Sasha McCreadie is a third year Molecular Biology with Biopharmaceutical Science student at South East Technological University (SETU). Recently she travelled to participate in the EU-CONEXUS Student Research Hub (SRH) titled Dietary Effects on Hematological Parameters of Fish. The initiative was hosted by the Agricultural University of Athens and required a physical mobility to Athens in January 2026.
Research and education
The Student Research Hub brings participants together to work on specific research tasks in a dynamic setting (physical, remote, and/or blended). The primary focus of the collaboration is to contribute to ongoing research projects or explore new research ideas. Overall, participants receive training in various aspects of research through a problem-solving approach.
The SRH project that Sasha participated in investigated how different dietary interventions influence fish blood biochemistry. Specifically, the research examined the effects of various feed formulations on proteins (e.g., albumin), lipoproteins (such as HDL and LDL), and enzymatic activity. The findings aim to shed light on how nutrition shapes metabolic balance, highlighting the close relationship between diet and health and reinforcing the value of blood profiling as a diagnostic tool in aquaculture nutrition.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Sasha said:
“During the physical lab sessions, we conducted multiple biochemical tests on samples of fish blood over the week. This was done to assess the impact of fish oil substitutes in fish feed on lipid profiles, including cholesterol levels, enzyme activity, and triglyceride levels, with the intention of carrying out further statistical analysis online after the week ended.”
Learning and skill development
Some of the learning outcomes of the SRH included understanding nutrition–health interactions, developing skills in blood biochemistry analysis, strengthening critical thinking in sustainable aquaculture, and gaining experience in research, data interpretation, and discipline-specific written and oral communication.
Sasha spoke about the skills she developed through the SRH:
“By physically attending these lab sessions, I was able to meet the PhD student running the research hub as well as the members of my team. I was also able to see the tanks where the fish were reared and the systems used to maintain them. Conducting the experiments myself helped me better understand the data and identify any inconsistencies.”
Intercultural learning and international connections
Alongside academic activities, the programme incorporated social and cultural events designed to help students connect with peers.
Summing up the experience, Sasha said:
“As well as being relevant to the project, it was an invaluable experience to meet other students studying similar courses at a foreign university. It offered a different perspective on my studies and allowed me to travel to Greece. The physical aspect of the course helped me connect with the project on a deeper level than if it had been online only, linking real experiments to data and faces to names.”
The EU-CONEXUS Student Research Hubs offer students the opportunity to gain new skills, broaden their perspectives, and experience international collaboration. EU-CONEXUS continues to provide global learning opportunities for its students.
More information on EU-CONEXUS student research hub offerings available here.
