Dr. Louis R. D’Abramo
Mississippi State University

　

Louis R. D’Abramo is the William L. Giles Distinguished Professor, an Aquaculture Biologist in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Mississippi State University (MSU), where he has worked since 1984. Dr. D’Abramo's career at MSU has focused on development of management strategies to optimize production of fish, crustacean, and mollusc species for commercial aquaculture; nutritional physiology of larval and juvenile crustaceans, fish, and molluscs; development of formulated diets; and hormonal control of sex differentiation in crustaceans. One of the goals of his work is to develop sustainable commercial production practices based on the wise use of natural resources and environmental stewardship. Dr. D’Abramo has received awards for his research and teaching, including the Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award, the highest honor in faculty research, from Mississippi State University in March 2007; the Meritorious Award from the National Shellfisheries Association, Inc. in 2007; and the Highest Honor Bestowed by the World Aquaculture Society, the Exemplary Service Award in 2003. He is on the Editorial Boards of Aquaculture International, Aquaculture, and The Journal of Shellfish Research. He has participated in professional organizations by his service as President of the World Aquaculture Society (1992–1993) and of the National Shellfisheries Association (2005–2007). Dr. D’Abramo received his B.A. in Natural Sciences and Mathematics from Assumption College and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale University.