Three PhD projects currently open for applications at ATU Galway.
- Investigating the epidemiology of complex gill disease in Irish Atlantic salmon
- Molecular analysis of host-parasite interaction in gill disease of Atlantic salmon
These two positions arise for the recruitment of suitably qualified and strongly motivated graduate to undertake a PhD in ATU as part of a 5-year large scale interdisciplinary research project: “GIDAS - Gill Disease of Atlantic Salmon”.
Aquaculture provides an important food source worldwide and increasingly contributes to the global economy, as well as national research priorities. Complex gill disease (CGD) is a major challenge in finfish aquaculture, leading to substantial reductions in production annually. Treatment using freshwater baths only provides a temporary solution and a better understanding of CGD is needed. CGD involves a range of organisms including parasites, bacteria and viruses, and can be influenced by production practices, such as net washing. Due to this complexity, CGD remains a major obstacle to successful aquaculture production and requires further research. Furthermore, gill-associated diseases in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) lead to considerable annual losses the Irish aquaculture sector. The overall aim of the GIDAS project is to increase knowledge of CGD, including one of the leading pathogens involved, Neoparamoeba perurans, which itself leads to amoebic gill disease but is also a key player in CGD. Key objectives include: reviewing the current epidemiology of CGD in Ireland; testing a CGD model; identifying potential biomarkers and developing preventative and curative measures to minimise disease occurrence. Led by ATU, the project’s consortium includes University College Dublin and a diverse team of collaborators from academia and industry to support the project’s main aim and objectives.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified and strongly motivated graduate
to undertake a PhD as part of a collaboration between the Marine and Freshwater Research Centre
(MFRC) at ATU’s Galway City Campus, BIM, the Marine Institute.
Northeast Atlantic (NEA) mackerel (Scomber scombrus) is Ireland’s most valuable commercial fish species,
with €73m worth of fish landed by Irish vessels in 2021 and exports valued at €109m in 2021. In recent
years Irish pelagic processors have noted an increase in the occurrence of ‘jelly flesh’, most likely due to
infection with the myxosporean parasite Kudoa sp. (Kudoidae). Increasing infection rates in more
northern waters may be linked to a change in the distribution of the mackerel stock, changes in stock size
or in size at age (Giulietti et al. 2022, Højgaard et al. 2022). Although not harmful to humans, heavy
infection with the Kudoa sp. parasite can destroy the fillet and renders it commercially unusable. A PCR
test has been developed that detects Kudoa sp. infection, even in fish without symptoms (Funk et al.
2007); this may have wider applications for the seafood processing sector in the future.
The aim of this PhD research programme is to characterise Kudoa sp. infection in the Irish mackerel fishery
using molecular and histological techniques, to identify biological and environmental factors associated
with infection and to develop tools for mitigating the impacts on commercial fishing and processing
operations.
For specific details on deadlines, requirements and application, visit the links above.
