Anooraag Basu

Thesis title: Impacts of rearing history on cardiac and immune development and performance in Atlantic salmon​

Biography

Background

An aquaculture early-career researcher with a background in bioinformatics. Experienced in single-cell RNA sequencing, long-read sequencing, programming and scripting (R, Python, Unix/Linux), design and development of genomic and transcriptomic pipelines; incorporating various bioinformatics software and tools.

Qualifications

2025 - Present: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Genetics and Genomics, the Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

2024 - 2025: Master of Science (MSc) in Bioinformatics (Upper Second Class with Merit), The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

2020 - 2024: Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Bioinformatics (First Class with Distinction, Gold Medal for Academics), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India

Research summary

I am interested in applying bioinformatics and genomics to uncover the biological mechanisms underlying key traits such as growth, disease resistance, and pigmentation in fish and crustaceans. By integrating large-scale sequencing data with computational analysis, I aim to generate insights that can help address current challenges in the aquaculture industry, including animal health, productivity, and sustainability. More broadly, my goal is to contribute to the advancement of genomic tools and technologies that support evidence-based decision-making in modern aquaculture.

Current research interests

During my PhD, I am investigating the effects of early-life conditions on cardiac and immune development and performance in Scottish farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The aim of my research is to identify key genetic mechanisms and molecular changes that can lead to improved cardiac and immune robustness in these fish, by applying a combination of multi-omics technologies and molecular biology techniques. This work is conducted as part of the SalmoStrong initiative, which aims to reduce early-life mortality in Scottish farmed Atlantic salmon by 50%. This research is scientifically important for advancing knowledge and resources in salmonid research and is also economically significant, considering that Atlantic salmon is the United Kingdom’s most exported food product.

Past research interests

Previously, I have worked with Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) during my MSc dissertation project at the Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh. The distinctive red colour of cooked seafood is due to the release of a natural pigment during heating, and there is a clear market preference for lighter-coloured raw shrimp and darker-coloured cooked shrimp. Using a combination of molecular biology techniques and advanced genomic approaches (long-read sequencing, single-nuclei RNA sequencing, and qPCR validation), this project aimed to understand why a visibly white species carries a large number of duplicated pigmentation genes. The results achieved served as a blueprint for future studies, providing high-level insights into shrimp colour biology while advancing our understanding of crustacean genomics and aquaculture applications.

Conference details

I am enthusiastic about attending relevant conferences and workshops to support knowledge transfer and to build a network of shared research interests. Presenting my work and giving talks are of particular interest to me, as they allow my research findings to reach a wider audience and enable valuable feedback while fostering shared curiosity.

Conferences:

  • Festival of Genomics and Biodata (FoG), January 2025, London, United Kingdom

Talks:

  • Oxford Nanopore Technologies Roslin Seminar, February 2026, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
This article was published on