Dr. Helen Gurney-Smith

Research Scientist, Health and Husbandry Research Program

Contact Information

Research Interest

• The aquaculture of marine invertebrates with particular emphasis on larval life,
• The physiological indicators of stress in juvenile and adult invertebrates,
• Disease diagnosis, prevention and control in all life history stages of marine invertebrate
• Early nutrition and the biochemical and physiological factors influencing nutrition in larval invertebrates

Current Research

My research focuses on the development of culture techniques for “new” species and the optimisation of existing techniques for invertebrate species.

Currently, we are undertaking a project to develop techniques for producing seed for the basket cockle, Clinocardium nuttalli in BC . This involves undertaking research into all live cycle stages. Broodstock maturation research is geared towards obtaining a consistent supply of high quality gametes. The experiments will examine the effects of temperature on metabolic rates, determine the Biological Zero Point and Effective Accumulative Temperatures for gonad development as well as the effect of food type and concentration on broodstock maturation and gamete quality. Research conducted on the larval and juvenile stages will examine the effects of flow rates, food types and concentrations, rearing densities and fluctuating temperatures on the survival, development and growth of the cockles.

In addition, the Shellfish Health and Husbandry Program will also focus on the development of health assessment tools, the practical application of health assessment tools and surveillance, environmental monitoring and maintenance of high shellfish health.

Education

• PhD, University of St. Andrews, Scotland. 1999 – 2003
  • Thesis entitled “Spatial and temporal variation in the settlement of Semibalanus balanoides (L.) larvae in East Fife, Scotland”. This involved large-scale field experimentation over prolonged periods and examined the supply-settlement relationship at various sites in this and other species of barnacle larvae. Larval presence and recruitment fluctuations were examined at micro- and mesoscales and related to hydrodynamic and environmental factors.
  • Other work included the influence of cues on the settlement and successful metamorphosis of laboratory-cultured Ciona intestinalis larvae. The effect of delayed metamorphosis and cue induction of two geographically separate populations of Alcyonidium gelatinosum was also examined. Techniques included bioassays, algal culturing, invertebrate culturing and optimisation and metamorphosis experiments.
  • Studentship funding awarded by the National Environmental Research Council (NERC).
• Master of Research (MRes), Bioprocessing, U.C.L. 1997 – 1998
  • Thesis entitled the “Expression of Bovine Pancreatic RNase in cells harbouring plasmid DNA for gene therapy”. This year-long collaborative research project was awarded by the pharmaceutical company Cobra Manufacturing. This consisted of laboratory based experiments at U.C.L., which were then scaled-up and transferred to the research and development section of the biomanufacturing plant. Techniques included small- and large-scale fermentation studies, enzyme and vector expression optimisation, DNA extraction, gel analysis and PCR. Results formed basis of further investigation and were part of an international patent.
  • Postgraduate course incorporating research skills and strategies, research team management and lecture modules on fermentation and bioreactor design, biotransformation and downstream processing. Major generic and transferable skills component. Studentship funding awarded by the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC).
• Joint Hons Biochemistry & Marine Biology, University of Wales, Bangor, 2 (i) 1994 – 1997
  • Thesis entitled “Temperature sensitivities of alleles at the Pgm and Gpi loci in Mytilus edulis”. Temperature stress experiments were used to study enzyme activities, as displayed on protein gels; certain genomes were found to have higher stabilities.
  • Courses comprised of various modules from shore and benthic ecology, marine genetics and biotechnology, fisheries assessment, statistics to immunology, glycobiology, gene expression and protein engineering.

Grants and Awards

• British Council Innovation Council Chair for Aquaculture and the Environment, 2007-2010
• N.E.R.C. (U.K.) PhD studentship award, 1999 - 2003
• B.B.S.R.C. MRes studentship award 1997 - 1998
• MBI Bioprocess Validation and Management courses with international accreditation.
• Secured Marie Curie funding to attend and complete course on the “Design and Operation of Recirculation Technologies” at Wageningen University, March 2006, AquaTT.
• Amersham Pharmacia Biotech Diploma in the use of Radiochemicals.
• Reviewer for Aquaculture and Aquaculture International journals.

Publications

• Gurney-Smith, H., Braithwaite, R., Beaumont, A.R., King, J., Wilson, J., Maguire, J., Burnell, G 2005. The use of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the conditioning of adult Mytilus edulis (L.) European Aquaculture Society, Special Publication No. 36, pp.192-194
• Gurney-Smith, H., Braithwaite, R., Beaumont, A.R., King, J., Wilson, J., Maguire, J., Burnell, G. 2005. The use of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the conditioning of adult Mytilus edulis (L.) Paper presented at Larvi 2005, Fish & Shellfish Larviculture Symposium, Ghent, Belgium, September 5-8.
• Gurney-Smith, H., Braithwaite, R., Beaumont, A.R., King, J., Wilson, J., Maguire, J., Burnell, G. 2005. Technological and scientific development of mussel hatchery techniques in Ireland and Wales. Paper presented at Interreg IIIA showcase, Llandudno.
• Gurney-Smith, H., Braithwaite, R., Beaumont, A.R., King, J., Wilson, J., Maguire, J., Burnell, G. 2005. Technological and scientific development of mussel hatchery techniques in Ireland and Wales. Paper presented at the Marine Institute Irish Sea Workshop, Waterford.
• Gurney-Smith, H. J. 2003. Spatial and temporal variation in the settlement of Semibalanus balanoides (L.) in East Fife, Scotland. PhD thesis. University of St Andrews. 280pp.
• Gurney-Smith, H. J. & Todd, C. D. 2002. Spatial and temporal variation in the settlement of Semibalanus balanoides. Paper presented at St Andrews conference.
• Gurney-Smith, H. J., Todd, C. D. & Cervera-Currado, L. 2001. The optimisation of nudibranch larval culture for biomedical purposes. Paper presented at St Andrews conference.