Andrea Frommel, Assistant Professor and Chair in Sustainable Aquaculture (she/her)
I have a BSc in Marine Biology from UC Santa Cruz, a MSc in Biological Oceanography from the University of Southern Denmark and a PhD in Fisheries Biology from the Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research in Germany. I’ve travelled the world doing all things fishy before arriving in beautiful British Columbia. UBC is a fantastic place to do ocean research, with its breathtaking nature and marine biodiversity. My research bridges climate change, fisheries and aquaculture, with the focus on gathering physiological data that can be integrated into adaptive management practices for commercial fish.
andrea.frommel@ubc.ca
Graduate students
Virginie Chalifoux, PhD student
I have a BSc in biology from the Université de Montréal and a MSc in oceanography from the Institut des Sciences de la mer of the Université du Québec à Rimouski. My master’s degree allowed me to discover my research skills and interests in fish ecophysiology as I worked on the performance evaluation of a bioenergetics model for brook charr. Originally from the east part of Canada in Québec, I decided to cross the country to start a PhD in beautiful British Columbia where I would be able to discover a different ocean and new species of fish! My research will focus on the effects of climate change on Pacific salmon, which is of great interest to me.
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/recit-numerique/12610/ocean-oeufs-biodiversite-poissons-cb
https://www.oceanacidification.ca/post/scientist-spotlight-virginie-chalifoux-ph-d-student-ubc
chav01@student.ubc.ca
Benjamin Niemann, PhD candidate (they/them)
My research focuses on the potential impacts of diet inclusion with fulvic acid on the gut microbiota and immune response of different aquaculture fish species. Growing up in Michigan in the US, I was always surrounded by water and loved aquariums from a very young age. During my time as an undergrad at the University of Michigan, I realized I wanted to study host-symbiont interactions in aquatic species and how these interactions can influence host resilience and health. Professor Frommel, UBC, and DFO have allowed me to combine those interests in the wonderful city of Vancouver. It has always been my dream to work with and study fish, and I am glad to finally have the opportunity to do just that!
Mica Smith, PhD student
I had decided on my dream of studying the world’s oceans and her inhabitants when I was around two years old, and I have spent the bulk of my time since then working toward that goal. My parents’ employment took us all over the world, and I was lucky to have the opportunity to carry around and nurture my passions for all things mariney, fishy, and squishy in every country we lived in. Following a BSc in biology (with a marine concentration and a minor in ocean sciences) from UVic and an MSc in oceans and fisheries from UBC, I am beyond thrilled about and grateful for the opportunity to continue pursuing my academic and professional dreams through a PhD, where I am able to learn, grow, and develop my skills through a meaningful research project currently exploring the impacts of snowmelt-facilitated freshwater acidification on early life stages of Pacific salmon, and I simply could not be happier.
mica.rsx@gmail.ca
Courtney Osborne, MSc student
My research focuses on the physiological responses of juvenile salmon to temperature and hypoxia stress, with the goal of understanding how aquaculture practices and future climate change conditions influence salmon physiology. Growing up in New Zealand, I was surrounded by beaches and marine life, which fostered my passion for the marine environment and inspired me to pursue a career in marine science. I completed a BAdvSci (Honours) in Marine Science at the University of Auckland, where my honours project investigated the effects of temperature and hyperoxia on the metabolic rate of coastal shrimp. I am now excited to explore salmon physiology in the Aquaculture and Climate Change Lab and to have the opportunity to research and live in Vancouver.
Cole Munro, MSc student
My current research focuses on the physiological impacts of wildfire-induced alkalinization in freshwater environments on juvenile Pacific salmon, and how it impacts their development and survival. I’m Kwakwaka’wakw from the ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation located on northern Vancouver Island, and as a result of my culture’s significant relationship with salmon I came to appreciate them not just from a scientific perspective, but through a cultural one as well while growing up. I received my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Forest Sciences with double honors from UBC, where my undergraduate thesis focused on identifying the influences of the tidal cycle on floodgates, and how they impact juvenile Coho salmon’s access to overwintering habitat. Throughout my undergraduate degree I specialized in Fish Health, Conservation, Fisheries and Physiology, all of which remain my current research interests.
Jeremy Dykstra, MSc student
My research is focused on optimizing aquaculture using a sustainable insect meal for wolf eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus), an emerging alternative aquaculture species. I will be determining optimal husbandry strategies for the early life stages of this fish, determining what concentration of black soldier fly larvae, a form of insect meal, makes for an efficient aquafeed, and identifying the rearing temperature which optimizes fish growth and welfare. During my undergrad at McMaster University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in Honours Integrated Science (Biology Concentration), I discovered my passion for working with fish as a study species. I am honoured to have the opportunity of studying under Dr. Frommel’s supervision at UBC, where my research interests of physiology, aquatic ecosystems, and sustainable food systems naturally intersect. I am excited to learn new skills and techniques to contribute to sustainable solutions in aquaculture!
Undergraduate students
Kaligua Rochon, Honors student (2025-2026)
Lab alumni
Leah Wessler, MSc (2025)
Lachlan Nicol, WLIURA (2025)
Jamie Robinson, Directed studies (2025)
Shuyi Fang, WLIURA (2023)
Zihan Li, Honors student (2022)
Gary Wijaya, WLIURA (2022)