ICT Help Desk serves as our point of contact for all operational issues and general queries.
Located in room W2051 of the Marine Institute’s Ridge Road Campus
Telephone: 709-778-0628 Email: servicedesk@mi.mun.ca
Ask ICT Help Desk on Microsoft Teams (8:30am - 4:30pm)
It's time to start planning your future
Our Student Recruitment Office is your first point of contact to find out more about the Marine Institute.
Fire Rescue
Registration begins at 7:00pm for Fire Rescue Term 1 for Winter 2026 semester
Students who have been accepted and conditionally accepted pending submission of pre-requisite documents will not be permitted to register for classes until satisfactory copies of the required medical, driver's license with air brake endorsement and letter of conduct have been received by the Registrar's Office
Centre for Fisheries
Ecosystem Research
CFER
Thomas Brown, the Director of the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research (CFER) holds a bachelor of science (honours) in biology and a master's degree in fisheries resource management from Memorial University. Tom is a versatile, highly adaptive senior manager with 20 years experience leading operations, budgeting, research projects and staff in private industry and in a post-secondary institution. Tom has extensive project management experience including contract development, budgeting, logistics and human resource allocation for 400 + research projects valued from $10,000 to in excess of 10 million dollars.
In addition to the Director of CFER, Tom currently has additional management responsibilities, including Assistant Head of the School of Fisheries (SOF) (Interim) and the Director of the Community Based Education and Training Unit (CBED).
Tom has also held positions within the NL fishing industry and at DFO.
Email: Tom.Brown@mi.mun.caTelephone: (709) 778-0336
Dr. Cadigan joined the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research (CFER) at MI in 2012. He is an associated professor and the Ocean Choice International Research Chair in Stock Assessment and Sustainable Harvest Advice for Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. Dr. Cadigan first started research on stock assessment methods in 1990 when he worked with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in Newfoundland. He received a PhD in statistics in 1999 at the University of Waterloo.
Dr. Cadigan’s research deals with statistical methods for fish stock assessment and sustainable fisheries management. He has extensive experience in the assessment of Newfoundland fish stocks, and experience with many other Canadian, American, and European stocks. Recently his research has been focused on spatiotemporal models for complex fisheries data and state-space/spatial stock assessment models.
Recent publications: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?hl=en&user=e_VIsbsAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
Email: jonathan.babyn@mi.mun.ca
Dr. Jinwoo Gim is a postdoctoral researcher at CFER working under the supervision of Drs. Noel Cadigan and Matthew Robertson.
Jinwoo received his PhD and MSc. in Marine Biology from Pukyong National University, South Korea, and his BSc. in Oceanography from Inha University, South Korea.
His research focuses on stock assessment models and quantitative fisheries management. He has experience in developing and applying state-space age-structured models and length-based models to assess fish stocks.
Email: Jinwoo.Gim@mi.mun.ca
Andrea Perreault is a PhD candidate with CFER. She completed her undergraduate degree in mathematics and physics at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and her master’s degree in fisheries science at the Marine Institute (CFER) under the supervision of Dr. Noel Cadigan.
Andrea has worked on a broad range of topics in fisheries science, including growth modeling, state-space stock assessment models, and management strategy evaluation. She is currently completing her PhD with Dr. Noel Cadigan, where her most recent work has focused on improving model diagnostics for fisheries state-space models. Andrea is finishing her PhD while working as a stock assessment biologist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Email: Andrea.Perreault@mi.mun.ca
Dr. Jonathan Fisher is a research scientist with interests in the structure, functioning and dynamics of marine ecosystems. He has research experience in population, community and ecosystem ecology of exploited and unexploited systems in the Northwest Atlantic.
Most recently, Jonathan was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biology at Queen's University and the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. He received his doctor of philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, a master of science from Dalhousie University and a bachelor of science (Honours) from Queen's University.
Email: Jonathan.Fisher@mi.mun.caPhone: (709) 778-0652
Andrea Bryndum-Buchholz is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Fisheries & Marine Institute, Memorial University, working under the supervision of Drs. Jonathan Fisher and Tyler Eddy.
For her Postdoctoral Fellowship, Andrea is evaluating how ecosystems protected by marine conservation areas in Newfoundland and Labrador will respond to climate change.
