Rate My Professor Timothy Bruce

Timothy Bruce serves as Assistant Professor of Aquatic Animal Health in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences within Auburn University’s College of Agriculture, a role he has occupied since 2021. He earned his Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from South Dakota State University in 2016, focusing his dissertation on 'Immune and Endocrine Modulations Associated with Enhanced Plant-Based Protein Diets Within Freshwater Fish Species.' Earlier, he obtained his M.S. in Biology from Purdue University-Fort Wayne in 2011. His research centers on host-pathogen interactions, nutritional influences on fish health, aquaculture vaccinations, immune responses, and pathogen resistance in key aquaculture species such as channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus). Bruce examines the impacts of alternative protein sources like soy-based ingredients, corn fermented protein, and black soldier fly frass, as well as immunostimulants including humic substances, probiotics, and protease complexes, on growth performance, immunity, gut microbiota, and disease resistance.

Bruce has authored or co-authored 84 publications, accumulating over 1,200 citations and 13,500 reads, demonstrating substantial influence in the field of aquaculture pathology and nutrition. Notable recent works include 'Effects of supplemental dietary blend of humic substances and butyric acid plus yeast cell walls on immunity and resistance to bacterial coinfection in juvenile Channel Catfish' (2026), 'Performance and Health Status of Juvenile Largemouth Bass (Micropterus nigricans) Fed Inclusions of Enzyme-Treated and Low-Oligosaccharide Soy Proteins' (2026), 'Comparison and efficacy of soy-based ingredients in practical diets for Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus)' (2025), 'Corn Fermented Protein in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Diets: Growth and Disease Resistance' (2025), and 'Evaluation of phytogenic product supplementation on the growth performance, immune function, and gut microbiota composition in fingerling channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)' (2025). He contributes to the academic community as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, advancing knowledge in fish pathology and health management for sustainable aquaculture production.