Cecile Massault
Projects
1
Publications
17
Awards
0
Contact Details
Research Fellow
Biography
I am a quantitative geneticist with a background in software engineering, bioinformatics and aquaculture. My passion lies in using data, genomics and innovative technologies to solve real-world challenges in animal breeding and sustainable food production.
My research focuses on developing and applying genomic tools to improve breeding programmes for aquaculture species, helping producers achieve long-term gains in productivity, resilience and sustainability. I enjoy tackling complex problems that combine biology, statistics and computing, and I am particularly interested in translating cutting-edge research into practical industry outcomes.
Outside of my research, I am committed to mentoring, supporting emerging professionals and promoting the value of science through community engagement, education and creative initiatives.
Research
Research Interests
Selective breeding for economically important aquaculture species (pearl oyster, barramundi, grouper)
Evaluation of genetic parameters and estimation of breeding values for aquaculture species using statistical tools
Mass spawning mate allocation to enhance mating design using genetic algorithm (AI)
Projects
Workshop in Advanced Genomics Tools to Enhance Korean Aquaculture
01 Nov 2024 - 31 Oct 2025
Teaching
Research Advisor Accreditation
Advisor Type
Primary
Current JCU Research Students
Genetic Architecture and advanced selective Breeding of Health-related Production Traits in the Australian Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus)
Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)
Deciphering cryptocaryon disease resistance in barramundi (Lates calcarifer): Genetic architecture, interactions, and advanced genomic selection modelling
Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)
Optimising selective breeding techniques for implementation into Black Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon) and Silver Lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada maxima) commercial breeding programs
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Activities
Employment
Research Fellow, University of New England
2010 - 2016
Associations
Output
Kodagoda, Yasara Kavindi; Kim, Gaeun; Liyanage, D.S.; Omeka, W.K.M.; Park, Cheonguk; Kim, Jeongeun; Hanchapola, H.A.C.R.; Dilshan, M A.H.; Rodrigo, D.C.G.; Ganepola, G A.N.P.; Jones, David B.; Massault, Cecile; Jerry, Dean R.; Lee, Jihun; Lee, Jehee (2026) 'Genomic prediction of survival traits for scuticociliatosis resistance in a vaccinated olive flounder cohort: Comprehensive evaluation and optimization of statistical and machine learning models'. Aquaculture Reports, 47 . [DOI]
Massault, Cecile; Jones, David B.; Lillehammer, Marie; Cate, Holly; Harrison, Paul; Strugnell, Jan M.; Zenger, Kyall R.; Robinson, Nicholas A.; Jerry, Dean R. (2025) 'Accuracies of genomic prediction accounting for genotype by environment remain high when using small sets of selected SNPs in barramundi Lates calcarifer'. Aquaculture, 599 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Liyanage, D.S.; Lee, Sukkyoung; Yang, Hyerim; Lim, Chaehyeon; Omeka, W. K.M.; Sandamalika, W.M.Gayashani; Udayantha, H.M.V.; Kim, Gaeun; Hanchapola, H.A.C.R.; Ganeshalingam, Subothini; Jeong, Taehyug; Oh, Seong Rip; Won, Seung Hwan; Koh, Hyoung Bum; Kim, Mun Kwan; Jones, David B.; Massault, Cecile; Jerry, Dean R.; Lee, Jehee (2025) 'Genomic prediction of survival traits in the response of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus: Comparing machine learning models and traditional approaches'. Aquaculture, 595 (Part 2). [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Udayantha, H.M.V.; Kim, Jeongeun; Kim, Gaeun; Lee, Jihun; Lee, Sukkyoung; Park, Cheong Uk; Jones, David B.; Massault, Cecile; Jerry, Dean R.; Liyanage, D.S.; Lee, Jehee (2025) 'Genome-wide association and genomic prediction of thermal tolerance in olive flounders (Paralichthys olivaceus): A validation study'. Aquaculture Reports, 45 . [DOI]
Kodagoda, Yasara Kavindi; Kim, Gaeun; Liyanage, D. S.; Omeka, W. K.M.; Park, Cheonguk; Kim, Jeongeun; Lee, Ji Hun; Hanchapola, H. A.C.R.; Dilshan, M. A.H.; Rodrigo, D. C.G.; Jones, David B.; Massault, Cecile; Jerry, Dean R.; Lee, Jehee (2025) 'Genome-wide association mapping of scuticociliatosis resistance in a vaccinated population of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)'. Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 162 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Calcino, Andrew; Cooke, Ira; Cowman, Peter; Higgie, Megan; Massault, Cecile; Schmitz, Ulf; Whittaker, Maxine; Field, Matt A. (2024) 'Harnessing genomic technologies for one health solutions in the tropics'. Globalization and Health, 20 . [DOI]
