Speakers and Organizers

Fish Medicine Specialist

Associate Professor of Biology & Director of the ADL 

Department of Biology, Marine Biology & Environmental Science

Roger Williams University Bio Information

 

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Founder, President and CEO

Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative (RIIC) a non-profit organization   www.theriic.org

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Executive Director, Summer Programs & ConferencesExecutive Director, Summer Programs & Conferences Roger Williams University

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Director of Roger Williams University Center for Economic and Environmental Development: applying research and innovation to the needs of the aquaculture industry

Topic of Lecture: Center for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED): Blue Economy at a local, regional, national, and global level 

Bio Information Dr. Koty Sharp's Webpage

Elizabeth Tanner was appointed Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce in June 2022, under Governor Da

niel McKee. Secretary Tanner's Webpage

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Will Cox  serves as the Vice President of Business Development and Investments for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.  Webpage

Dr. Benjamin J. Greenstein, PhD

Dean of the School of Social and Natural Sciences at Roger Williams University

Webpage

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Dr. Roxanna Smolowitz, Honorary Retiree

Associate Professor of Marine Biology and Director of the ADL, joined the faculty in the summer of 2009 and developed the RWU Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory.  She is currently involved in ADL diagnostics and managing grants at the department. 

Topic of Lecture: Disseminated neoplasia in bivalves. What is it, and is it a threat to aquacultured and feral populations?

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Dr. Shay Tal, PhD, Biosensors, Plasmid Biology and Microfluidics

Scientist at the

National Center for Mariculture,

Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research

Topic of Lecture: Methods for real monitoring of fish health and wellbeing and Sea the Future – the National Center for Mariculture

Dr. Shay Tal's Webpage

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Professor Amir Sagi

Principal Investigator Amir Sagi Lab at Ben Gurion University, Israel

Department of life Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev Israel

Topic of Lecture: Novel monosex biotechnologies in crustacean aquaculture: lessons and opportunities

Professor Amir Sagi’s Webpage

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Abigail Scro 

ADL Molecular Research & Lab Manager | Adjunct Faculty.RWU alum with a double major in Marine Biology and Mathematics.

Topic of Lecture: Early pathogen detection through water sampling of aquaculture systems

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Abigail Scro Webpage

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Professor Eliahu Aflalao

Affiliated with Department of life Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev and

Department of life Sciences, Achva academic College Israel

Topic of Lecture: Towards novel aquaculture biotechnological solutions: utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 editing methods in the prawn M. rosenbergii.

Professor Aflalao’s Webpage

Dr. Andrew Rhyne, Professor of Marine Biology  he splits his time between RWU and NEAq and is responsible for the growth and development of the program in marine ornamental research.

Topic of Lecture: Advancing aquaculture through public aquarium collaboration and innovation

Dr.Rhyne’s Webpage

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Dr. Amir Bitan, PhD

Researcher in the field of fish nutrition

Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research National Center for Mariculture, Israel

Topic of Lecture: Appetite regulation in gilthead seabream larvae (Sparus aurata) and its effect on successful feeding

Doctor Bitan's Webpage

Dr. Tetsuzan Benny Ron

Editor-in-Chief

Israeli Journal of Aquaculture – Bamidgeh

Topic of Lecture: Aquaculture Research at the Israeli Northern-East Valleys: Overview

Dr. Ron's Webpage

Dr. Laurie J. Landau , Board of Trustees at Roger Williams University

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Topic of Lecture: Aquavet®: 43 Years of Veterinarians Serving the Aquatic Community

Dr. Laurie J. Landau Webpage

Dr. Na'ama Segal, PhD

Senior Scientist at Israel Oceanographic & Limonological Research Israel

Topic of Lecture: Transgene Expression in Microalgae – From Tools to Applications

Dr. Na'ama Segal, Research

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Dr. Eitan Salomon, PhD

Seaweed physiology and biotechnology researcher

Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Center for Mariculture, Eilat, Israel.

Topic of Lecture: Land-Based cultivation of Gracilaria cornea seaweed for extraction of agar, skin-health promoting substances

Dr. Eitan Salomon's Webpage

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Dr. Samir H. Patel, PhD

Senior Research Biologist 

Coonamessett Farm Foundation

Topic of Lecture: Feeding ecology of sea turtles within the Northwest Atlantic Ocean

Dr. Samir H. Patel's Webpage

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Michael Torselli, M.S, Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory Research Technician, RWU 

Topic of Lecture: Development of Novel Molecular Technique to Diagnose Presence and Severity of Hemocytic Neoplasia in Hard-Shelled Clams (Mercenaria mercenaria)

Michael Torselli's Webpage

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Staff Officer, Aquatic Animal Exports

Aquatic Trade

USDA APHIS Veterinary Services Strategy & Policy

Topic of Lecture: Movement of Aquatic Animals from Interstate to International

Lauren Harris' Webpage

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Michele Walsh DVM 

Aquatic Veterinary Medical Officer

Aquatic Animal Health Program

Strategy & Policy:  Aquaculture, Swine, Equine and Poultry  Health Center

USDA APHIS Veterinary Services

Topic of Lecture: Movement of Aquatic Animals from Interstate to International

Michele Walsh' Webpage

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Ian Estaphan Owen

CEO and Co-Founder Jaia Robotics, Inc.

Winner of the Rhode Island Israel Bluetech Startup Competition

Topic of Lecture: Impact of micro-sized aquatic drones on aquaculture farming

In-water Demo: Multiple vehicles will launch and maneuver on surface and under water to collect aquatic data.

Jaia Robotics, Inc.' Webpage

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Larry Feinberg,PhD CEO and Founder of KnipBio

As the CEO and Co-Founder of KnipBio, Larry leads a team of passionate and talented biotechnologists who are developing a novel platform to produce sustainable and high-quality animal feed. 

Topic of Lecture: Along the journey: Commercializing a novel aquafeed ingredient

Larry Feinberg' Webpage

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Casidh Hughes

Roger Williams Graduate (2024) with a major in Biology and a minor is chemistry and sculpture.

This coming fall, she will be going to Brown University for her Ph. D. In Pathobiology.

Topic of Lecture: Developing Pseudoalteromonas rubra as a potential probiotic in the RI coral Astrangia poculata: impacts of probiotic addition on host microbiome dynamics

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