S13E9 - Nadya Mamoozadeh on Genomic Vulnerability and Selective Intervention

Apr. 7, 2026 GES Colloquium | Drawing on recent research in brook trout, Dr. Mamoozadeh will explore how precision genomics can help guide conservation under climate change. She will examine how these tools may inform difficult choices about when to intervene, where to focus limited resources, and how to weigh the risks of action versus inaction

Recorded from NC State’s GES Colloquium, this podcast examines how biotechnologies take shape in the world: microbiome engineering in built environments, gene editing and gene drives, forest and agricultural genomics, data governance and equity, risk and regulation, sci-art, and public engagement in practice.

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Genomic Vulnerability and Selective Intervention: Navigating Climate Adaptation in Freshwater Fisheries

Nelson 4305 + Zoom | Can precision genomics help save freshwater fish threatened by climate change? We’ll explore how genomic and climate data can inform difficult decisions about when and where to intervene, including efforts such as assisted migration and genetic rescue.

Freshwater fishes worldwide are facing unprecedented threats from rising water temperatures, shifting hydrological regimes, and declining habitat quality and availability. As climate change accelerates, traditional conservation strategies may no longer suffice to prevent widespread population declines. Precision genomics offers a potentially transformative toolkit to assess climate vulnerability and guide active interventions, yet the transition from molecular data to management action remains a significant challenge. Our recent work in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) addresses this gap by integrating genomic and climate datasets at a continental scale to quantify the adaptive potential and climate risk of native populations. By identifying which populations possess the genetic variation necessary to survive future warming, we provide a framework to inform high-stakes interventions such as assisted migration and genetic rescue. As we develop these genomic tools, we must also examine the broader ethical and policy implications for stakeholders. This includes addressing critical questions about when the risk of inaction outweighs the risk of intervention, and how to prioritize limited resources between populations facing imminent extirpation versus those with greater probability of persistence. Ultimately, this work seeks to provide a framework for the long-term sustainability of commercial and recreational fisheries in an era of rapid environmental change.

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Nadya Mamoozadeh, PhD

Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University | Profile

Dr. Nadya Mamoozadeh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Ecology at North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on integrating molecular insights into fisheries management and aquatic conservation. The Mamoozadeh Lab explores the spatiotemporal distribution of genetic diversity in aquatic populations, examining how natural and anthropogenic factors shape these patterns to forecast future population risk. A central goal of her work is to support the long-term sustainability of sport and wild-capture fisheries across both marine and freshwater environments. Dr. Mamoozadeh collaborates closely with management agencies, NGOs, and stakeholders to integrate shared knowledge into research and translate complex genetic findings into applied conservation practice.

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The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes.

GES Colloquium is taught by Dr. Zack Brown, and the seminars serve as a great opportunity for our students to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars, which will now take place in Nelson 4305.

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