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Natural Sciences

Dr Alex Wan

B.Sc.,M.Res

Contact Details

Research Fellow
Room 204
Annex Building
Ryan Institute
NUI Galway
E: ALEX.WAN@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Graduated in 2017 with a PhD in Marine Sciences at NUI Galway, Alex has a key interest in analytical food chemistry, biochemistry, haematology, fish nutrition, marine biology, marine innovation and sustainable aquaculture. He is the team leader for the Aquaculture and Nutrition Research Unit (ANRU) based in the Ryan institute’s Carna Research Station, Connemara and Martin Ryan Annex building on NUIG’s main campus. The group specialises in engaging with commercial entities through joint collaborations in aquafeed, aquaculture and market research. He has worked with both national and international SMEs and LEs on industrial research collaborations in developing sustainable new feed ingredients and validating feed products. He has previously been awarded Science Foundation Ireland’s Technology Innovation Development Award on the development of seaweed as a functional feed ingredient in salmonids.  More recently, Alex has been awarded the HYDROfish research programme under the Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland




Research Interests

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
Hydrofish- Combining targeted nutraceuticals and traceability technology for a smarter and sustainable Irish fish aquaculture industry 01-JUN-19 31-MAY-22
Blooms2Feeds+2 the next generation functional and sustainable aquafeed ingredients through microbial fermentation 01-JAN-19 31-DEC-19

