Oluwabusayo Okeleye

Busayo 

PhD student, supervised by Nick Wade (lead supervisor), Dan Macqueen, Clémence Fraslin, and Zexin Jiao

Current research

My PhD is part of the SalmoStrong project, which aims to investigate the genetic basis for resistance traits to diseases affecting farmed Atlantic salmon. I am integrating whole genome sequencing with other advanced genomic datasets and leveraging pangenomics to detect causal genetic variants (including SNPs and large structural variants), with associated genes contributing to resistance to complex infectious diseases such as cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS). Understanding the genetic mechanism of these factors with their biological implications will help to support breeding decisions aim at enhancing the robustness of Scottish farmed salmon.
 

Background

I completed my bachelor and master degree in Fisheries Management at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where I gained foundational knowledge in fish disease management. Thereafter, I worked in the aquaculture industry, providing technical support for fish farmers in Nigeria. Subsequently, I completed the International Master’s in Health Management in Aquaculture, a joint Erasmus Mundus program coordinated by Ghent University, with studies at UAB, UB, and UPC in Barcelona, Spain. At the Institute of Parasitology, Czech, I did my internship research on the immunomodulatory activities of a cecropin-like AMP from marine nematodes (Anisakis) on common carp blood cells against strains of Edwardsiella tarda. My master’s thesis at the Institute Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Barcelona, focused on developing novel recombinant subunit vaccine against IHNV for salmonids. There, I became interested in understanding the effects of genetic variation on disease-resistance traits in farmed salmon.

•    [2007 – 2012]       BSc Fisheries Management [University of Ibadan]
•    [2014 – 2015]        MSc Fisheries Management [University of Ibadan]
•    [2017 – 2023]       Aquaculture industry experience [Nigeria]
•    [2023 – 2025]        International Master’s in Health Management in 

Aquaculture
 

•    [2025 – present]  PhD Genetics and Genomics [The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh] 
 

Favourite aquaculture species
 

My love for fish knows no boundary; every aquatic creature, finned or finless, is special in its nature. Over the years, I have found these farmed species most fascinating “from science to plate”: marine species: Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout; freshwater species: African catfish, Nile tilapia and common carp; crustaceans: shrimps and prawns. 
Interests, hopes and dreams
Diving into core genetics and applied bioinformatics techniques is sharpening my understanding of nature through science, while advancing knowledge for the benefit of humanity and the environment. Outside research, my love for music and art is undeniable, and I hope to continue trying new things over the years.