Overall, Andrea’s research interests lie in understanding potential future changes in marine ecosystems due to intensifying climate change, and in assessing consequences as well as solutions for fisheries management and marine biodiversity conservation in a changing ocean.
Andrea is the Science Outreach Coordinator for the Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Intercomparison Project (FishMIP). She is interested in science communication, is a passionate writer, and is an academic writing advisor.
Andrea has a PhD in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University, Canada, an MSc. in Aquatic Ecology from Lund University, Sweden, and an Honours BSc. in Biology from the University of Tübingen, Germany.
Email: andrea.buchholz@mi.mun.ca
Google Scholar Website
Gordon is a PhD student co-supervised by Drs. Jonathan Fisher and David Côté (DFO) at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University. For his PhD research, Gordon is investigating the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) for monitoring marine conservation areas and offshore environments in the Northwest Atlantic. Gordon’s research interests involve using genetic techniques to answer ecological questions, specifically on ecosystem ecology, fisheries ecology, and conservation biology.
Before starting his PhD, Gordon completed an Honours BSc in Marine and Freshwater Biology at the University of Guelph, Canada. His Honours focused on methods to successfully barcode freshwater microalgae to build a reference genetic database. Also, Gordon has held positions as an aquaculture research technician (Ontario Aquaculture Research Centre), fisheries technician (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources) and laboratory assistant (University of Guelph), providing him with a broad range of skills and experiences.
Rachel is an MSc. student in Fisheries Science at the Fisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University. For her MSc. research, Rachel is studying Greenland sharks in the eastern Canadian Arctic and Subarctic Ocean using baited remote underwater video systems under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Fisher.
Rachel’s research interests include population distribution and dynamics of marine megafauna species. She has participated in research expeditions in the Canadian Arctic Ocean, such as the ArcticNet Network aboard the Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen, and collaborative ecosystem and fisheries surveys aboard the fishing vessel Kiviuq II with the Arctic Fishery Alliance.
Prior to her MSc. research, Rachel investigated North Atlantic right whale distribution patterns through the use of stable isotope analysis. She has also assisted in basking shark research in the Bay of Fundy with the Grand Manan Whale & Seabird Research Station, and numerous freshwater research projects in New Brunswick with the Canadian Rivers Institute.
Rachel received an Honours BSc. in Biology, concentrating in Marine Biology, at the University of New Brunswick, Canada.
Sebastian Glindtvad is a PhD student in CFER studying the trophic ecology and reproductive biology of Atlantic Halibut under the supervision of Jonathan Fisher and Arnault LeBris. Sebastian was born in Denmark and completed his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Aarhus where he studied the effect of protein and sugar rich diets on Australian weaver ant workers.
He also travelled to Fiji and Thailand to volunteer and helped with underwater surveys and mangrove restoration. Sebastian then completed his Master of Science degree in Biology at the University of Aarhus where he spent time in Norway and Greenland as part of his Master’s thesis.
Email: sebastian.glindtvad@mi.mun.ca
Simon-Pierre Hamel is originally from Québec City and is currently an MSc. student in fisheries science working under the supervision of Drs. Jonathan Fisher and Maxime Geoffroy. His research focuses on the connectivity between the seabed and the water column in the marine conservation areas of northern Newfoundland and southern Labrador and on the efficiency of those areas.
Simon-Pierre has a bachelor's degree in marine biology from the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR). He worked for five years as a student for the Ministry of the Forest, Fauna and Parc of Québec (MFFP) and participated in various projects related to forestry and aquatic wildlife across the province. During this time, he developed many skills in fish collection, processing, acoustic telemetry, electrofishing and fisheries management.
Email: Shamel@mun.ca
Dr. Maxime Geoffroy is a research scientist with expertise in bioacoustics, marine ecology and biological oceanography. His research aims at better understanding the ecology of North Atlantic and Arctic pelagic fish in relation to hydrography and climate change. In addition to ship-based surveys, he uses new technology, as unmanned vehicles and active acoustic moorings, to study marine ecosystems.
