Talia Barry is a 4^th year PhD candidate in the oceanography program at Rutgers University, USA. She studies oyster ecology, restoration, and aquaculture at the Rutgers Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory. Her thesis examines how predators interact on oyster reef systems and how oysters respond to predators.

Talia is visiting HKO_HIRU for two months to complete a project on predator prey interactions with the Hong Kong oyster. She will be exploring how predator cues from mud crabs can induce stronger shells in oysters over time. This work can improve oyster restoration and oyster aquaculture by developing oysters that are more resilient.