Dr. Small is a research physiologist working on improving catfish production efficiency.  His interests include all aspects of fish physiology, but especially growth, nutrition, and development.  His research includes projects to characterize genes and gene products that regulate economically import traits, such as growth and reproduction; the delineation and regulation of hormonal signaling systems, including the control of gene expression; the enhancement of physiological processes regulating economically important traits; and the development of more efficient aquaculture production techniques.  Research highlights include the isolation and characterization of genes involved in growth hormone synthesis and secretion; the evaluation of anesthetics and chemotherapeutants; hormone assay development; the evaluation of hatchery management practices; and catfish strain evaluation.