Prior to working at CFER, Maxime was a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology of UiT the Arctic University of Norway. He holds a PhD in oceanography and an MSc in biology from Laval University, and a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Ottawa.
Email: Maxime.Geoffroy@mi.mun.caPhone: (709) 778-0499
Dr. Gérald Darnis is a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Maxime Geoffroy in CFER. His research interests include marine biodiversity, trophodynamics of marine ecosystems, function of zooplankton in the biogeochemical cycling of elements such as carbon and nitrogen, and Arctic zooplankton biogeography and community structure. His current research focuses on ecological connectivity within the North American Arctic and the role of zooplankton feeding and migration on carbon export from the ocean surface layer.
Prior to joining the CFER team, Gérald was a postdoctoral researcher at Université Laval where he coordinated the Kitikmeot Marine Ecosystems Study under the supervision of Dr. Louis Fortier. He did a postdoc at Akvaplan-Niva in Norway where his research focused on zooplankton vertical migration and the importance of this process for the biogeochemical flux of carbon, mainly through active transport to the deep ocean. He obtained a PhD in oceanography and a MSc in biology from Université Laval, and a Bachelor of Science from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).
Jennifer Herbig (she/her) has a BSc in marine biology from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington and an MSc in fisheries from Auburn University. Prior to starting her PhD, she worked as a biologist for the State of Mississippi and the State of Florida assessing the effects of artificial habitat and MPAs on important fisheries species.
Currently, she is a PhD candidate in the Fisheries Science and Technology program at the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland in the Center for Fisheries Ecosystems Research (CFER) under the supervision of Dr. Maxime Geoffroy and Dr. Jonathan Fisher.
Her research focuses on the effects of environmental variation and bottom-up processes on the abundance, distribution, and movement of Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida) in the Canadian Arctic.
Eugenie Jacobsen (she/her) is a PhD student who studies contaminants (mercury and organochloride pesticides) in demersal and pelagic fish from the Labrador Sea and the Canadian Arctic.
One of her study fish includes myctophids (or lantern fish) which are one the most abundant pelagic fish found worldwide yet their ecology remains poorly studied. Alongside her passion for contributing to innovative research, Eugenie is also passionate about science communication and its role in inspiring the public to become stewards for our natural world.
Charlotte Matthews (she/her) completed her BSc. in biology at the University of British Columbia and Master’s in Resource Management at the University Centre of the Westfjords in Iceland. In partnership with the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute of Iceland, her master’s research focused on mesopelagic fish biology in Icelandic waters.
Between degrees, Charlotte has worked in several technician positions in British Columbia, including monitoring coastal habitats and illegal fishing.
Currently, Charlotte is a PhD student under the supervision of Maxime Geoffroy and Mathieu Ardyna, studying the role of mesopelagic organisms in the biological carbon pump in the eastern Canadian Arctic and Labrador Sea. She will be looking at the effect of seasonality on the behaviour of these organisms across different latitudes and investigating what factors may affect their ecology and, consequently, their contribution to carbon sequestration.
You can reach Charlotte by email at Charlotte.Matthews@mi.mun.ca.
Originally from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, Ashley Oates is an MSc student in fisheries science working under the supervision of Dr. Maxime Geoffroy. Ashley received her bachelor’s degree from Dalhousie Agricultural campus with a major in animal science and minor in aquaculture. Since graduating in 2018, Ashley has worked at three different Aquaculture companies located in PEI: AquaBounty, Halibut PEI and Ocean Trout Inc.
Ashley’s research focuses on northern and striped shrimp in the high Canadian Arctic with the estimation if shrimp fisheries could extend northward.
Gabrielle Perugini is entering her first year as a Fisheries Science and Technology Masters student.
Gabrielle earned her Bachelor of Science, Honours, in Marine and Freshwater Biology at the University of Guelph. She successfully completed an undergraduate thesis in fish toxicology, specifically, the effects of diluted bitumen on early life stages of Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). For four years she worked at the Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (GLLFAS) as a Summer Research Technician and Aquatic Science Technician. Here she developed many skills in fish collection, processing, acoustic telemetry, water sampling, electrofishing and freshwater fisheries science. Her interests align with fisheries, larval fish, ecology, and marine biology.
