Previous students (Alumni) 

 

 PhD graduates 

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Darshika Udari Hettiarachchi (PhD student at Auburn University, 2023): co-supervised with Dr. Rex Dunham. Thesis title: Enhancing the efficiency of hybrid catfish (♀ channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, × ♂ blue catfish, I. furcatus) embryo production through xenogenesis. ​Currently: Post-doc at Auburn University

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Muyassar Abualreesh (PhD student at Auburn University, 2020). Supervised with Dr. Rex Dunham (Auburn University). Thesis title: Cryopreservation of blue catfish stem cells for conserving genetic resources and xenogenic transplantation. Currently: Associate Professor at King Abdualaziz University, Saudi Arabia 

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Johanna Sarah Kottmann (PhD student at Technical University of Denmark, 2020): Supervised with Drs. Jonna Tomkiewicz (DTU) and Helge Tveiten (UiT The Arctic University of Norway). Thesis title: Egg quality and offspring performance in European eel. Currently: Senior Researcher at AquaGen (Chile) ​

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Sebastian N. Politis (PhD student at Technical University of Denmark, 2018): Supervised with Drs. Jonna Tomkiewicz (DTU) and José Zambonino (Ifremer, France). Thesis title: European eel larval ontogeny and physiology: Insights at morphological and molecular level. Currently: Senior Research Scientist at Technical University of Denmark

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MSc graduates 

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Nelson Sharma Parajuli (MSc student at Auburn University, 2025): main supervisor. Thesis title: Optimization of intensive rearing strategies for largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) during the larval stage. Currently: Aquaculturist at largemouth bass farm

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Dustin Goodman (Non-thesis MSc student at Auburn University, 2025): main supervisor. Internship title: Tropical aquaculture production: Can Tho University internship. Currently:  

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Samitha Liyanage (MSc student at Auburn University, 2025): main supervisor. Thesis title: Impact of paternal age and sperm storage duration on reproductive performance traits in blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus. Currently: PhD student at Auburn University 

  

Zophia A. Galvan Lam (MSc student at Auburn University, 2025): co-supervised with Dr. Andrea Tarnecki. Thesis title: Utilization of egg quality biomarkers and probiotics for the improvement of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larviculture. Currently: Maryland DNR Fisheries Ecosystem Assessment Division

 

Jamison Semla (MSc student at Auburn University, 2025): co-supervised with Dr. Tim Bruce. Thesis title: Investigation of soy-based protein sources for largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) fingerlings on growth performance, health status, and disease susceptibility. Currently: PhD student at the University of Idaho   

 

Kyle Wood (MSc student at Auburn University, 2025): main supervisor. Thesis title: Paternal impacts and cryopreservation techniques for blue catfish. Currently:  Natural Resources Hatchery Technician at Maryland Department of Natural Resources 

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V. MacKenzie Tackett (MSc student at Auburn University, 2023): main supervisor. Thesis title: Impacts of salinity and seasonality on reproductive physiology in diploid and tetraploid Eastern oyster (Crassostrea Virginica). ​Currently: Environmental Specialist II at Florida Department of Environmental Protection

 

Helen Montague (MSc student at Auburn University, 2023): main supervisor. Thesis title: Quantifying male reproductive performance of blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) to improve hatchery production of hybrid catfish. ​Currently: Clinical Embryologist at University Hospitals (Cleveland, Ohio)

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Gavin Aguilar (MSc student at Auburn University, 2022): main supervisor. Thesis title: Development of intensive indoor rearing strategies for largemouth bass during critical early life history stages. Currently: Project Planner for Idaho Governor's Office of Species Conservation 

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Hana Hess (MSc student at Auburn University, 2022): main supervisor. Thesis title: ​Identification of molecular biomarkers for male reproductive success in blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus). Currently: Lincoln Memorial University Natural Sciences Lab Coordinator 

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Zoe Grace Nichols (MSc student at Auburn University, 2020): main supervisor. Thesis title: Fundamental aspects of sperm biology for ecologically and economically important bivalve species in Alabama: Cellular signaling, morphology, and density quantification. Currently: Aquatic Biologist in Texas

