Lab News & Updates

New Paper: Multigenerational Resilience in Bay Scallops

March 2025 — Ecology & Evolution
Our latest study tracks three generations of bay scallops reared under ocean acidification, identifying key immune and metabolic genes that drive adaptation.
This research marks a major milestone in understanding how tolerance evolves in real aquaculture settings.
→ Read Publication

Predictive Phenotyping Trials Underway

February 2025 — NOAA Milford Laboratory
High-throughput phenotyping experiments are now live in partnership with NOAA, OSU, and regional hatcheries.
These trials are testing whether cellular bioenergetic markers can forecast growth and survival — a key step toward “climate-ready” breeding programs.

National Academies Fellowship Awarded

December 2024 — Washington, D.C.
Dr. Sam Gurr has been selected as a National Research Council Fellow through the National Academies of Sciences.
The fellowship supports work developing predictive tools that link gene expression, physiology, and aquaculture performance.

Industry Collaboration: Hatchery Conditioning Pilot

October 2024 — Northeastern U.S.
Our lab partnered with commercial hatcheries to test “early-life conditioning” techniques for oysters and clams.
These real-world trials apply our lab findings on hormetic stress to improve hatchery yields and larval survival.

NOAA Ocean Acidification Program Highlights Our Research

July 2024 — NOAA Science Feature
The NOAA OAP spotlighted our multigenerational scallop project for advancing understanding of ocean acidification impacts on key fisheries species.
This recognition underscores how fundamental biology informs policy and management in a changing climate.

Talk: “Integrative Biology for a Changing Ocean”

April 2024 — Oregon State University Seminar Series
Sam presented new findings on cellular and genetic mechanisms of stress tolerance in bivalves, sharing insights on how integrative biology can improve aquaculture resilience.
→ [Watch Seminar Recording] (link)

Student Opportunity: Join Our 2025 Cohort

Ongoing
We’re recruiting motivated students interested in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and aquaculture science.
See our Work With Us page for details.