For her thesis she will be working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to investigate top-down (predation) drivers of larval capelin survival in the North Atlantic. She will be co-supervised by Dr. Maxime Geoffroy (CFER) and Dr. Hannah Murphy (DFO).
Einat Sandbank (She/Her) is a PhD student with CFER working under the supervision of Dr. Maxime Geoffroy and Dr. Malin Daase (UiT, The Arctic University of Norway). Einat received her undergraduate degree in aquatic and fisheries science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a master’s degree in ecosystem management from the University of Miami RSMAS.
Prior to pursuing her PhD, Einat worked in benthic ecology research and restoration in the Florida Keys as well as in Massachusetts. Her PhD research focuses on the spatio-temporal patterns of the diet and distribution of pelagic fish and zooplankton across the Barents Sea polar front.
Laure Vilgrain is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Maxime Geoffroy at CFER, in collaboration with David Coté (DFO, St. John’s).
After completing a bachelor degree in Biology and a masters degree in Marine Sciences in France, she obtained a PhD in Oceanography under the joint-supervision of Sorbonne Université (France) and Université Laval (Québec, Canada). She mostly worked using imaging data (in situ and stereo-microscope images) to study Arctic copepod morphology with automatic computational methods.
As a post-doctoral researcher, Laure is working on the connectivity between Atlantic and Arctic zooplankton communities in the Labrador Sea, combining ecological information provided by nets, acoustics and eDNA data. This work is done in the context of the creation and management of several marine conservation areas in Labrador marine ecosystems.
Email: Laure.Vilgrain@mi.mun.ca
Dr. Sherrylynn Rowe is a research scientist with CFER. Prior to joining the Centre, Sherrylynn was a research scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.
She received a doctor of philosophy from Dalhousie University as well as a master of science and a bachelor of science (Honours) from Memorial University. Sherrylynn's recent scientific efforts have focused on stock assessment and related research involving ecology and life history of groundfish and marine invertebrates.
Her earlier studies examined linkages between spawning behaviour and population dynamics of Atlantic cod and the role of marine protected areas in enhancing lobster populations and fisheries.
Email: Sherrylynn.Rowe@mi.mun.caPhone: (709) 778-0318
Tyler is a Research Scientist interested in past, present, and future human interactions with, and ecology of, marine ecosystems. Tyler is a Founding Coordinator of the Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project (FishMIP), a Steering Committee member of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Scenario-based Inter-Model Comparison (BES-SIM), and a Visiting Scientist at the Charles Darwin Research Station, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
Tyler was a Research Fellow at the University of South Carolina, US, a Research Associate at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and a Postdoctoral Fellow at Dalhousie University, Canada. Tyler has a PhD in Marine Biology from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and an Honours BSc in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University, Canada
http://www.thelifeaquatic.xyz/https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=XIEh0gQAAAAJ&hl=enEmail: tyler.eddy@mi.mun.ca
Jiaying is a PhD Student in Fisheries Science at the Fisheries & Marine Institute, Memorial University. For her PhD research, Jiaying is incorporating predictions from nonlinear forecasting models and geostatistical spatiotemporal models to improve representation of spatial processes in fisheries stock assessments of North Atlantic species.
Jiaying’s research interests include integrating fishing effort, fish habitat, and climate change data in fisheries stock assessments to identify management strategies.
Jiaying attended the 152nd American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting in Spokane, US presenting an improvement to stock assessment of witch flounder in NAFO Division 3NO.
Jiaying received an MSc in Fisheries Science (stock assessment) at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, and a BSc in Marine Fisheries Science and Technology at Zhejiang Ocean University, China.
https://github.com/ppc0311
https://scholar.google.ca/citations?hl=en&user=_pycQe4AAAAJ
https://twitter.com/JiayingChen12
Logan is an MSc. student in Fisheries Science at the Fisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University, working under the supervision of Dr. Tyler Eddy. For his MSc. research, Logan is investigating DFO structure and function for fisheries management decision-making.
Logan’s research interests include understanding human impacts on marine ecosystems, community-driven conservation initiatives, and exploring how traditional ecological knowledge can enrich scientific understanding.
