Ramón Filgueira
Professor - Marine Affairs Program
Professor II (20%) - Institute of Marine Research (Norway)
[email protected] | ResearchGate | Google Scholar
Ramón's current research is focused on ecosystem functioning of marine environments with emphasis on the potential effects of different stressors on ecosystem resilience. The primary tool in Ramón's research is ecosystem modelling, which allows the integration of time and space, critical aspects for understanding ecological dynamics and therefore how natural systems provide ecosystem services. Scenario building and optimization processes deliver a detailed description of flows of matter and energy that I use to apply the concept of ecosystem-based management to aquaculture sites. Ramón's main goal is to promote sustainable aquaculture and provide objective scientific knowledge for marine spatial planning in order to guarantee the sustainability of coastal zones.
Professor - Marine Affairs Program
Professor II (20%) - Institute of Marine Research (Norway)
[email protected] | ResearchGate | Google Scholar
Ramón's current research is focused on ecosystem functioning of marine environments with emphasis on the potential effects of different stressors on ecosystem resilience. The primary tool in Ramón's research is ecosystem modelling, which allows the integration of time and space, critical aspects for understanding ecological dynamics and therefore how natural systems provide ecosystem services. Scenario building and optimization processes deliver a detailed description of flows of matter and energy that I use to apply the concept of ecosystem-based management to aquaculture sites. Ramón's main goal is to promote sustainable aquaculture and provide objective scientific knowledge for marine spatial planning in order to guarantee the sustainability of coastal zones.
Rebecca Lawson
Research technician
[email protected]
Funding: Atlantic Fisheries Fund
Rebecca earned her BSc in Marine Biology with a certificate in Aquaculture and the Environment from Dalhousie University. She earned her MSc at the University of Guelph investigating the nutritional requirements and gut microbiome of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis).
Currently, Rebecca is working as a research technician assisting graduate students with projects centred on American oysters (Crassostrea virginica), European oysters (Ostrea edulis), and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis).
Research technician
[email protected]
Funding: Atlantic Fisheries Fund
Rebecca earned her BSc in Marine Biology with a certificate in Aquaculture and the Environment from Dalhousie University. She earned her MSc at the University of Guelph investigating the nutritional requirements and gut microbiome of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis).
Currently, Rebecca is working as a research technician assisting graduate students with projects centred on American oysters (Crassostrea virginica), European oysters (Ostrea edulis), and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis).
Salvador Román
Postdoctoral Scholar
[email protected]
Funding: Xunta de Galicia
Salvador completed his BSc in Marine Sciences at the University of Cádiz (2017), followed by an MSc in Marine Biology at the University of Vigo (2019), both in Spain. During his MSc, he began working with the EcoCost research group on commercial resources from small-scale fisheries, contributing to a European project focused on the Pollicipes pollicipesfishery.
Then, Salvador pursued his PhD investigating potential interactions between the seagrass Zostera noltei and the most commercial clam species under climate change conditions, finishing in 2024. His publications demonstrated the thermal buffer provided by Z. noltei during summer emersion periods as well as the negatively significant impact of low salinity on commercial clams. Currently, he holds a long-term postdoctoral position and has begun a two-year research stay at the Filgueira’s Lab. His current project focuses on assessing the phenotypic plasticity of commercially valuable oyster species (Ostrea edulis and Crassostrea virginica) under low salinity conditions with the goal of developing more resistant bivalve populations.
Postdoctoral Scholar
[email protected]
Funding: Xunta de Galicia
Salvador completed his BSc in Marine Sciences at the University of Cádiz (2017), followed by an MSc in Marine Biology at the University of Vigo (2019), both in Spain. During his MSc, he began working with the EcoCost research group on commercial resources from small-scale fisheries, contributing to a European project focused on the Pollicipes pollicipesfishery.
Then, Salvador pursued his PhD investigating potential interactions between the seagrass Zostera noltei and the most commercial clam species under climate change conditions, finishing in 2024. His publications demonstrated the thermal buffer provided by Z. noltei during summer emersion periods as well as the negatively significant impact of low salinity on commercial clams. Currently, he holds a long-term postdoctoral position and has begun a two-year research stay at the Filgueira’s Lab. His current project focuses on assessing the phenotypic plasticity of commercially valuable oyster species (Ostrea edulis and Crassostrea virginica) under low salinity conditions with the goal of developing more resistant bivalve populations.
Sonja Rose
Postdoctoral Scholar
[email protected]
Funding: Genome Canada / Mitacs
Sonja earned her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University (2018), where she studied bacterial growth and nitrogen fixation in a newly discovered diazotrophic species later named after Halifax, Thalassolituus haligoni sp. nov. BB40. She continued into graduate studies and completed a multidisciplinary PhD in Biology (2026), gaining expertise in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and N₂ fixation rate measurements. Taking this expertise, her work continues an integrative approach using multi-omics (genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics) and physiology to examine the effects of heat stress exposure on blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). Her work aims to emphasize how combining multiple disciplines can help answer fundamental questions about ocean health, marine ecology, and ecosystem functioning in the face of climate change.
