Nick Wade [GL]

Group Leader

Current Research

My work involves understanding the functional genetics of key production traits in aquaculture, such as growth, colouration or reproduction. We are very interested to understand how aquatic animals respond to challenges such as disease and environmental stressors, and the molecular regulation of those pathways to make them more resilient to those challenges. The development of biomarkers and nutritional solutions to support aquatic animal health and welfare.

I lead the multi-million pound BBSRC Business and Academic Prosperity Partnership with Mowi Scotland, called SalmoStrong, to apply advanced genomics to address current and emerging challenges in farmed salmon. I am also investigating the links between nutrition and welfare in crustaceans, in a project that is part of EUPAHW.

Nick next to a seascape

https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/nick-wade

https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/nick-wade

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7235-6274

Favourite aquaculture species

Crustaceans for sure, prawns (they should not be called shrimp!) and lobsters. Salmon is an amazing species to work on and I have a soft spot for some molluscs (but don’t tell my wife).

Background

I have a diverse background that began applying molecular techniques across terrestrial livestock and human medicine. It wasn’t until my PhD that I had the chance to work in marine biology and aquaculture from which a passion for invertebrate biology and evolution emerged. After several amazing years working in Switzerland, I was lured back to Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. I continued to work on crustacean colour by integrating genetics, environment and nutrition to optimise colour in prawns, as well as the molecular basis of nutrient utilisation in Australia’s iconic fish, barramundi. I’ve been integral to several large projects on prawns, such as a novel prawn feed ingredient Novacq, the ARC Hub for Advanced Prawn Genomics developing genomic tools, industrial scale phenotyping and exploring disease and stress tolerance mechanisms. Synergistic research developed in fish, such as dietary alternatives for pigmentation and finding dietary solutions to the effects of thermal stress in Atlantic salmon.

2023 – present: Group Leader in Aquaculture Genetics, Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh

2019 – 2023:     Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Brisbane, Australia.

2015 – 2020:     Adjunct Senior Lecturer, James Cook University

2009 – 2019:     Research Scientist, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Brisbane, Australia.

2006 – 2009:     Premier Assistant, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

2001 – 2005:     PhD, The University of Queensland. Crustacean shell colour formation and the ‘white’ phase of the western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus.

1996 – 2001:     Research Assistant, University of Queensland, Australia

1990 – 1995:      Bachelor of Science (Hons), The University of Queensland, Australia.

Interests, hopes and dreams

I love running, craft beer and Australian Rules football, and have adjusted well to a new way of life in Scotland. I hope to become a valued member of the UK and global aquaculture research community and dream of one day being warm again.

Science has been a wonderful and diverse career, filled with meeting amazing people and visiting wonderful places. It is these things on which I thrive and for which I am always grateful.

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