Prior to starting his MSc., Logan investigated optimal algal bloom tracking methods for non-profit watershed groups. He participated in an International Exchange Program at the University of Kent, England and a Galápagos Field School. He has held positions as a post-graduate research assistant and lab manager.
Logan has an Honours BSc. in Biology from Mount Allison University, Canada.
Raquel is a PhD Candidate in Fisheries Science at The Fisheries & Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland. For her PhD research, Raquel is working on ecosystem model development for the Newfoundland Grand Banks to apply to climate change and fisheries management questions.
Raquel’s main research interests are understanding the effects of climate change on fish population dynamics, how climate affects their distributions and growth rates, and the socio-economic implications for harvesters and managers.
Raquel has worked on adaptation of coastal communities to climate change within the framework of the ERC CLOCK project at the University of Vigo, Spain.She is a contributing author of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report and has been involved in initiatives such us Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative (GAMI).
Raquel completed an MSc in Marine Biological Resources with a Specialization in Fisheries Management at Ghent University, Belgium and an Honours BSc in Marine Science at University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
https://github.com/Raquel-RuizDiaz
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Raquel_Diaz7
https://twitter.com/RaquelRuiz_Diaz
https://sites.google.com/view/raquel-ruiz-diaz/home
Abe is a PhD Candidate in Fisheries Science at the Fisheries & Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland. For his PhD research, Abe is working on ecosystem model development for the Newfoundland and Labrador shelf and developing methods to incorporate fisher’s and Indigenous ecological knowledge.
Abe's primary research interests are integrating non-traditional information sources, such as fisher's and Indigenous ecological knowledge, into ecosystem models and single-species population models.
Prior to starting his PhD, Abe worked as a data scientist for Displacement Prevention and Public Housing in New York City. Abe has developed a Shiny app for FishBase and an R package to query the IUCN information for species listed in the Seabird Mapping and Information for Fisheries Database by the American Bird Conservancy.
Abe completed an MA in Geography, with a Specialization in Natural Resource Management, at McGill University, Canada, and an Honours BA in Geography at the University of Colorado, US.
https://github.com/abesolberg
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abe_Solberg
https://twitter.com/abesolberg
Hannah is an MSc student in Fisheries Science at the Fisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University. For her MSc research, Hannah is investigating the ecosystem role of harp seals in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Hannah’s research interests include understanding trophic ecology in marine food webs and how it can be applied to fisheries management plans.
Prior to starting her MSc, Hannah was involved in researching the use of microalgal biofilms in municipal waste water treatment systems. She has also worked on investigating virulence factors in bacterial and fungal pathogens.
Hannah received an Honours BSc in Marine and Freshwater Biology at the University of Guelph, Canada.
Alannah is an MSc Student in Fisheries Science at the Fisheries & Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland. For her MSc research, Alannah is adding spatial and temporal resolution to ecosystem models for the Newfoundland and Labrador shelf and Grand Banks.
Alannah’s research interests include using models to project ecosystem responses to climate change to help inform fisheries management policies.
Alannah has published a technical report based on work she did with the Benthic Ecology Division of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The report describes the benthic communities observed during the 2010 ROPOS video transects of Orphan Knoll and Orphan Seamount, off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Alannah completed an Honours BSc in Marine Biology at Dalhousie University, Canada.
https://github.com/Alannah-W
For his Postdoctoral Fellowship, Gustavo is assessing spatial and temporal variability in the prey and predators of northern shrimp to quantify their food web role and inform sustainable fisheries management. Gustavo is supervised by Dr. Jonathan Fisher and Dr. Tyler Eddy in the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research (CFER) and is collaborating with scientists at Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Canadian Association of Prawn Producers & Northern Coalition.
Gustavo’s research interests focus on understanding how food webs, trophic interactions, and organisms respond to changes in environmental conditions and organic carbon supply in a changing Arctic Ocean. Using multiple trophic biomarkers and Bayesian statistical models, Gustavo has studied changes in consumers’ diets and food web structure of deep-sea benthic environments. He is also interested in the taxonomy of benthic fauna and drivers of benthic composition and biodiversity.
Gustavo is a member of the research groups Québec Océan and Takuvik. He has participated in research expeditions in the Canadian Arctic Ocean, such as the GreenEdge project and ArcticNet Network aboard the Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen.