Postdoctoral Scholar
[email protected]
Funding: Genome Canada / Mitacs
Sonja earned her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University (2018), where she studied bacterial growth and nitrogen fixation in a newly discovered diazotrophic species later named after Halifax, Thalassolituus haligoni sp. nov. BB40. She continued into graduate studies and completed a multidisciplinary PhD in Biology (2026), gaining expertise in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and N₂ fixation rate measurements. Taking this expertise, her work continues an integrative approach using multi-omics (genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics) and physiology to examine the effects of heat stress exposure on blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). Her work aims to emphasize how combining multiple disciplines can help answer fundamental questions about ocean health, marine ecology, and ecosystem functioning in the face of climate change.
Sebastián Hernandis Caballero
Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar
[email protected]
Funding: Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC)
Sebastián is a marine biologist and postdoctoral researcher at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC). His research focuses on bivalve ecophysiology, conservation, and restoration. After completing his PhD on the endangered fan mussel Pinna nobilis, he began working on the restoration of the European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis, in the eutrophic Mar Menor lagoon. His current work examines oyster physiology, growth, reproduction, environmental tolerance, and nutrient bioextraction, and supports the development of restorative aquaculture and oyster-reef pilots. During his stay at Dalhousie University, he is applying Dynamic Energy Budget models to predict oyster performance under changing environmental conditions.
Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar
[email protected]
Funding: Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC)
Sebastián is a marine biologist and postdoctoral researcher at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC). His research focuses on bivalve ecophysiology, conservation, and restoration. After completing his PhD on the endangered fan mussel Pinna nobilis, he began working on the restoration of the European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis, in the eutrophic Mar Menor lagoon. His current work examines oyster physiology, growth, reproduction, environmental tolerance, and nutrient bioextraction, and supports the development of restorative aquaculture and oyster-reef pilots. During his stay at Dalhousie University, he is applying Dynamic Energy Budget models to predict oyster performance under changing environmental conditions.
Shelby Clarke
PhD Candidate (Biology)
[email protected]
Funding: NSERC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Shelby’s research takes a multidisciplinary approach to study the effects of climate change and invasive species on mussel aquaculture in Atlantic Canada. Using physiology, behavior, and genetics she investigates the effects of increasing temperatures and tunicates across multiple levels of biological organization (i.e., individual to ecosystem) in blue mussels, Mytilus edulis. Shelby completed her BSc at Queen’s University and MSc at McGill University in biology. With a passion for food security and aquatic ecosystems Shelby’s previous research focused on the ecophysiology, nutritional value, and conservation of freshwater fishes in the Lake Victoria Basin of Uganda.
PhD Candidate (Biology)
[email protected]
Funding: NSERC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Shelby’s research takes a multidisciplinary approach to study the effects of climate change and invasive species on mussel aquaculture in Atlantic Canada. Using physiology, behavior, and genetics she investigates the effects of increasing temperatures and tunicates across multiple levels of biological organization (i.e., individual to ecosystem) in blue mussels, Mytilus edulis. Shelby completed her BSc at Queen’s University and MSc at McGill University in biology. With a passion for food security and aquatic ecosystems Shelby’s previous research focused on the ecophysiology, nutritional value, and conservation of freshwater fishes in the Lake Victoria Basin of Uganda.
Flavie Perron
PhD Candidate (Biology) (co-advised with Tiago Hori)
[email protected]
Funding: Genome Canada / Mitacs
Flavie earned her BSc in Marine Biology (2021) and her MSc in Oceanography (2024) from the Université du Québec à Rimouski. During her bachelor's, she worked in Dr. Réjean Tremblay’s laboratory, where she studied phytoplankton dynamics in oyster farming bays and examined American lobster egg quality to refine fishing season dates—sparking her love for aquaculture and fisheries. For her PhD, she will optimize pressure shock-induced triploidy in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) to improve larval survival and growth. Flavie will then investigate how triploidization affects their ecophysiology and behavior across families of different genetic backgrounds when simultaneously exposed to environmental stressors.
PhD Candidate (Biology) (co-advised with Tiago Hori)
[email protected]
Funding: Genome Canada / Mitacs
Flavie earned her BSc in Marine Biology (2021) and her MSc in Oceanography (2024) from the Université du Québec à Rimouski. During her bachelor's, she worked in Dr. Réjean Tremblay’s laboratory, where she studied phytoplankton dynamics in oyster farming bays and examined American lobster egg quality to refine fishing season dates—sparking her love for aquaculture and fisheries. For her PhD, she will optimize pressure shock-induced triploidy in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) to improve larval survival and growth. Flavie will then investigate how triploidization affects their ecophysiology and behavior across families of different genetic backgrounds when simultaneously exposed to environmental stressors.
Silvia Sánchez Segarra
PhD Candidate (co-advised with Marina Albentosa and Sebastián Hernandis)
[email protected]
Funding: Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC)
Silvia Sánchez Segarra is a PhD student at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and is currently undertaking a research stay at Dalhousie University. Her research focuses on marine ecosystem restoration, particularly on understanding how environmental conditions and contaminants affect oyster physiology and their potential role as bioremediators.
