Research Topics:

Marine invertebrate physiology and health, Shellfish Genomics, Aquaculture

My research focuses on interactions between benthic invertebrates and waterborne microbes in the framework of host-pathogen or predator-prey (filter-feeding) interactions. This includes the mechanisms of resistance to pathogens and the effect of environmental factors (e.g. ocean acidification) on host-pathogen interactions. My current projects encompass animal-microbe interactions at molecular, cellular and organismal scales, and my approach to addressing these issues involves field studies and laboratory experiments. Because of the specific service responsibilities of our laboratory (reference lab for shellfish diseases in New York State), my research also includes a strong applied component aimed at enhancing knowledge and development of mitigation strategies for diseases affecting local shellfish species. Taken together, our activities use a diverse range of experimental and technical approaches ranging from ecological physiology, pathology and immunology to modern “omics” (genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics) tools and methods to answer a broad range of basic and applied questions (the publication list below provides a rapid overview of the diversity of our research activities). Current funding in my lab derives from the NSF (mucosal immunity and mechanisms of food particle recognition in suspension-feeding bivalves), NOAA (mechanisms and costs of resilience to ocean acidification in bivalve mollusks, ecological physiology of economically-important bivalve species and adaptation to changing environments, selective breeding), the USDA (genetic markers -e.g. SNPs- associated with disease resistance and development of marker-assisted selection for disease resistance in bivalves) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (biosecurity, shellfish restoration, marine diseases and human health). For more information about these projects and other activities, please visit: http://you.stonybrook.edu/madl

Note to Prospective Students

There are often openings for different types of positions ranging from post-doctoral positions to high school internships. Please contact Bassem Allam for information about current availabilities.