Dr. Brian Roberts originally hails from upstate New York and spent most of his childhood in the northeastern region of the U.S. 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, Massachusetts. He earned a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University in 2004 and was a postdoctoral research associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory before joining the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (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 ~80 students in their formative undergraduate years.

LUMCON’s mission is to promote, facilitate and conduct research and education collaborations among Louisiana’s universities in marine and coastal sciences relevant to the sustainability of coastal and marine environments of the Gulf of Mexico. LUMCON, a program of the Louisiana Board of Regents, is a statewide academic endeavor to focus and strengthen the effectiveness of foundational marine science needed to address the environmental and socioeconomic challenges facing Louisiana and the nation. It provides unparalleled opportunities in marine science and education to the research community and public alike. Anchored by a first-rate marine laboratory, the DeFelice Marine Center, LUMCON is embedded in Louisiana’s dynamic wetland environment and conveniently located on a gateway to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. From this facility, LUMCON operates a world-class fleet of research vessels unmatched in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2023, LUMCON expanded its programs through the opening of a maritime research and outreach facility (Blue Works) in Houma. LUMCON is the hub and facilitator of a consortial group currently including more than 40 partners at every educational level, from technical to doctoral studies (including members of the Louisiana State University System, University of Louisiana System, Southern University System, Louisiana Community and Technical College System, and Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities). LUMCON connects by enhancing collaboration by linking the consortium through stronger federal, state, and local partnerships. LUMCON enriches by giving back to the community through education and outreach initiatives. LUMCON transforms by leading and partnering in scientific innovations designed to stabilize and strengthen coastal and marine environments for the state and the nation. Collectively these effects supports LUMCON’s vision of “Our coasts and oceans restored and thriving through innovation, collaboration, and community action.” LUMCON’s Environmental Monitoring System  collects and archives real-time meteorological and hydrographic data to provide a broad community of scientists, educators, students, and the public with quality-controlled environmental data from Louisiana’s Gulf coast. LUMCON has been collecting data (and providing it to GCOOS) from a suite of environmental monitoring stations since 2000. Researchers at LUMCON and throughout the consortium contribute data to and frequently use data posted through the GCOOS portal.