Dr. Cordelia Roberts

Biography

Cordelia Roberts’ research interests lie in the role microorganisms play in the cycling of carbon in the ocean. She is particularly interested in examining decomposing and dying fecal material in the ocean, which is akin to leaf litter on land, as it forms sinking and suspended particles. These particles are crucial habitats and food sources for microscopic organisms, and she investigates their interactions, focusing on how microbes contribute to the carbon cycling process in oceanic environments. Her research adopts a fine-scale approach to determining the heterogeneity of particle types found in the ocean, which drives variability, as well as the diversity of microorganisms associated with these particles. Cordelia utilizes sea-going fieldwork alongside experiments and biogeochemical measurements in molecular biology to understand the roles of various microbes, including bacteria, archaea, and microbial eukaryotes (unicellular fungi), in carbon storage within oceanic systems. Currently, she is involved in the NERC funded BIO-Carbon programme, specifically the project 'PARTITRICS', which aims to determine the role of different particle types in the respiration of organic material in North Atlantic surface and mesopelagic waters, as well as the EU funded SEA-QUESTER project, which focuses on how particle fragmentation influences the respiration of organic material in Arctic regions.

Research Interests