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2021) 'From waste to feed: Dietary utilisation of bacterial protein from fermentation of agricultural wastes in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) production and health'
Ayodeji A Adeoye, Yemi Akegbejo-Samsons, Femi J Fawole, Paul O Olatunji, Niall Muller, Alex HL Wan, Simon J Davies (2021) 'From waste to feed: Dietary utilisation of bacterial protein from fermentation of agricultural wastes in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) production and health'. Aquaculture, [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Vibrio and major commercially important vibriosis diseases in decapod crustaceans'
Cecília de Souza Valente, Alex HL Wan (2021) 'Vibrio and major commercially important vibriosis diseases in decapod crustaceans'. Journal Of Invertebrate Pathology, [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Designing environmentally efficient aquafeeds through the use of multi-criteria decision support tools'
R Cooney, AHL Wan, F O¿Donncha, E Clifford (2021) 'Designing environmentally efficient aquafeeds through the use of multi-criteria decision support tools'. Current Opinion In Environmental Science & Health, 100276 [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Temporal changes in the gut microbiota in farmed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) outweigh the response to diet supplementation with macroalgae'
Keating C;Bolton-Warberg M;Hinchcliffe J;Davies R;Whelan S;Wan AHL;Fitzgerald RD;Davies SJ;Ijaz UZ;Smith CJ; (2021) 'Temporal changes in the gut microbiota in farmed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) outweigh the response to diet supplementation with macroalgae'. Animal Microbiome, 3 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Phosphorus limitation does not drive loss of bony lateral plates in freshwater stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)'
Archambeault SL;Durston DJ;Wan A;El-Sabaawi RW;Matthews B;Peichel CL; (2020) 'Phosphorus limitation does not drive loss of bony lateral plates in freshwater stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)'. Evolution; International Journal Of Organic Evolution, 74 (9) [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'The potential of a solid-state fermentation supplement to augment white lupin (Lupinus albus) meal incorporation in diets for farmed common carp (Cyprinus carpio)'
Ayub Anwara, Alex HL Wan, Samad Omara, Ehab El-Haroun, Simon J Davies (2020) 'The potential of a solid-state fermentation supplement to augment white lupin (Lupinus albus) meal incorporation in diets for farmed common carp (Cyprinus carpio)'. Aquaculture Reports, 17 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Replacing fishmeal with plant protein in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) diets by supplementation with fish protein hydrolysate'
Egerton S;Wan A;Murphy K;Collins F;Ahern G;Sugrue I;Busca K;Egan F;Muller N;Whooley J;McGinnity P;Culloty S;Ross RP;Stanton C; (2020) 'Replacing fishmeal with plant protein in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) diets by supplementation with fish protein hydrolysate'. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Dietary supplementation of autolysed yeast enhances growth, liver functionality and intestinal morphology in African catfish'
Adeoye, AA;Obasa, SO;Fawole, FJ;Wan, AHL;Davies, SJ (2020) 'Dietary supplementation of autolysed yeast enhances growth, liver functionality and intestinal morphology in African catfish'. Aquaculture Nutrition, [DOI] [Details]
(2019) '13C values of glycolytic amino acids as indicators of carbohydrate utilization in carnivorous fish'
Yiming V. Wang​, Alex H.L. Wan, Åshild Krogdahl, Mark Johnson, Thomas Larsen (2019) '13C values of glycolytic amino acids as indicators of carbohydrate utilization in carnivorous fish'. Peerj, :1-20 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Macroalgae as a sustainable aquafeed ingredient'
Alex H.L. Wan, Simon J. Davies, Anna Soler‐Vila, Richard Fitzgerald, Mark P. Johnson (2019) 'Macroalgae as a sustainable aquafeed ingredient'. Reviews In Aquaculture, :1-35 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Know your fish: A novel compound-specific isotope approach for tracing wild and farmed salmon'
Wang, YMV;Wan, AHL;Lock, EJ;Andersen, N;Winter-Schuh, C;Larsen, T (2018) 'Know your fish: A novel compound-specific isotope approach for tracing wild and farmed salmon'. Food Chemistry, 256 :380-389 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'A comparison between marine and terrestrial invertebrate meals for mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) diets: Impact on growth, haematology and health'
Wan, AHL;Snellgrove, DL;Davies, SJ (2017) 'A comparison between marine and terrestrial invertebrate meals for mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) diets: Impact on growth, haematology and health'. Aquaculture Research, 48 :5004-5016 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Influence of Green Seaweed (Ulva rigida) Supplementation on the Quality and Shelf Life of Atlantic Salmon Fillets'
Moroney, NC;Wan, AHL;Soler-Vila, A;O'Grady, MN;FitzGerald, RD;Johnson, MP;Kerry, JP (2017) 'Influence of Green Seaweed (Ulva rigida) Supplementation on the Quality and Shelf Life of Atlantic Salmon Fillets'. Journal Of Aquatic Food Product Technology, 26 :1175-1188 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Assessment and Characterisation of Ireland's Green Tides (Ulva Species)'
Wan, AHL;Wilkes, RJ;Heesch, S;Bermejo, R;Johnson, MP;Morrison, L (2017) 'Assessment and Characterisation of Ireland's Green Tides (Ulva Species)'. Plos One, 12 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Metal content of kelp (Laminaria digitata) co-cultivated with Atlantic salmon in an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture system'
Ratcliff, JJ;Wan, AHL;Edwards, MD;Soler-Vila, A;Johnson, MP;Abreu, MH;Morrison, L (2016) 'Metal content of kelp (Laminaria digitata) co-cultivated with Atlantic salmon in an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture system'. Aquaculture, 450 :234-243 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Influence Of Green Seaweed (Ulva Rigida) Supplementation On The Quality And Shelf-Life Of Atlantic Salmon Fillets'
N.C. Moroney, A.H.L. Wan, A. Soler-Vila, M.N. O’Grady, R.D. FitzGerald, M.P. Johnson & J.P. Kerry (2016) 'Influence Of Green Seaweed (Ulva Rigida) Supplementation On The Quality And Shelf-Life Of Atlantic Salmon Fillets'. Journal Of Aquatic Food Product Technology, [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'The inclusion of Palmaria palmata macroalgae in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) diets: effects on growth, haematology, immunity and liver function'
Wan, AHL;Soler-Vila, A;O'Keeffe, D;Casburn, P;Fitzgerald, R;Johnson, MP (2016) 'The inclusion of Palmaria palmata macroalgae in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) diets: effects on growth, haematology, immunity and liver function'. Journal Of Applied Phycology, 28 :3091-3100 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Inclusion of Palmaria palmata (red seaweed) in Atlantic salmon diets: effects on the quality, shelf-life parameters and sensory properties of fresh and cooked salmon fillets'
Moroney, NC;Wan, AHL;Soler-Vila, A;FitzGerald, RD;Johnson, MP;Kerry, JP (2015) 'Inclusion of Palmaria palmata (red seaweed) in Atlantic salmon diets: effects on the quality, shelf-life parameters and sensory properties of fresh and cooked salmon fillets'. Journal Of The Science Of Food And Agriculture, 95 :897-905 [DOI] [Details]