Gustavo received a PhD in Oceanography from Laval University, Canada, an MSc in Tropical Marine Science from Ceará Federal University, Brazil, and a BSc in Marine Biology from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, Colombia.
See Gustavo’s publications on his Google Scholar page.
Dr. Matthew Robertson is a research scientist with CFER. Matthew’s research focuses on answering ecological and population dynamics questions in fisheries, and how those questions can be addressed to improve ecosystem-based fisheries management advice. He also teaches the ‘Statistics and Study Design for Fisheries Science’ in the Fisheries Science Graduate Program.
Matthew is a 2023 graduate of Memorial University where he received his PhD in Fisheries Science. His PhD research focused on assessing the differential recovery trajectories of flatfish on the Newfoundland Grand Banks. Prior to attending Memorial University, Matthew graduated from Louisiana State University with an MSc in Oceanography and from Dalhousie University, where he received a BSc with Honours in Marine Biology.
https://www.fesalab.com/
https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=SG2kV7gAAAAJ&hl=en
https://github.com/MatthewRobertson2452
Email: Matthew.Robertson@mi.mun.ca
Andi is a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Matthew Robertson. She is currently studying the effects of environmental factors on fish body condition across the northwest Atlantic, which will aid in the understanding of how climate change affects food security & provide an easy-to-derive indicator of community productivity.
Andi comes from a background in ecological physiology, having studied intertidal mussel responses to environmental stress during her BA at Carleton College in Minnesota & at Washington State University for her MSc.
“I look forward to learning more about the complex interactions that connect climate & fish communities to help make the future seem less scary, be it from the looming threat of loss of biodiversity or from food insecurity.”
Éamonn is a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Matthew Robertson. He is investigating the population dynamics of capelin in Newfoundland by creating a state-space population dynamics model, which will implement environmental and ecosystem factors. This model will help with our understanding of how bottom-up and top-down processes may affect the capelin population.
Éamonn completed a BSc (Hons) in Ecology and Environmental Biology, and an MSc in Marine Biology, both at University College Cork in Ireland. His BSc (Hons) thesis used image analysis to investigate the spatial patterns of chthamalid barnacles along the Irish coast. Éamonn’s MSc thesis examined the benthic communities present in the Irish Sea near an offshore windfarm using baited remote underwater video systems.
Email: eamonn.macdonnacha@mi.mun.ca
Kerri Lynch is an MSc. student in the Fisheries Science program under the supervision of Dr. Matthew Robertson. Kerri's interest in graduate research started with a deep passion to protect and integrate human activities within the natural function of the environment. She grew up spending summers playing on the North shore of Lake Erie and in Georgian Bay and spent a summer working with the NGO group Georgian Bay Forever doing public outreach to inform the community about the harm of plastic in our waterways. She also worked on partnered research projects that turned into local policy change in protecting the environment. Kerri completed her biology degree focusing on aquatic ecology at Queen's University and then decided to journey away from freshwater biology to study the marine ecosystem here at MI.
"I am excited to learn about the complexities of the Atlantic Ocean's complex ecosystem as I develop a model to estimate capelin abundance based on predator stomach contents. I hope my research will aid in developing future policies surrounding the protection of this integral fish species. When I'm not at school, you can find me out in nature, snowboarding, hiking, biking, climbing or lost in thought looking for whales".
Michael Soares is a Masters student in the Food and Environment Safety Analytical (FESA) Lab studying the body condition of Atlantic cod and other groundfish species. His passion for biology inspired him to get a BS with honors in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a minor in Bioinformatics at the University of California Santa Cruz.
Michael’s advisors are Dr. Matthew Robertson and Dr. Noel Cadigan. Dr. Paul Regular is also on Michael’s committee, supporting this research. Michael’s research on body condition will help create new insights about the bottom-up processes involved in the stock collapse of Atlantic cod. After the collapse of the cod stock, recovery has been minimal, and this study will help explain what is stalling recovery.
“One of my goals in academia is to propel sustainability practices to help create a more eco-conscious collective. As overpopulation takes its toll on the ecosystems of the world, preserving diversity while supporting the needs of many people will continue to be a major topic of conversation. With good research, implementation of new practices, and indigenous knowledge I believe that we can start living with nature instead of living off it.”
