Biography
Associate Professor Luis Afonso is currently the Deputy Director of the Bachelor of Science at Deakin University. Recently, between February 2022 and May 2023, Luis had been the Faculty of SEBE HDR Coordinator, and between 2016-2019 the Director, International Research Training (Deakin Research). Luis has been the cluster leader for the 2-digit Division 30 Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences - ERA 2023 (2022-2023). Since 2018, he has been a member of the University's Autonomous Sanctions Risk Assessment Panel. Since 2012, Luis leads the fish stress physiology research program at Deakin University. Previously, Luis had been HDR Coordinator (Warrnambool Campus 2014-2016) and the Director of the Bachelor of Fisheries and Aquaculture (2013-2014). Prior to his work at Deakin, Luis held a research chair position in Aquaculture and Environment at the British Columbia Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, Canada (2009-2012).
Associate Professor Luis Afonso has made significant contributions to both fundamental and applied research in fish physiology and aquaculture. His research program addresses areas such fish stress, health, and welfare, smoltification and reproductive physiology. He has been using an integrative approach (immunology, endocrinology, genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) to investigate the areas above, including important fish health and welfare issues caused by long-term stress. This has resulted in further collaborative work and being recognized and accepted by peers in other related areas such applied nanobiotechnology and ecotoxicology. In Canada and Australia, Luis has led several projects in collaboration with the Aquaculture Industry, as he believes that an interdisciplinary team-based approach (academics and industry partners) is vital for understanding, maintaining, and advancing our knowledge in life sciences.
In teaching and learning, Associate Professor Luis Afonso is recognized for the development of creative practical assessments, and for improving students’ learning experiences and networking by embedding work integrated learning (bringing the Aquaculture Industry to the classroom). Luis has been teaching in areas such as comparative animal physiology, fish physiology, reproduction and health, and career education and work-integrated learning units.
Career highlights
• Faculty HDR Coordinator (SEBE) - Deakin University (2022-2023)
• Associate Professor of Marine Science, Deakin University (2016-present)
• Director, International Research Training - Deakin University, Deakin Research (2016-2019)
• Senior Lecturer in Marine Sciences – Deakin University (2012-2015)
• Research Chair in Aquaculture and Environment - British Columbia Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, Campbell River, BC, Canada, (2009-2012)
Research interests
Research interest. Stress physiology: impacts of long-term exposure to abiotic and biotic stressors, with a focus on developing reliable molecular biomarkers of stress. Reproductive physiology: understanding molecular mechanism involved in sex differentiation and sex reversal in fish.
Teaching interests
animal physiology, cell biology, fish health and reproduction, aquaculture, career education
Units taught
SLE352 - Community Science Project
SLE329 - Aquatic Animal Health and Reproduction
SLE315 - Comparative Animal Physiology
SLE254 – Genetics and genomics (practicals)
SLE115 – Essential Skills in Biosciences
SLE111 – Cell and Genes
Knowledge areas
fish physiology, endocrinology, stress, health, welfare, reproduction, sex reversal, sex control, smoltification, aquaculture, and molecular biology
Professional activities
Editorial Board: Associate Editor Aquaculture Journal (2021-2022); Journal of Aquaculture Research and Development (2012-present)
Reviewer for peer-reviewed journals and funding agencies: Aquaculture, Reviews in Aquaculture, Fish and Shellfish Immunology, General and Comparative Endocrinology, Journal of Fish Biology, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Journal of Aquaculture Research and Development.
Reviewer for granting agencies NSERC and Genome Canada (Canada), USDA, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Small Business Innovation Research (USA)
Media appearances
3AW News Talk – Melbourne Radio Do fish get stressed? March 2023
Research groups
Internal collaboration: Dr.David Cahill’s: nanomaterial and nanoscience
Internal collaboration: Dr. Aaron Schultz: Aquatic organisms physiology and ecotoxicology
Internal collaboration: Dr. Andrew Oxley: aquatic organisms microbiome
External collaboration: Dr. Pushplata Singh, TERI-Deakin, India
External collaboration: Dr. Toshiki Nakano, University of Tohoku, Japan
External collaboration: Dr. Stephen McCormick - Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, USA
External collaboration: Dr. Christine Hyunh – Petuna Ltd., and Nautilus Collaboration, Australia
External collaboration: Dr. Bradley Evans – Tassal Group, Australia
External collaboration: Dr. Morgan Brown – CSIRO, Australia
Awards
• 2015 - Excellence in Teaching: in recognition of excellence in ideas in innovation and in designing and implementing a new teaching program
• 2014 - Excellence in Teaching: in recognition of excellence in learning and empowering learners for jobs and skills of the future
• 2012 - Excellence in Teaching: in recognition of outstanding performance
• 2012 – Deakin University Excellence in Research
Projects
2023. Deakin LES Multidisciplinary Fund - Irresistible or Simply Indigestible: tracking the passage and fate of microplastics through the gut of the aquatic host. Oxley A., Schultz, A., Afonso, L.O.B., Sutti, A. (AU$ 11,000)
2023. Deakin LES Blue Sky Fund – Does exposure to micro and/or nanoplastics have an impact on human health? Poudel, K., Schultz, A., Afonso, L.O.B. (AU$ 5,000).
2022. Deakin LES Blue Sky Fund – Does exposure to micro and/or nanoplastics have an impact on human health? Poudel, K., Schultz, A., Afonso, L.O.B. (AU$ 4,600).
2022. SEBE Minor equipment grant – Schultz, A.G., McKenzie, M., Ujvari, B., Cahill, D., Afonso, L.O.B. (AU$ 16,815).
2020. LES Blue Sky Innovation Fund – Safer by design – are biologically synthesised nanoagriinputs environmentally safer than chemically synthesised nanoagri inputs. Priyam, A., Gehlout, S., Schultz, A., Afonso, L.O.B. AU$ 4,800).
Publications
Ayushi Priyam, Luis Afonso, Aaron Schultz, Amit Dinda, Pushplata Singh
(2023), pp. 313-324, Environmental Science: Advances, London, Eng., C1
Ayushi Priyam, Luis Afonso, Aaron Schultz, Amit Dinda, Pushplata Singh
(2023), pp. 1-18, Environmental Science: Advances, London, Eng., C1
Validation and calibration of a novel GEM biosensor for specific detection of Cd2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+
H Herath, W de Silva, R Dassanayake, Y Gunawardene, J Jayasingha, M Gayashan, L Afonso, K de Silva
(2023), pp. 1-19, BMC Biotechnology, London, Eng., C1
Shweta Gehlout, Shweta Gehlout, Ayushi Priyam, Ayushi Priyam, Drishti, Drishti, Luis Afonso, Luis Afonso, Aaron Schultz, Aaron Schultz, Pushplata Singh, Pushplata Singh
(2022), pp. 15-15, Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Environmental Science, London, Eng., B1
A Priyam, P Singh, L Afonso, A Schultz
(2022), Vol. 9, pp. 1364-1380, Environmental Science: Nano, Cambridge, England, C1
A Priyam, P Singh, L Afonso, A Schultz
(2022), Vol. 25, pp. 1-14, NanoImpact, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
M Brown, B Evans, L Afonso
(2022), Vol. 823, pp. 1-16, Gene, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Nanomaterial Doping: Chemistry and Strategies for Agricultural Applications
B Sharma, U Soni, L Afonso, D Cahill
(2022), Vol. 2, pp. 240-257, ACS Agricultural Science and Technology, Washington, D.C., C1
Ayushi Priyam, natasha Yadav, Pallavolu Reddy, luis Afonso, Aaron Schultz, Pushplata Singh
(2022), Vol. 8, pp. 1-11, Heliyon, AMsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
B Sharma, M Shrivastava, L Afonso, U Soni, D Cahill
(2022), Vol. 5, pp. 7288-7299, ACS Applied Nano Materials, Washington, D.C., C1
A Priyam, N Yadav, P Reddy, L Afonso, A Schultz, P Singh
(2022), Vol. 2, pp. 462-476, ACS Agricultural Science and Technology, Washington, D.C., C1
B Sharma, M Shrivastava, L Afonso, U Soni, D Cahill
(2022), Vol. 28, pp. 1-13, NanoImpact, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Zinc- and magnesium-doped hydroxyapatite-urea nanohybrids enhance wheat growth and nitrogen uptake
B Sharma, L Afonso, M Singh, U Soni, D Cahill
(2022), Vol. 12, pp. 1-15, Scientific Reports, Berlin, Germany, C1
C van Rijn, P Jones, B Evans, L Afonso
(2021), Vol. 538, Aquaculture, C1
A Priyam, L Afonso, A Schultz, P Singh
(2021), Vol. 23, NanoImpact, Netherlands, C1
M Brown, B Evans, L Afonso
(2021), Vol. 545, Aquaculture, C1
Identifying and managing maladaptive physiological responses to aquaculture stressors
L Afonso
(2020), Vol. 38, pp. 163-191, Fish physiology, Cambridge, Mass., B1
C van Rijn, P Jones, B Evans, C Huynh, S McCormick, L Afonso
(2020), Vol. 516, Aquaculture, C1
New Insights of Inhibins in Ovarian Physiology of Fish
I Ahmad, I Bhat, D Jagtap, C Selvaa Kumar, S Ferosekhan, L Afonso
(2020), Vol. 28, pp. 247-259, Reviews in Fisheries Science and Aquaculture, C1
M Brown, B Evans, L Afonso
(2020), Vol. 10, Scientific Reports, England, C1
C van Rijn, P Jones, A Schultz, B Evans, S McCormick, L Afonso
(2020), Vol. 529, Aquaculture, C1
J Tromp, P Jones, M Brown, J Donald, P Biro, L Afonso
(2018), Vol. 495, pp. 196-204, Aquaculture, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
The physiology of saltwater acclimation in large juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar
M Brown, P Jones, J Tromp, C van Rijn, R Collins, L Afonso
(2018), Vol. 93, pp. 540-549, Journal of Fish Biology, C1
J Tromp, P Jones, J Symonds, S Walker, A Pope, S Pether, L Afonso
(2016), Vol. 452, pp. 128-133, Aquaculture, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
W Marshall, A Sitjà-Bobadilla, H Brown, T MacWilliam, Z Richmond, H Lamson, D Morrison, L Afonso
(2016), Vol. 39, pp. 929-946, Journal of Fish Diseases, England, C1
Effects of thermal stressors on growth-related gene expressions in cutured fish
T Nakano, M Kameda, T Yamaguchi, M Sato, L Afonso, G Iwama, R Devlin
(2015), pp. 147-157, Marine productivity: perturbations and resilience of socio-ecosystems : proceedings of the 15th French-Japanese Oceanography Symposium, Berlin, Germany, B1
A Siah, P McKenna, F Berthe, L Afonso, J Danger
(2013), Vol. 3, pp. 95-103, Results in immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Acute physiological stress down-regulates mRNA expressions of growth-related genes in coho salmon
T Nakano, L Afonso, B Beckman, G Iwama, R Devlin
(2013), Vol. 8, pp. 1-7, PLoS ONE, San Francisco, Calif., C1
T Hori, A Gamperl, C Hastings, G Voort, J Robinson, S Johnson, L Afonso
(2012), Vol. 324-325, pp. 165-173, Aquaculture, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
T Hori, M Rise, S Johnson, L Afonso, A Gamperl
(2012), Vol. 175, pp. 311-320, General and comparative endocrinology, Maryland Heights, Mo., C1-1
L Afonso, Z Richmond, A Eaves, J Richard, L Hawley, K Garver
(2012), Vol. 3, pp. 1-5, Journal of aquaculture research and development, Los Angeles, Calif., C1-1
X Liu, L Afonso
(2010), pp. 259-268, Functional glycomics: methods and protocols, New York, N. Y., B1-1
T Hori, A Gamperl, L Afonso, S Johnson, S Hubert, J Kimball, S Bowman, M Rise
(2010), Vol. 11, pp. 1-22, BMC genomics, London, England, C1-1
T Karakach, E Huenupi, E Soo, J Walter, L Afonso
(2009), Vol. 5, pp. 123-137, Metabolomics, New York, N. Y., C1-1
A Gamperl, C Busby, T Hori, L Afonso, J Hall
(2009), Vol. 82, pp. 483-494, Physiological and biochemical zoology, Chicago, Ill., C1-1
L Inoue, G Moraes, G Iwama, L Afonso
(2008), Vol. 38, pp. 603-609, Acta amazonica, Manaus, Brasil, C1-1
T Hori, I Avilez, G Iwama, S Johnson, G Moraes, L Afonso
(2008), Vol. 147, pp. 416-423, Comparative biochemistry and physiology part C, Philadelphia, Pa., C1-1
X Liu, L Afonso, E Altman, S Johnson, L Brown, J Li
(2008), Vol. 8, pp. 2849-2857, Proteomics, Weinheim, Germany, C1-1
The immune and stress responses of Atlantic cod to long-term increases in water temperature
J Perez-Casanova, M Rise, B Dixon, L Afonso, J Hall, S Johnson, A Gamperl
(2008), Vol. 24, pp. 600-609, Fish and shellfish immunology, London, England, C1-1
M Fast, S Hosoya, S Johnson, L Afonso
(2008), Vol. 24, pp. 194-204, Fish and shellfish immunology, England, London, C1-1
J Pérez-Casanova, L Afonso, S Johnson, S Currie, A Gamperl
(2008), Vol. 72, pp. 899-916, Journal of fish biology, Oxford, England, C1-1
L Afonso, S Hosoya, J Osborne, A Gamperl, S Johnson
(2008), Vol. 72, pp. 157-167, Journal of fish biology, Oxford, England, C1-1
Tiago Hori, Ive Avilez, George Iwama, Stewart Johnson, Gilberto Moraes, Luis Afonso
(2008), Vol. 147, pp. 416-423, Comparative biochemistry and physiology part C: toxicology and pharmacology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
D Martins, L Afonso, S Hosoya, L Lewis-McCrea, L Valente, S Lall
(2007), Vol. 272, pp. 573-580, Aquaculture, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
S Hosoya, S Johnson, G Iwama, A Gamperl, L Afonso
(2007), Vol. 146, pp. 78-86, Comparative biochemistry and physiology part A, Philadelphia, Pa., C1-1
Triploid and diploid rainbow trout do not differ in their stress response to transportation
R Leggatt, K Scheer, L Afonso, G Iwama
(2006), Vol. 68, pp. 1-8, North American journal of aquaculture, Bethesda, Md., C1-1
G Iwama, L Afonso, M Vijayan
(2005), pp. 319-342, The Physiology of Fishes, Boca Raton, Fl., B1-1
Effects of clove oil on the stress response of matrinxã (Brycon cephalus) subjected to transport
L Inoue, L Afonso, G Iwama, G Moraes
(2005), Vol. 35, pp. 289-295, Acta amazonica, Manaus, Brazil, C1-1
D Toa, L Afonso, G Iwama
(2004), Vol. 30, pp. 103-108, Fish physiology and biochemistry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Are hsps suitable for indicating stressed states in fish?
G Iwama, L Afonso, A Todgham, P Ackerman, K Nakano
(2004), Vol. 207, pp. 15-19, Journal of evolutionary biology, Oxford, England, C1-1
Sex reversal in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus) by androgen immersion
G Wassermann, L Afonso
(2003), Vol. 34, pp. 65-71, Aquaculture research, Oxford, England, C1-1
L Afonso, N Basu, K Nakano, R Devlin, G Iwama
(2003), Vol. 29, pp. 173-179, Fish physiology and biochemistry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
L Afonso, J Smith, M Ikonomou, R Devlin
(2002), Vol. 110, pp. 881-887, Environmental health perspectives, Research Triangle Park, N.C., C1-1
Tecnica simples de marcacao externa de reprodutores de tilapia nilotica (Oreochromis niloticus)
E Leboute, L Afonso, M Rotta
(2002), Vol. 32, pp. 147-149, Ciência rural, Santa Maria, Brasil, C1-1
G Wassermann, L Afonso
(2002), Vol. 32, pp. 133-139, Ciência rural, Santa Maria, Brasil, C1-1
Sex reversal in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) using a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor
L Afonso, G Wassermann, R de Oliveira
(2001), Vol. 290, pp. 177-181, Journal of experimental zoology : part A - comparative experimental biology, Hoboken, N. J., C1-1
M Rotta, L Afonso
(2001), Vol. 31, pp. 521-522, Ciência rural, Santa Maria, Brasil, C1-1
L Afonso, G Iwama, J Smith, E Donaldson
(2000), Vol. 188, pp. 175-187, Aquaculture, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
L Afonso, G Iwama, J Smith, E Donaldson
(1999), Vol. 20, pp. 231-241, Fish physiology and biochemistry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
L Afonso, G Iwama, J Smith, E Donaldson
(1999), Vol. 113, pp. 221-229, General and comparative endocrinology, Maryland Heights, Mo., C1-1
L Afonso, P Campbell, G Iwama, R Devlin, E Donaldson
(1997), Vol. 106, pp. 169-174, General and comparative endocrinology, Maryland Heights, Mo., C1-1
Method for artificial incubation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) eggs
L Afonso, E Leboute, S Souza
(1993), Vol. 22, pp. 502-505, Revista Brasileira de zootecnia, Minas Gerais MG Brazil, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Sex reversal and sex differentiation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
A/Prof Luis Afonso, Dr Paul Jones, Dr Brad Evans
FRDC Grant - Research - Fisheries Research & Development Corporation
- 2021: $15,499
- 2020: $23,000
- 2019: $30,600
- 2018: $30,227
Other Public Sector Funding
Stress response ofblack bream during recreational catch and release
Dr Paul Jones, A/Prof Luis Afonso
DPI - Recreational Fisheries Black Bream study
- 2013: $15,943
Cracking the Code on captive breeding of Macquarie perch.
A/Prof David Francis, Prof Nick Robinson, A/Prof Luis Afonso, Dr Tom Mock
Victorian Fisheries Authority
- 2024: $205,210
- 2023: $184,689
Industry and Other Funding
Application and development of biochemical assays to assess smoltification in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
A/Prof Luis Afonso
Tassal Group Limited
- 2014: $18,400
Effects of chronic exposure to different thermal regimens on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) growth, stress physiology and health
A/Prof Luis Afonso, Linda Sams, Dr Christine Huynh
Tassal Operations Pty Ltd
- 2015: $23,000
- 2014: $24,192
Physiological and molecular indicators to assess smoltification in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
A/Prof Luis Afonso, Dr Paul Jones, Linda Sams
Tassal Operations Pty Ltd
- 2017: $31,661
- 2016: $77,838
- 2015: $40,000
Sex-related differences in Fox12a and cyp19a1a protein abundance during sex differentiation in Atlantic salmon.
A/Prof Luis Afonso, Mr Morgan Brown
Tassal Operations Pty Ltd
- 2021: $20,500
Smoltification in Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon.
A/Prof Luis Afonso, Dr Christian Van Rijn
Petuna Aquaculture Pty Ltd
- 2023: $53,407
- 2022: $87,693
Supervisions
Morgan Brown
Thesis entitled: Sex differentiation and sex reversal in Tasmanian Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Christian van Rijn
Thesis entitled: Physiological and Molecular Indicators of Smoltification in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Jared John Tromp
Thesis entitled: Long-term exposure to elevated temperature in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Anurag Nath
Thesis entitled: Ecosafety Assessment of Phosphorous-based Nanofertilizers
Doctor of Philosophy (Biol & Chem), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Natasha Yadav
Thesis entitled: Behaviour and Toxicity Assessment of Iron-based Nanofertilizers in Aquatic Ecosystem
Doctor of Philosophy (Biol & Chem), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Shweta Gehlout
Thesis entitled: ECOSAFETY ASSESSMENT OF IRON OXIDE NANOFERTILIZERS
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Sagar Arya
Thesis entitled: Bioengineering, Nano-Elicitation and Application of Plant Specialized Metabolites
Doctor of Philosophy (Biol & Chem), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Ayushi Priyam
Thesis entitled: Environmental and human toxicity assessment of Phosphorus-based nanomaterials
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Bhaskar Sharma
Thesis entitled: Zinc and magnesium doped hydroxyapatite-urea nanohybrids for crop improvement
Doctor of Philosophy (Biol & Chem), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Matthew Jago
Thesis entitled: Seasonal environmental impacts on the productivity and nutritional status of farmed Atlantic salmon in Tasmania
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Michael Salini
Thesis entitled: Fatty acid metabolism in barramundi (Lates calcarifer)
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences