ECR Spotlight – Ensiyeh Ghanizadeh-Kazerouni Free

Ensiyeh Ghanizadeh-Kazerouni

How did you become interested in biology?

I have always been intrigued by living organisms and became interested in biology and biochemistry early on in my school days. We always had an aquarium with freshwater or saltwater fish at home, and I spent countless hours as a child staring at fish. Also, my father's business was related to fisheries which made me more involved with fish. It is funny how interests develop! In high school, when provided with the option to choose between science, mathematics and arts, I picked science with the aim to study biology and medical science. Further down the line, I developed a passion for marine biology and started working with fish. I have since changed direction of my research a few times but have always remained connected with the field of fish biology.

Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus

My scientific journey started with a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology in Iran. Like most undergrads, I wasn't sure what field I wanted to pursue. Meanwhile, my sister started medical school and as part of one of her courses, she was studying how infectious diseases affect human physiology. I became fascinated with her research and started following her readings and results passionately. I tagged along to a few seminars and even a conference where she presented her work. This experience ignited my interest in physiology and I decided to pursue fish physiology for my Master’s degree. However, despite being enrolled at a well-renowned university in Iran, I was unable to work in fish physiology because of a lack of facilities and ended up studying the effects of UV radiation on fish morphology and skin ultrastructure. Afterwards, I joined Dr Frank Seebacher's lab at The University of Sydney, Australia, for a PhD where I studied how fish acclimate to environmental changes, the interaction between different acclimation mechanisms and the intergenerational responses to environmental factors. I thoroughly enjoyed that experience, which shaped my foundation and principals as a scientist.

After a streak of unfortunate incidents resulted in an unwanted 4 year career break, I migrated to Canada and started pursuing opportunities where I could combine basic and applied sciences. Having heard a lot about Dr Colin Brauner's work in fish physiology, I reached out to him and fortunately he was starting a project on Complex Gill Disease Initiative (CGDI) and was looking for a postdoc. It was a large collaborative project involving two other universities and representatives of the aquaculture and fish food production industries. Our team at UBC was focused on investigating the physiological consequences of gill damage, and gill regeneration following tissue loss caused by various stressors, an exciting blend of basic and applied science. Now, nearly 4 years into my postdoc, I continue to expand the arsenal of my skillset under the very supportive supervision of Colin.

How would you explain the main findings of your paper to a member of the public?

Fish gills are essential for important physiological functions such as respiration, ion regulation and waste excretion, or in simpler words, for fish to function. However, gills are often faced with extreme conditions, especially in fish farmed in open-net pens. An unhealthy or damaged gill impacts fish growth and survival, making gill diseases a major concern for the aquaculture industry, which contributes significantly to economies of many countries around the world, including Norway and Canada. A core challenge in addressing gill diseases is that they are usually caused by multiple factors and the primary cause is unknown (also known as complex gill disease), which makes treatment very challenging. My research focuses on how gill tissue that has been damaged as a result of various environmental factors, including complex gill disease, recovers from this damage. I also study what factors slow down this regeneration and what methods/remedies (such as diets) can accelerate it.

Using Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout as model species, I have shown that the gill can not only regenerate in both species but also that the regenerated tissue regains its function. However, the process is complex and the recovery depends on the level of tissue loss (through a non-linear relationship), the location of damage and even individual differences between fish. I am now studying the internal/biological and external/environmental factors that can affect tissue repair and regeneration, and how to improve regeneration through diet.

Why does this matter? Both wild and farmed fish experience gill damage from a diverse range of stressors. For example, suspended sediments in rivers resulting from riverbank erosion can cause gill tissue damage (necrosis and erosion). Toxins and harmful algal blooms can also induce severe gill damage. While wild fish may be able to avoid these stressors to some extent, farmed fish in open-net pens cannot. Given the increasing importance of food security and production, coupled with challenges related to the changing environment, understanding how environmental stressors impact gill health and thus fish health is important. My research helps to inform policymakers and conservation biologists on how to protect fish from such potential impact.

Why did you choose JEB to publish your paper?

The outreach of JEB, especially to researchers in my field, is great. Being a highly prestigious and well recognized journal in comparative physiology, it offers a broad exposure to my research while ensuring that my work is featured in a high impact journal. Also, features such as Inside JEB and the ECR Spotlight further enhance visibility, which is vital for early-career researchers such as myself. This is my third publication with the journal and one of my previous papers, based on my PhD research, was also featured in Inside JEB that brought my research to the limelight. Additionally, the support that I have received from JEB over the years as an ECR has been invaluable for my career, demonstrating their genuine commitment to promoting science.

What do you enjoy most about research, and why?

Curiosity, the thrill of uncovering something new, and the opportunity for continuous learning – these are what draw me to research. It begins with a single question, leads to new insights, and often ends with more questions than one starts with – an undeniably fascinating process. I have always been inspired by those who have made impactful discoveries and innovations, and aspire for my own research to be translated into practical applications that make a difference. Another aspect of research I deeply value is collaboration. Working with others to explore questions, develop new ideas, and travel to understand regional challenges fosters a sense of global connectedness that I find incredibly rewarding. In my current project, I am collaborating with researchers from Memorial University, the University of Prince Edward Island, and colleagues from the fish farming and food production industries. These experiences have been invaluable, exposing me to diverse perspectives and approaches, and broadening the scope of my research.

What is the hardest challenge you have faced in the course of your research and how did you overcome it?

The greatest challenge that has hindered my research is, unfortunately, not academic but bureaucratic in nature. After completing my PhD and a 1 year postdoc with Dr Frank Seebacher, I was offered a 4 year postdoc in the USA that fell through for political reasons. Through strong determination (and a few appeals), I eventually migrated to Canada in 2020, which was immediately followed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The resulting 4 year gap was very challenging; however, I now feel that I am back on track and remain steadfast in my determination to secure an academic position and pursue my passion for research.

What is the most important lesson that you have learned from your career so far?

I have learnt that working in different environments with people from different backgrounds and possibly different education systems is probably one of the best ways to excel as an academic. Having worked on three different continents, with researchers from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, I am amazed by the diversity in perspectives and differences in respective educational systems. Each experience has helped me develop a unique set of skills that I would not have acquired had I stayed in one place. I believe the opportunity to work in diverse educational settings has broadened my perspective as a teacher, as a researcher, and overall as a human being.