Susan Fitzer

Dr. Susan Fitzer is a Lecturer in marine invertebrate physiology and Programme Director for Marine Biology at the University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture. Since joining in January 2018 as a NERC Independent Research Fellow, her work has focused on understanding how climate change affects shell growth in commercial bivalves like mussels and oysters. Her research spans both ocean acidification and coastal acidification from acid sulfate soils, examining biomineralization pathways and shell material properties.

• Education: PhD from Newcastle University (2012), MSc in Applied Marine Science from Plymouth University (2006), BSc in Marine Science and Oceanography from Plymouth University (2005)
• Career: 6 years of Post-Doctoral research at University of Glasgow prior to Stirling

Her research program investigates the physiological and structural responses of marine organisms to changing carbonate chemistry. Key areas include:

• Biomineralization mechanisms under environmental stress
• Comparative impacts of ocean acidification vs. coastal acidification
• Carbon isotope analysis in shell material
• Hybridization effects on mussel shell strength
• Thermal stress and calcification dynamics

Dr. Fitzer's publications demonstrate consistent focus on:

• Marine shellfish responses to pCO2 changes
• Mechanical property degradation in calcified structures
• Interdisciplinary approaches combining geochemistry and physiology
• Climate change mitigation in aquaculture

Awarded a NERC Independent Research Fellowship, her work has produced significant insights through:

• Atomic force microscopy of coral skeletal structures
• Carbon isotope tracking in mussel shells
• Multi-generational studies on copepods
• Microindentation analysis of oyster hardness
• Crystallographic studies of shell folia

Now leading aquaculture climate change research at Stirling, she continues to explore:

• Shellfish physiology under multiple stressors
• Biomineralization pathway control
• Commercial aquaculture resilience strategies
• Material science approaches to shell integrity
• Coastal acidification monitoring