Manual

  Year Publication
(2014) Macroalgae factsheets. Irish Seaweed Research Group.
2. Edwards M, Hanniffy D, Heesch S, Hernandez-Kantun J, Queguineur B, Ratcliff J, Soler-Vila A, Wan A (2014) Macroalgae factsheets. Irish Seaweed Research Group. Manual [Details]

Magazine Article

  Year Publication
(2021) The benefits and constraints in using wrasse as a cleaner species in European aquaculture.
Yeap A, Davies S, Bolton-Warberg M, Wan A H L (2021) The benefits and constraints in using wrasse as a cleaner species in European aquaculture. Magazine Article [Details]
(2021) European cuttlefish: Future perspectives in sustainable farming.
Ó Flatharta R, Conneely E, Valente C, Wan A H L (2021) European cuttlefish: Future perspectives in sustainable farming. Aquafeed International Magazine Article [Details]
(2021) European lobsters: Can farming lobsters improve wild stocks and farmed directly to market.
Casbon D, Wan A H L, Davies S J, Hartnett F (2021) European lobsters: Can farming lobsters improve wild stocks and farmed directly to market. Magazine Article [Details]
(2021) The interview: Irish aquaculture status and future perspectives.
Wan A H L (2021) The interview: Irish aquaculture status and future perspectives. Aquafeed International Magazine Article [Details]
(2021) The production of lumpsuckers and their challenges in aquaculture.
Jolley M, Wan A H L, Davies S J, Bolton-Warberg M (2021) The production of lumpsuckers and their challenges in aquaculture. Aquafeed International Magazine Article [Details]
(2021) The production of lumpsuckers and their challenges in aquaculture.
Jolley M, Wan A H L, Davies S J, Bolton-Warberg M (2021) The production of lumpsuckers and their challenges in aquaculture. Aquafeed International Magazine Article [Details]
(2019) Feeding a Sustainable Future.
Alex Wan (2019) Feeding a Sustainable Future. Aquaculture and Seafood Ireland: Magazine Article [Details]

Report

  Year Publication
(2017) What can sea lettuce tell us about coastal pollution?.
1. Wan A H L, Wilkes R, Heesch S, Bermejo R, Johnson M, and Morrison L (2017) What can sea lettuce tell us about coastal pollution?. Science Journal for Kids. Report [Details]

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
NUI Galway Postdoctoral Researcher and Project manager 01-JAN-18 /
NUI Galway Technical support and Postdoctoral Researcher 01-MAR-17 / 31-OCT-18
Marine Institute Science and technical Officer 01-NOV-16 / 31-DEC-16

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2008 University of Plymouth MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) MRes Applied Fish Biology
2016 National University of Ireland Galway PhD Marine Science
2006 University of Southampton BSc (Hons) Biology with Oceanography

Teaching Interests

Core teaching interest: fish nutrition, reproduction and evolution
Research teaching interest: Recirculated aquaculture systems, sustainable food production, aquaculture development, novel proteins and ingredients, functional compounds, ornamental aquaculture.

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2018- Applied Ecology ZO315 Sustainable food production and ecological impact of aquaculture
2018- Vertebrate Zoology ZO209 Evolution of fish