Dr. Hardy has been a Full Professor in AVS since coming to the University of Idaho in 1996. He was previously a research professor at the University of Washington School of Fisheries and a supervisory researcher at NOAA Fisheries. He is an expert in animal nutrition, specifically fish nutrition.

His research interests are fish nutritional requirements, sustainable feeds for aquaculture, metabolic and physiological effects of alternative feed ingredients effects of diet on immune function, and development of low-pollution feeds. He currently directs the studies of three AVS Ph.D. student and serves on other graduate student committees. His laboratory hosted visiting scientists and students from Korea Germany, China, Norway and Taiwan in 2010. He was chair of the National Research Council committee to revise the “Nutrient Requirements of Fish and Shrimp” bulletin and the author or co-author of over 250 scientific publications, articles and extension products.

As Director of the Aquaculture Research Institute, his position is primarily administrative and research (75:25). He oversees the activities of 40 scientists and staff, most of whom are supported by research grants for which he is responsible. His office is located at the Aquaculture Research Institute’s Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station in southern Idaho. The Institute also operates facilities in Moscow.

My research area is fish nutrition and feeds, and my current research focus is in three areas. First, my program has focused for years and continues to actively seek alternative feed ingredients for fish meal and fish oil for use in salmon and trout feeds. Second, I have a strong interest in molecular genetics in relation to somatic growth, nutrient partitioning, and effects of diet on immune function. Finally, I have a growing program in ornamental fish production using geothermal water resources in Idaho.