Sarah Turner

Dr. Sarah Turner has joined as Assistant Extension Professor and Aquatic Animal Health Specialist at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Aquaculture Research Institute, effective December 2, 2024. She has nearly 15 years of experience as a scientific research specialist and holds a Ph.D. in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources specializing in interdisciplinary vaccine development using cellulose nanomaterials as a novel vaccine adjuvant for the aquaculture industry. She has relevant experience managing large-scale projects at the Diagnostic and Research Laboratory from experimental conception to completion in developing challenge models to assess vaccines, aquatic animal feeds, and therapeutic agents across multiple species and pathogens towards disease mitigation and prevention strategies. She is also involved in collaboration and outreach with the aquaculture industry and stakeholders, as well as in grant writing, student mentorship, teaching, and graduate advisory committees. Overall, Sarah’s works address industry challenges through collaborative grant-funded and industry-contracted research and are fundamental in developing preventative, innovative, environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective strategies for disease management to support sustainable aquaculture of finfish in Maine and beyond.