Chair
Maria Saura
INIA
Madrid, Spain

Term of service (3rd, 2023-2027)

Co-Chair
Lior David
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Rehovot, Israel

Term of service (3rd, 2023-2027)

Professor Lior David received his BSc. in Animal Sciences and his PhD in Genetics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. He did his postdoctoral studies at Stanford University School of Medicine on yeast genomics. Since 2006, he leads his own research group, studying various aspect of fish genetics and evolution. Over the years, his group used selective breeding to develop common carp strains, which are genetically resistant to a viral disease caused by CyHV-3 that inflicts serious damages to carp production worldwide. Using the genetically disease-resistant and susceptible carp lines developed, his group studies genetics of disease-resistance and functions of fish immune system. In addition, Prof. David studies the genetics and evolution of sex-determination in different fish species, including Flathead grey mullet, Striped bass, White bass and various Carps. Together with his interest in how genetic sex-determination evolves, which fish are great models for, he applies this knowledge to the benefit of aquaculture production, for instance, by developing an improved grey mullet brood fish producing all-female progenies. Prof. David is also studying the genetic variation in natural fish populations to understand how fish adapt to environmental changes and how to manage and conserve natural fish populations.

Member
Jason Abernathy
USDA-ARS
Auburn, AL United States

Term of service (Multiple, 2023-2027)

Member
Sofia Consuegra
Swansea University
Sketty, United Kingdom

Term of service (3rd, 2023-2027)

Sofia Consuegra is a professor of evolutionary ecology at Swansea University and a part-time Royal Society Industry Fellow. Consuegra holds a BSc in biology with a specialization in genetics from the University of Oviedo and worked as a scientific advisor for the Cantabrian government in Spain for six years before being awarded a PhD in conservation genetics from the University of Cantabria. She then moved to the United Kingdom and completed postdoctoral work at the Zoological Society of London and the University of St. Andrews before securing her first permanent lectureship at Aberystwyth University. Consuegra has been at Swansea University since 2013, and her current research focuses on molecular ecology and resource management (for fisheries and aquaculture) mainly, but not exclusively, in aquatic organisms. She sits on national and international scientific panels, has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers since obtaining her PhD, and has secured more than £10M in research funding over the last 10 years as primary investigator and coinvestigator.

Member
Diego Robledo
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Term of service (1st, 2023-2027)