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Luisa M. Vera Andujar

Impact Fellow, University of Stirling

My research portfolio so far has focused on the study of fish biological rhythms. During my PhD, I performed a range of experiments to study environmental (mostly light and feeding) entrainment of animal physiology at the behavioural (locomotor and feeding) and endocrine levels. To execute this work I employed a range of analytical methodologies and worked with several fish species including sharpsnout seabream, goldfish, tench, European seabass and Senegal sole.

During my subsequent postdoctoral fellowships, I have developed a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms involved in fish photo-entrainment, including the involvement of molecular clocks, the influence of thermo- and photo-cycles on early fish development as well as toxicity rhythms in fish. Over this time I have acquired an extensive range of scientific techniques to monitor and classify fish behavioural and feeding phenotypes (infrared photocells, food-demand feeders, new purpose built video-tracking systems), run in vitro cell and tissue culture studies; computational techniques to analyse behaviour and rhythms (image analysis, specialised chronobiology softwares) and laboratory techniques (histology, range of molecular and hormonal assays).

Currently my main line of research focuses on studying the toxicity rhythms of aquaculture therapeutants as well as the potential effects of xenobiotics exposure on the circadian system of fish. This includes effects on behavioural responses, physiological parameters and molecular oscillators.

Experience

  • –present
    Impact Fellow, University of Stirling