Research Scientist - Aquaculture Nutrition; Tropical Marine Biodiversity team.

Interested students (Hons, MSc and PhD), postdoctoral fellows and volunteers should contact me to discuss potential projects and placements.

• 2003: BSc Hons in Fisheries Management and Aquaculture, Deakin University, VIC, Australia
• 2008: PhD in Aquaculture Nutrition, Deakin University, VIC, Australia

The current focus of my research revolves around the elucidation of the nutritional requirements of larval rock lobsters and the subsequent development of formulated feeds for closed-loop aquaculture. This research spans across protein, lipid and carbohydrate nutrition with a particular emphasis on the modulation of larval metamorphosis and the identification of novel feed ingredients. My research involves the combination of in vivo trials complimented by a suite of laboratory based methods, with an ultimate goal of establishing a sustainable lobster aquaculture industry which thereby reduces the pressures placed on wild fisheries.

De Silva SS, Turchini GM and Francis DS (2012) Nutrition. pp. 167-187. In: Lucas JS and Southgate P (eds) Aquaculture:Farming Aquatic Animals and Plants. Blackwell Publishing. 612 p.

Bellagamba F, Caprino F, Busetto ML, Francis DS, Vasconi M, Turchini GM and Moretti VM (2011) Assessment of oxidatively generated DNA damage in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed with different lipid sources. Aquaculture 317: 124-132.

Senadheera SD, Turchini GM, Thanuthong T and Francis DS (2011) Effects of Dietary r-Linolenic Acid (18:3n-3)/Linoleic Acid (18:2n-6) Ratio on Fatty Acid Metabolism in Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 59: 1020-1030.

Thanuthong T, Francis DS, Senadheera SD, Jones PL and Turchini GM (2011) Fish oil replacement in rainbow trout diets and total dietary PUFA content: I) Effects on feed efficiency, fat deposition and the efficiency of a finishing strategy. Aquaculture 320: 82-90.

Thanuthong T, Francis DS, Manickam E, Senadheera SD, Cameron-Smith D and Turchini GM (2011) Fish oil replacement in rainbow trout diets and total dietary PUFA content: II) Effects on fatty acid metabolism and in vivo fatty acid bioconversion. Aquaculture 322-323: 99-108.

Thanuthong T, Francis DS, Senadheera SD, Jones PL and Turchini GM (2011) LC-PUFA biosynthesis in rainbow trout is substrate limited: Use of the whole body fatty acid balance method and different 18:3n-3/18:2n-6 ratios. Lipids 46: 1111-1127.

Turchini GM, Francis DS, Senadheera SD, Thanuthong T and De Silva SS (2011) Fish oil replacement with different vegetable oils in Murray cod: Evidence of an "omega-3 sparing effect" by other dietary fatty acids. Aquaculture 315: 250-259.

Turchini GM, De Smet S and Francis DS (2011) The whole-body fatty acid balance method: examples of its potential for feed efficiency and product quality optimisation in fish and poultry. 18: 69-78. In: Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition - Australia.