Marcoli, Roberta; Jones, Dave B.; Massault, Cecile; Harrison, Paul J.; Cate, Holly; Jerry, Dean R. (2024) 'Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) rare coloration patterns: a multiomics approach to understand the “panda” phenotype'. Journal of Fish Biology, 105 (4):1268-1279. [DOI]
Marcoli, R.; Jones, D.B.; Massault, C.; Moran, M.; Harrison, P.; Cate, H.S.; Jerry, D.R. (2024) 'Revealing the genetic and molecular drivers behind golden and platinum coloration in barramundi (Lates calcarifer)'. Aquaculture, 586 . [DOI]
Genomic prediction model optimization for growth traits of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)
2024
Omeka, W.K.M.; Liyanage, D.S.; Lee, Sukkyoung; Udayantha, H.M.V.; Kim, Gaeun; Ganeshalingam, Subothini; Jeong, Taehyug; Jones, David B.; Massault, Cecile; Jerry, Dean R.; Lee, Jehee (2024) 'Genomic prediction model optimization for growth traits of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)'. Aquaculture Reports, 36 . [DOI]
Udayantha, H.M.V.; Lee, Sukkyoung; Liyanage, D.S.; Lim, Chaehyeon; Jeong, Taehyug; Omeka, W.K.M.; Yang, Kyerim; Kim, Gaeun; Lee, Jihun; Nadarajapillai, Kishanthini; Ganeshalingam, Subothini; Park, Cheong-Uk; Lee, Jiwon; Oh, Seong-Rip; Gong, Po; Jang, Yeounghwan; Hyun, Jaemin; Park, Aejen; Koh, Hyoung-Bum; Kim, Mun-Kwan; Jones, David B.; Massault, Cecile; Jerry, Dean R.; Lee, Jeehee (2023) 'Identification of candidate variants and genes associated with temperature tolerance in olive flounders by Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS)'. Aquaculture, 576 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Marcoli, R.; Jones, D.B.; Massault, C.; Marc, A.F.; Moran, M.; Harrison, P.J.; Cate, H.S.; Lopata, A.L.; Jerry, D.R. (2023) 'The skin structure in multiple color variants of barramundi (Lates calcarifer): A histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural overview'. Aquaculture, 576 . [DOI]
Liyanage, D.S.; Lee, Sukkyoung; Yang, Hyerim; Lim, Chaehyeon; Omeka, W.K.M.; Sandamalika, W.M. Gayashani; Udayantha, H.M.V.; Kim, Gaeun; Ganeshalingam, Subothini; Jeong, Taehyug; Oh, Seong-Rip; Won, Seung-Hwan; Koh, Hyoung-Bum; Kim, Mun-Kwan; Jones, David B.; Massault, Cecile; Jerry, Dean R.; Lee, Jehee (2022) 'Genome-wide association study of VHSV-resistance trait in Paralichthys olivaceus'. Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 124 :391-400. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Massault, Cecile; Jeffrey, Cara; Jones, David B.; Barnard, Roger; Strugnell, Jan M.; Zenger, Kyall R.; Jerry, Dean R. (2022) 'Non-invasive DNA collection for parentage analysis for bivalves: A case study from the silver-lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima)'. Aquaculture, 552 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of growth traits in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)
2022
Omeka, W.K.M.; Liyanage, D.S.; Lee, Sukkyoung; Lim, Chaehyeon; Yang, Hyerim; Sandamalika, W.M.Gayashani; Udayantha, H.M.V.; Kim, Gaeun; Ganeshalingam, Subothini; Jeong, Taehyug; Oh, Seong-Rip; Won, Seung-Hwan; Koh, Hyoung-Bum; Kim, Mun-Kwan; Jones, David B.; Massault, Cecile; Jerry, Dean R.; Lee, Jehee (2022) 'Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of growth traits in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)'. Aquaculture, 555 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Jerry, Dean R.; Jones, David B.; Lillehammer, Marie; Massault, Cecile; Loughnan, Shannon; Cate, Holly S.; Harrison, Paul J.; Strugnell, Jan M.; Zenger, Kyall R.; Robinson, Nicholas A. (2022) 'Predicted strong genetic gains from the application of genomic selection to improve growth related traits in barramundi (Lates calcarifer)'. Aquaculture, 549 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Massault, C.; Jones, D.B.; Zenger, K.; Strugnell, J.M.; Barnard, R.; Jerry, D.R. (2021) 'A SNP parentage assignment panel for the silver lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima)'. Aquaculture Reports, 20 . [DOI]
Sukhavachana, Sila; Tongyoo, Pumipat; Massault, Cecile; McMillan, Nichanun; Leungnaruemitchai, Amorn; Poompuang, Supawadee (2020) 'Genome-wide association study and genomic prediction for resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae in hybrid red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)'. Aquaculture, 525 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU