Research at California State University, Fresno into the biology of tilapia, a fish species farmed for food, received a $349,000 boost with a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to the Department of Biology within the College of Science and Mathematics.

Dr. Larry Riley, assistant professor of biology, along with his graduate and undergraduate students are conducting research into the hormonal control of appetite and growth during stress in tilapia.

“This research has potential to greatly improve the rearing of tilapia, the second most cultured fish worldwide,” Riley said.

This is a three-year award and the research will be primarily conducted by Dr Riley’s grad students as they earn their master’s degree.

In January, Dr. Riley and four of his graduate students traveled to Seattle to present their findings from National Science Foundation-funded research at the annual Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology meeting.

Oral presentations were made by Kelli Upton of Laton, Rosemary Luzania of Selma and Whitney Janzen of Clovis. Tara Clever of Bakersfield received an award at the meeting for Best Student Poster in the Division of Comparative Endocrinology.

Riley, who joined the Fresno State faculty in 2005, has worked with 15 undergraduate student researchers and mentored eight graduate students during his tenure.

Students in Riley’s research program have contributed to seven peer-reviewed manuscripts and 21 presentations at regional, national and international conferences.

(Copy by University Communications news intern Sadie Thomas)