Dr Sarah Salisbury (she/her)

My research uses genomic tools to investigate the molecular, evolutionary, and ecological drivers of trait variation in aquatic organisms. I investigate traits across multiple levels of biological organization—from genes and cells to organisms, populations, and ecosystems. A central goal of my work is to understand how genomic architecture (e.g., structural variants, whole-genome duplications) interacts with ecological and evolutionary processes (e.g., phylogenetic history, microbiome composition) to shape functional traits with relevance for aquaculture innovation, fisheries management, and biodiversity conservation.

I focus particularly on fishes, whose remarkable diversity of forms makes them ideal models for addressing fundamental biological questions. Understanding the causes of trait variation both within and among species is essential for informing the management of wild and farmed fishes. Many of these populations are commercially, culturally, and ecologically important, yet they face growing threats from pathogens, climate change, and other environmental stressors. To address these challenges, my research integrates a range of "omics" technologies within frameworks such as population and landscape genetics, functional genomics, phylogeography, and metagenomics. This approach enables the identification of biological and environmental factors that contribute to vulnerability, ultimately supporting the health and sustainability of wild and farmed fishes, the broader aquatic ecosystem, and the communities that rely on them.

Research Interests:

• Molecular, evolutionary, and ecological underpinnings of variation in aquatic organisms, focusing on interspecific and intraspecific variation in:
  • Pathogen Resistance
  • Climate Change Resilience
  • Life history and ecological traits
• Predictability of Evolution
• Influence of non-adaptive factors on trait variation

Lab Website: https://salisburylab.weebly.com/

Career:
2025 - Present - Lecturer in Sustainable Aquaculture at the University of Exeter (England, United Kingdom)
2022 - 2025 - Research Fellow in Aquaculture at the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh (Scotland, United Kingdom)

Qualifications:

PhD Biology - Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia, Canada)
MSc Biology - Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia, Canada)
BSc (Honours) Marine and Freshwater Biology - University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada)