Sam Speak

Sam Speak is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Haerty Group, working on the Tilapia Genomic Resources project. His research uses bioinformatic and transcriptomic approaches, including bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, to identify loci associated with aquaculture-relevant traits such as environmental stress tolerance, including temperature and salinity tolerance, and pathogen resistance across Tilapia species. 

Prior to this role, Sam was a NERC ARIES DTP PhD student at the University of East Anglia, the Natural History Museum London and Chester Zoo, where he focused on the conservation genomics of endangered bird species in zoos. 

His PhD research investigated genetic load in individuals involved in captive breeding programmes, using CADD scores within ultraconserved elements of the genome. These approaches were applied to species that had experienced severe population bottlenecks, including the pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri) and whooping crane (Grus americana). The research aimed to support captive breeding and reintroduction programmes by informing optimal mate pairings and helping to reduce the risk of inbreeding depression. 

Sam completed a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia in 2019, followed by an MScR in 2020, during which he applied bioinformatic analyses to investigate signatures of genetic drift and adaptive evolution in diatoms.