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Jeremy Gurbatow (MSc student at Auburn University, 2020): Supervised with Dr. Rex Dunham (Auburn University). Thesis title: Effect of host age and PKH26 dye concentration on stem cell viability, colonization rate, and offspring performance for production of xenogenic catfish.  Currently: System Analyst at IMVize ​

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Darshika Udari Hettiarachchi (MSc student at Auburn University, 2020): Supervised with Dr. Rex Dunham (Auburn University). Thesis title: Optimization of stem cell extraction from blue catfish (Ictalurus furcates) to produce alloxenogenic catfish: Effects of body size, sex steroids, and seasonality. Currently: Post-doc at Auburn University

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Jaelen Myers (MSc student at Auburn University, 2019): main supervisor. Thesis title: Analysis of gamete interactions, maternal, and paternal effects for improving hybrid catfish aquaculture. Currently: Research Officer at James Cook University (TropWATER)

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Michelle Jørgensen (MSc student at University of Copenhagen, 2016): co-supervised with Drs. John Fleng Steffensen (University of Copenhagen), Mikael van Deurs (DTU), and Jane Behrens (DTU).Thesis title: Effect of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag implantation on survival, tag retention, swimming performance and physiological stress response of lesser sandeel (Ammodytes tobianus). Currently: Scientist at Novo Nordisk  

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Kolbrún Bjargmundsdóttir (MSc student at Technical University of Denmark, 2016): co-supervised with Drs. Sune Sørensen (DTU) and Odd Ivar Lekang (NMBU, Norway). Thesis title: Impact of water quality and rearing technology on embryonic survival of European eel. Currently: Senior advisor for Science and Innovation at Rannís - The Icelandic Centre for Research

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Gudrun Svana Hilmarsdottir (MSc student at Technical University of Denmark, 2016): co-supervised with Drs. Jonna Tomkiewicz (DTU), Charlotte Jacobsen (DTU),and Turid Rustad (NTNU, Norway). Thesis title: Dietary regime impacts sperm performance for male European eel, Anguilla anguilla. Currently:  Assistant Professor at University of Iceland

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Alondra Sofía Rodríguez Buelna (MSc student at Technical University of Denmark, 2016): co-supervised with Drs. Brian MacKenzie(DTU) and Cornelia Jaspers (GEOMAR, Germany). Thesis title: Inter‐annual variation in abundance of three species of jellyfish in the Bornholm Basin. Currently: Training Programme and Projects Officer at International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in Copenhagen 

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Christoffer Rozenfeld (MSc student at Technical University of Denmark, 2014): co-supervised with Dr. Jonna Tomkiewicz (DTU). Thesis title: mRNA expression impacts hatching success in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.). Currently: Field Application Specialist at Samplix ApS

 

Undergraduates

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Morgan Kelly (Undergraduate research assistant, 2024-2025): main supervisor. Currently: BSc student at Auburn University

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Taylor "Malin" White (Undergraduate research assistant, 2023-2024): main supervisor. Currently: MSc in Comparative Biomedical Sciences 

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Savannah Britt (Undergraduate research assistant, 2022-2023): main supervisor. Currently: BSc student at Auburn University

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Hannah Gill (REU – NSF summer student in warm water aquatic ecology, 2022): main supervisor. Currently: MS student Michigan State University    

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Savannah Oglesby (Auburn University undergraduate research fellow, 2021-2022): main supervisor. Currently: Customer Quality Representative at Aviagen 

 

Vaishnavi Dalal (Undergraduate research assistant, 2019-2020): main supervisor. Currently: Operational Specialist at Pester USA

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Jordan Bradford (Auburn University undergraduate research fellow, 2019): main supervisor. Currently: Aquatic technician at USDA   

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Victoria Hallas (REU – NSF summer student in warm water aquatic ecology, 2019): main supervisor 

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Sam Delaney (Undergraduate research assistant, 2018): main supervisor. Currently: MS student Auburn University   

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