**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** AS THE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY EXPANDS IN THE UNITED STATES, INVESTIGATION OF THE COMMERCIAL AQUACULTURE POTENTIAL OF NEW SPECIES IS IMPORTANT AS THIS MAY ALLOW PRODUCERS TO OPERATE IN NEW LOCATIONS AND WOULD PROVIDE NEW PRODUCTS FOR MARKET. BURBOT IS A FISH THAT DEMONSTRATES POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION IN NORTHWESTERN STATES. ALL LIFE STAGES OF THIS COOL TO COLD-WATER SPECIES CAN BE GROWN IN CAPTIVITY AND PRODUCTION CONDITIONS ARE SHARED WITH RAINBOW TROUT. BURBOT OFFERS A THICK FLAKE WHITE FILLET, DELICACIES SUCH AS ROE AND LIVER, AND LEATHER. FINALLY, BURBOT IS RESISTANT TO MANY SALMONID PATHOGENS, OFFERING AN OPTION TO ADD THE SPECIES TO EXISTING TROUT PRODUCTION OPERATIONS. THIS PROPOSED INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECT WILL USE RECENTLY PUBLISHED METHODS DEVELOPED FOR BURBOT AND OTHER FARMED FISH SPECIES TO DESCRIBE EGG INCUBATION AND LARVAL CULTURE IN RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS AND INVESTIGATE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES FOR THIS ADVANCING SCIENCE EWD FELLOWSHIP PROJECT: 1) CHARACTERIZE EGG SURVIVAL AND INCUBATOR MICROBIOMES WITHIN RECIRCULATING AND FLOW THROUGH SYSTEMS, 2) CHARACTERIZE LARVAL SURVIVAL, DEVELOPMENT, AND CULTURE TANK MICROBIOMES WITHIN RECIRCULATING AND FLOW THROUGH SYSTEMS, AND 3) INVESTIGATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNE ORGANS AND PROTEINS ASSOCIATED WITH ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY IN LARVAL DIPLOID AND TRIPLOID BURBOT. THE RESULTS FROM THIS PROJECT WILL BE OF INTEREST TO COMMERCIAL COLD-WATER AQUACULTURE PRODUCERS AND AGENCIES USING BURBOT FOR MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS.