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.
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.
Post docs, PhD and MSc. students
Email: Noel.Cadigan@mi.mun.caPhone: (709) 778-0603
Recent publications
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.
Frédéric Cyr on BlueSky Frédéric Cyr on Github
Dr. Tyler Eddy is the team lead at The Life Aquatic and is a Research Scientist at the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research (CFER) Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Tyler lectures in the Fisheries Science Graduate Program and teaches ‘Data Collection, Management, & Display’.
Tyler is interested in past, present and future human interactions with, and ecology of, marine ecosystems.
Tyler is one of the founding coordinators of the Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project (FishMIP) and is a Visiting Scientist at the Charles Darwin Foundation, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
Tyler was a Research Fellow at the University of South Carolina, US, with the Nereus Program, a Research Associate at the University of British Columbia, Canada, with the Nereus Program, and a Postdoctoral Fellow at Dalhousie University, Canada, with the Lenfest Ocean Program. Tyler received a PhD in Marine Biology from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and an Honours BSc in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University, Canada.
https://github.com/tyzissouhttps://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=XIEh0gQAAAAJhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tyler-Eddy-2https://twitter.com/tyzissouEmail: tyler.eddy@mi.mun.ca
Post Doc, PhD and MSc Students
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
PhD and MSc Students
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
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
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
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
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.
Email: Matthew.Robertson@mi.mun.ca
https://www.fesalab.com/
https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=SG2kV7gAAAAJ&hl=en
https://github.com/MatthewRobertson2452
Post Doc, PhD and MSc. Students
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
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
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
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.