Niall McKeown

Niall McKeown is a Lecturer in Marine Biology within the Department of Life Sciences at Aberystwyth University's Institute of Biological, Environmental, and Rural Sciences. With over 56 research outputs and 4 datasets to his name, he maintains an active research program focused on marine population genetics and conservation.

Dr. McKeown's research spans marine population genetics, genomics, and conservation biology, with particular expertise in fish and cephalopod species. His work frequently addresses critical issues in fisheries management, examining population structure, gene flow, and adaptation in commercially important species. He has pioneered environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques for biodiversity assessment in remote locations, including the world's most isolated inhabited islands.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on applying genomic tools to fisheries management challenges, with studies on sardines, smelt, octopus, tuna, and squid. This research directly contributes to sustainable ecosystem-based fisheries management in Wales and internationally, as evidenced by his current project funded by the Welsh Government.

Dr. McKeown actively supervises doctoral students including Megan Elsmore, Charlie Treleven, and others working on marine genetic analysis. His research has been featured in multiple media outlets, highlighting discoveries about rare marine life on remote islands and investigations into whale strandings.

He leads externally funded projects including 'Genomic analysis of small pelagic fish for ecosystem-based fisheries management in Wales' (2024-2025) and has been a researcher on the NERC-funded project 'Structure, connectivity and resilience of an exploited ecosystem.' His work connects to UN Sustainable Development Goals through marine conservation and sustainable resource management efforts.