Lisa Kelly

Lisa Kelly is an Evidence Synthesis Scientist at Carleton University, affiliated with the Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Lab (Cooke Lab). Her research focuses on evidence synthesis, biodiversity conservation, fish microbiome and physiology, and coral disease ecology.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD from Carleton University (2023) with thesis: "The microbiome and the fitness of wild fishes"
• MSc from James Cook University (2012) with thesis: "Characterization of skeletal and histological structures for a novel coral growth anomaly and the immune response elicited in the coral host"
• BSc in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University (2010)

Kelly's research integrates genomics, microbiology, and ecological monitoring to address conservation challenges. She investigates non-lethal fish sampling methods, disease dynamics in wild populations, and effectiveness of captive breeding programs. Her work bridges laboratory physiology with field conservation applications across freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Publication trends (2017-2024) reveal three thematic clusters: evidence-based conservation evaluation (captive breeding programs), fish disease ecology (linking infection metrics to behavior/survival), and emerging threats (antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture). Recent work emphasizes methodological innovation in non-invasive monitoring and interdisciplinary synthesis for fisheries management.

As an active Cooke Lab member, Kelly contributes to collaborative projects presented at major conferences including American Fisheries Society meetings. The lab serves as a nexus for fisheries physiology research, led by Dr. Steven Cooke with partnerships across governmental and academic institutions globally.