Email: Michael.Soares@wave.mi.mun.ca
Dr. Frédéric Cyr is an observational oceanographer interested in the role of the ocean in the Earth's climate system, from the smallest scales of turbulence to the slow drivers of ocean variability occurring at decadal time scales. His research program is sustained by three main pillars:
Before joining CFER as a research scientist in 2025, Dr. Cyr worked for 8 years for the department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and completed a postdoc in France and another one in the Netherlands.
Dr. Cyr is an Academic Editor for the journal PLOS Climate and co-chair of the ICES Working Group on Oceanic Hydrography.
https://bsky.app/profile/fcyr.bsky.social
https://cyrf0006.github.io/
Liz is a Research Technologist specializing in qualitative research methods. She holds an MSc. from Colorado State University in Collaborative Conservation and will focus her work on the relationship between citizen science and fisheries management in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Her research interests include collaborative conservation, public participation in governance, and the human dimension of natural resource management. She is an accomplished researcher with strong expertise in human research ethics and data collection methodologies, stakeholder engagement, and coordinating large-scale multidisciplinary research projects. We are thrilled to have Liz and her expertise now part of the CFER team within the School of Fisheries!
Email: Elizabeth.Andres@mi.mun.ca
Kiley Best is a fisheries biologist with CFER and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Advanced Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture and a Masters of Science in Aquaculture. Her graduate work focused on invasive green crab reproductive science and implications for the mussel industry.
Kiley's career at Marine Institute started at the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development in 2008. She joined CFER in 2011 and is a resident aquatic invasive species expert. Kiley’s work with CFER includes establishing the largest global green crab mitigation fishery as part of DFO funded Coastal Restoration Project continuing into 2025, developing indicators for beach quality for capelin spawning, sea cucumber fishery efficiency, green and crab fishing gear research, aquatic invasive species research, ocean literacy outreach and citizen science program development. She is active in Marine Institute International projects working with seaweed aquaculture in Indonesia and post-secondary program development for colleges in Grenada and Kenya. Kiley is also the board chair of the Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium (est. 2013) and Co-Chair the Canadian Network for Ocean Education.
Email: Kiley.Best@mi.mun.ca
Nancy Burt is the Administrative Officer with CFER. Nancy started her career working in marketing has extensive experience working in an academic institution. She has experience with the university sustainability office, registration, career and integrated learning and fisheries research centres.
Email: Nancy.Burt@mi.mun.ca
Lindsee Clark is a fisheries research technologist with CFER. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. Prior to joining CFER, Lindsee worked with the Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture on salmonid disease detection and prevention in NL’s aquaculture industry. Along with this, she has at-sea research experience working with emerging fisheries in the Qikiqtaaluk region of Nunavut and technological expertise about the feasibility of whalesafe fishing gear in NL waters through a stint with another MI centre, CSAR. Lindsee will primarily be working on green crab mitigation and eel grass restoration in the Placentia Bay Ecosystem but her interests span as wide as the sea!
Email: Lindsee.Clark@mi.mun.ca
Marsha Clarke is a Research Technologist with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystem Research. She holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree from Dalhousie University, with a major in Aquaculture. She completed her Master of Science in Aquaculture at Memorial University in 2008, where she studied cod eggs and larval nutrition at the Ocean Sciences Centre.
Since graduating, she has been working as a research technologist – working first at DFO from 2008 - 2010, and having now been with the Marine Institute since 2011, spending her first 8 years working in the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development before moving to CFER.
Marsha has worked on a variety of projects with the aquaculture industry, the bulk of it being in the blue mussel sector. She has also worked on many projects focused on seafood processing and waste bioprocessing, and as well has provided technical training to seaweed farmers in South Sulawesi, Indonesia with MI International. Since 2019, she has been working as a lead technologist on coastal restoration efforts in Placentia Bay, focusing primarily on the green crab mitigation and eelgrass restoration.
