Brian Roberts

Dr. Brian Roberts originally hails from upstate New York and spent most of his childhood in the northeastern region of the US. He earned a BS in Biology and Philosophy from the College of William and Mary before earning a Master’s Degree in Marine Science from Boston University and working at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. He earned a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University in 2004 and was a postdoctoral research associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory before joining the LUMCON faculty in 2007. He has served as the Associate Director of Science since 2017 and was appointed Interim Executive Director in July 2022 before having his appointment as Executive Director and Chief Scientist of LUMCON approved by the Board of Regents in January 2023. Dr. Roberts oversees LUMCON’s Ecosystem Ecology and Biogeochemistry Lab which carries out research along the continuum from headwater streams and lakes to large rivers, wetlands, estuaries and open-ocean ecosystems with a particular interest in how these systems are altered as a result of human activities as well as how restoration efforts might mitigate some of these deleterious impacts. 

In addition, Dr. Roberts has directed LUMCON’s National Science Foundation-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program since 2011 which has mentored ~90 students in their formative undergraduate years. Dr. Roberts is engaged in a number of professional and community service activities including serving on the Boards for the Gulf Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) and the Southern Association of Marine Laboratories (SAML), Editorial Board for Coastal and Estuarine Science News (CESN), member of the Visioning Committee for the Mississippi River 100 Initiative, member of the 2029 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan Coastal Advisory Team, member of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana Coastal Advisory Team, member of the advisory committee for the Universities of Louisiana Maritime Academy, and a coach for the Terrebonne Parish Special Olympics team. When Dr. Roberts takes off his LUMCON hat, he is enjoying the company of his wife, Jennifer, and their two dancing, singing, and color guard loving daughters, Sophia Pearl and Bethany Rose.