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PhD Candidate (co-advised with Marina Albentosa and Sebastián Hernandis)
[email protected]
Funding: Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC)
Silvia Sánchez Segarra is a PhD student at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and is currently undertaking a research stay at Dalhousie University. Her research focuses on marine ecosystem restoration, particularly on understanding how environmental conditions and contaminants affect oyster physiology and their potential role as bioremediators.
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Tatum Johnson
MSc Candidate (co-advised with John Batt)
[email protected]
Funding: Atlantic Fisheries Fund
Tatum earned her BSc in Marine Biology with a certificate in Aquaculture from Dalhousie University. During this time, she completed an honours research project with Dr. Stefanie Colombo, testing more sustainable feed for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) farms. Staying in the field of aquaculture, she is now working with American (Crassostrea virginica) and European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) to improve Atlantic Canada’s hatchery techniques by utilizing larval balls.
MSc Candidate (co-advised with John Batt)
[email protected]
Funding: Atlantic Fisheries Fund
Tatum earned her BSc in Marine Biology with a certificate in Aquaculture from Dalhousie University. During this time, she completed an honours research project with Dr. Stefanie Colombo, testing more sustainable feed for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) farms. Staying in the field of aquaculture, she is now working with American (Crassostrea virginica) and European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) to improve Atlantic Canada’s hatchery techniques by utilizing larval balls.
Grace Elliott
Master of Environmental Studies (co-adviced with Peter Tyedmers)
[email protected]
Funding: RISE
Grace's masters research investigates expansion potential for blue mussel aquaculture. Using a qualitative approach, this research will identify opportunities and barriers to expansion in regions on the North Atlantic. This study is part of the Mussel Puzzle project, which is coordinated by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Grace has an interdisciplinary background with a bachelor's degree in aquatic resources & public policy and governance from St. FX University. Her undergrad research project explored adaptive management in marine conservation in the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy region. In her research, Grace is motivated to explore pathways towards sustainability using integrative approaches.
Master of Environmental Studies (co-adviced with Peter Tyedmers)
[email protected]
Funding: RISE
Grace's masters research investigates expansion potential for blue mussel aquaculture. Using a qualitative approach, this research will identify opportunities and barriers to expansion in regions on the North Atlantic. This study is part of the Mussel Puzzle project, which is coordinated by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Grace has an interdisciplinary background with a bachelor's degree in aquatic resources & public policy and governance from St. FX University. Her undergrad research project explored adaptive management in marine conservation in the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy region. In her research, Grace is motivated to explore pathways towards sustainability using integrative approaches.
Violet Chilvers
MSc Candidate (co-advised with Tiago Hori)
[email protected]
Funding: Genome Canada
After her Honours work in the lab, Violet joined the lab as a research technician and later as an MSc student to explore the thermal resilience of triploid mussels.
MSc Candidate (co-advised with Tiago Hori)
[email protected]
Funding: Genome Canada
After her Honours work in the lab, Violet joined the lab as a research technician and later as an MSc student to explore the thermal resilience of triploid mussels.
Jaime-Lee York
MSc Candidate
[email protected]
Funding: NSERC
Jaime-Lee earned her BScH in Biology from Saint Mary’s University, where she studied improving sustainability within the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery by looking at establishing the baseline trap numbers required to evaluate bait effectiveness. For her master's research, she will focus on using oysters as a nature-based solution to improve water quality and support restoration efforts in Boat Harbour. Her research involves looking at oysters from different environments to determine whether local adaptation influences their performance, as well as how increased temperature and reduced oxygen availability affect their physiological functioning.
MSc Candidate
[email protected]
Funding: NSERC
Jaime-Lee earned her BScH in Biology from Saint Mary’s University, where she studied improving sustainability within the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery by looking at establishing the baseline trap numbers required to evaluate bait effectiveness. For her master's research, she will focus on using oysters as a nature-based solution to improve water quality and support restoration efforts in Boat Harbour. Her research involves looking at oysters from different environments to determine whether local adaptation influences their performance, as well as how increased temperature and reduced oxygen availability affect their physiological functioning.
Robin Cole
Honours
[email protected] (co-advised with Salvador Román)
Funding: NSERC USRA
Robin is entering her 4th year of a BScH in Biology at Dalhousie University. She is currently conducting her honours research, investigating the physiological responses of diploid and triploid blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) to hypoxic stress. Her research aims to improve our understanding of how ploidy influences performance under low-oxygen conditions, with implications for the aquaculture industry.
Honours
[email protected] (co-advised with Salvador Román)
Funding: NSERC USRA
Robin is entering her 4th year of a BScH in Biology at Dalhousie University. She is currently conducting her honours research, investigating the physiological responses of diploid and triploid blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) to hypoxic stress. Her research aims to improve our understanding of how ploidy influences performance under low-oxygen conditions, with implications for the aquaculture industry.
