Ramón Filgueira
Associate 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.
Associate 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).
Violet Chilvers
Research technician
[email protected]
Funding: Genome Canada
After her Honours working in the lab, Violet has joined as research technician to support the work on mussel diploid and triploid performance under climate change scenarios.
Research technician
[email protected]
Funding: Genome Canada
After her Honours working in the lab, Violet has joined as research technician to support the work on mussel diploid and triploid performance under climate change scenarios.
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.
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.
Jasmine Talevi
PhD Candidate (Biology)
[email protected]
Funding: NSERC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Jasmine earned her BScH in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of Guelph. During her time at Guelph, Jasmine completed an honours research project with Dr. Patricia A. Wright studying the changes in behaviour and physiology of amphibious fish across ontogeny. For her Masters, she will be studying how anthropogenic eutrophication impacts marine bivalves.
PhD Candidate (Biology)
[email protected]
Funding: NSERC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Jasmine earned her BScH in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of Guelph. During her time at Guelph, Jasmine completed an honours research project with Dr. Patricia A. Wright studying the changes in behaviour and physiology of amphibious fish across ontogeny. For her Masters, she will be studying how anthropogenic eutrophication impacts marine bivalves.
Flavie Perron
PhD Candidate (Biology) (co-adviced 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-adviced 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.
Tatum Johnson
MSc Candidate (co-adviced 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-adviced 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.
Élise Poirier
Honours 2026 (co-adviced with Eric Ignatz)
[email protected]
Funding: Nancy Witherspoon Memorial Summer Research
Élise is entering her 5th year at Dalhousie University where she is double majoring in marine biology and ocean sciences. She has recently completed her certificate in Aquaculture and the environment. Her summer research investigates why Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in MacDonald’s Pond, Cape Breton, show no signs of disease associated mortality with MSX. The study involves assessing whether oysters in MacDonald’s Pond possess genetic resistance to the pathogen or if local environmental conditions reduce the parasite’s virulence.
Honours 2026 (co-adviced with Eric Ignatz)
[email protected]
Funding: Nancy Witherspoon Memorial Summer Research
Élise is entering her 5th year at Dalhousie University where she is double majoring in marine biology and ocean sciences. She has recently completed her certificate in Aquaculture and the environment. Her summer research investigates why Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in MacDonald’s Pond, Cape Breton, show no signs of disease associated mortality with MSX. The study involves assessing whether oysters in MacDonald’s Pond possess genetic resistance to the pathogen or if local environmental conditions reduce the parasite’s virulence.