Email: Marsha.clarke@mi.mun.ca
Martin Dahl is a fisheries technologist with CFER. Martin completed a Master’s degree in biology at the University of Tromsø (UiT), Norway, in 2013. He was a Chief Research Technician with IMR and Tromsø University Museum in Norway as well as a Laboratory Technician at Akvaplan-Niva. He has extensive experience working both in the field/at sea and in laboratories, several years of experience working with marine and terrestrial organisms, and statistical analysis.
Fisheries Technologist Meghan Donovan has joined CFER. Meghan previously worked in the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources (CSAR) and now in CFER, she will be monitoring and assessing marine conservation areas in Newfoundland and Labrador, leading the coordination of laboratory activities and supporting the research of the centre and industrial projects.
Email: meghan.donovan@mi.mun.ca
Susan Fudge, Manager with CFER, holds a bachelor of science in marine biology and a master of science in fisheries science from Memorial University. Her graduate research on cod reproduction focused on temporal and spatial variations in fecundity (reproductive output) and the use of active and passive acoustics in studying spawning behaviour. She manages the Centre’s research activities, operations and logistics along with budgeting, proposal development and assists in graduate student support.
Prior to joining CFER, Susan was a fisheries conservation advisor with World Wildlife Fund Canada. Susan's interests span from fisheries science, research management to marine conservation policy and everything in between.
Email: Susan.Fudge@mi.mun.ca
Tasha Harrold is a project manager in CFER under DFO’s Oceans Management Funding entitled, “Monitoring and Assessment of Marine Conservations Areas in Newfoundland and Labrador”. Before joining CFER, she managed multiple large-scale aquaculture-related projects, including a multi-university/industry Atlantic Innovation Fund, and a large module within the Ocean Frontier Institute.
Tasha has been involved in project administration for over 20 years, first within a small biotech startup company investigating green technology for aquaculture wastes, then as part of a Genome Atlantic broodstock development project. She’s also worked with cod broodstock and disease management with a private industry, before becoming a grant coordinator in MUN’s research office. Since 2016 she has managed multiple large scale aquaculture projects within Memorial University as a project manager, coordinating research teams across multiple departments, universities and industries.
Email: Tasha.Harrold@mi.mun.ca
Wade Hiscock has been working with the Marine Institute for the past 26 years. Initially, Wade was a research assistant with the Fisheries Conservation Chair, and later a fisheries biologist at the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources focusing on fisheries research and resource assessment of several marine species.
Currently Wade works as a fisheries biologist with CFER focusing on fisheries acoustics. He has a BSc. in fisheries biology from the University of Guelph and a MSc. in biology from Memorial University.
Wade's graduate thesis involved cod enhancement research.
Email: Wade.Hiscock@mi.mun.ca
James is a Research Technologist with CFER, he holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts, General Studies (Biology and Social Sciences) and a Master of Science in Natural Resource Management from University of Alaska. James’ fisheries career began in the early 2000’s at Mississippi State University where he provided logistical and technical support to freshwater research. He then moved on to Alaska where he worked in a variety of marine fisheries sectors including the state’s private salmon hatcheries and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) groundfish aging lab. For his master’s degree at the University of Alaska – Fairbanks, he worked with ADF&G and the Sitka Tribe of Alaska to document culturally and ecologically important Pacific herring spawning and fishing grounds. While living in Newfoundland he has contributed to research on weather and fishing safety, and occupational mental health in public safety. His work with CFER involves bringing his small boat, field and analytical expertise to our restoration research work.
Robyn Whelan is a fisheries technologist with CFER. She holds an advanced diploma from the Marine Environmental Technology program at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. She first started with CFER as a research assistant and have worked on both the Marine Conservation Areas (MCA) project and the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Fund (AERF) project. Robyn spends field seasons out at-sea and in coastal communities completing water eDNA sampling. While the winter months are spent completing zooplankton analysis and preparing for next year’s field season! Along with working for CFER she is also a part-time student completing the Bachelor of Technology program at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Prior to working with CFER Robyn completed a work-term and MUCEP position within the Aquaculture industry. She worked in Tofino, BC, at an aquaculture farm as a saltwater husbandry technician. As well as worked as research assistant at the Ocean Sciences Centre within the JBARB facility.
Email: robyn.whelan@mi.mun.ca
