership for Ecosystem Research and Management (PERM) cooperative research program between the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. I am an evolutionary ecologist with broad academic and professional training and interests in population ecology and genetics. Work in my laboratory has been directed toward the use of molecular genetic and genomic markers as sources of inference at the individual, population, or ecosystem levels. Research interests include analyses of environmental and genetic effects on early life history traits in fishes, comparative phylogeography, studies of mating systems and use of pedigree and parentage analyses as means to quantify measures of recruitment, and landscape genetics. Emphasis has been placed on managed or exploited populations and in the area of Conservation Biology. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Albert Caballero Solares | albert.caballerosolares@stir.ac.uk | University of Stirling | Transcriptomics | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
|
| Brian Dixon | bdixon@uwaterloo.ca | University of Waterloo | Transcriptomics | Validation of trancriptomics with specialized protein assays like ELISA | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Shahinur Islam | shahinur.islam@mun.ca | University of Windsor | Genomics Transcriptomics | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
|
| Matthew Yates | matthew.yates@outlook.com | University of Windsor, University of Manitoba | Genomics Transcriptomics | Expert in applications of molecular techniques to fisheries management, with an emphasis on environmental DNA. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Matthew Rise | mrise@mun.ca | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Genomics Transcriptomics | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) | |
| Clare Venney | venney@ualberta.ca | University of Alberta | Genomics Transcriptomics | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
|
| Stevan Springer | sspringer@upei.ca | University of Prince Edward Island | Genomics Transcriptomics | I study molecular evolution and adaptation. I can help with population genetics and molecular biology, and analyses of all kinds of genetic data. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Subba Rwo Chaganti | rchaganti@pwssc.org | Prince William Sound Science Center | Genomics Transcriptomics | I am a scientist with expertise in fish microbiomes, fish pathogens, genomics, and transcriptomics, with a focus on fish stress, disease, health, and growth across multiple life stages, including eggs, alevins, fry, juveniles, and adults. My work spans both hatchery and wild fish and examines how changes in environmental conditions, water quality, chemicals, and other stressors can increase the risk of emerging pathogens and pathogen load. I study how these pressures influence fish gene expression, genetics, physiology, and growth, with the goal of generating practical, science-based insights that support fish health, resilience, and effective management. I am available for consultation and welcome collaboration with agencies on technical analysis and applied research. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Kyle Wellband | Kyle.Wellband@dfo-mpo.gc.ca | Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Genomics Transcriptomics | I have expertise with population genomics and functional genomics (i.e., transcriptomics and epigenomics) approaches to address fisheries management questions. In particular I have expertise using genetic tools to evaluate reproductive success using parentage tools and understanding the consequences of hatchery rearing on salmonids. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Analisa Lazaro-Côté | analisa.lazarocote@umanitoba.ca | University of Manitoba | Transcriptomics | Developing non-lethal monitoring approaches for aquaculture and wild populations. Analysis of transcriptional data. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Daniel Heath | dheath@uwindsor.ca | University of Windsor | Genomics Transcriptomics | Applications of genomics to population analyses. Applications of transcriptomics to fish health assessment. Wild fisheries and fish culture experience. Fish conservation focus. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) |
| Mark Fast | mfast@upei.ca | Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island | Genomics Transcriptomics | Professor at the vet school working on host-pathogen interactions, fish health and comparative immunology. My work is mostly on salmonids, but we have done a good deal of work on wild and cultured Atlantic and white sturgeon, American eel, tilapia, flounder, catfish, sticklebacks, and some shark species. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Ken Jeffries | Ken.Jeffries@umanitoba.ca | University of Manitoba | Transcriptomics | I conduct research in transcriptomics and stress physiology. I sometimes dabble in other types of omics. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Michael Lawrence | michael.lawrence@dfo-mpo.gc.ca | Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Transcriptomics | Fish metabolism and stress physiology | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) |
| Will Bugg | wsbuggfiles@gmail.com | Pacific Salmon Foundation, University of British Columbia | Transcriptomics | RNAsequencing, differential expression analysis, biomarker identification, transcriptional physiology | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Thais Bernos | thais.bernos@uvm.edu | University of Vermont | Genomics | Msc and PhD in evolutionary biology. Molecular work. Data analysis. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Matt Thorstensen | matt.thorstensen@gmail.com | University of Toronto | Genomics Transcriptomics | I have a background in both population genomics and transcriptomics in fishes, such as in making the lake sturgeon reference genome and studying the interactions of alternative splicing and differential gene expression in redside dace. I have done a little bit of proteomics, as I am analyzing a proteomics dataset in lake sturgeon at the moment. | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
| Patricia Voyer | pvoyer@uoguelph.ca | University of Guelph | Transcriptomics | Consultation (available to answer questions and discuss results) Collaboration (partner with agencies to run analyses, etc.) |
|