Email: rob.brown@bangor.ac.uk

Phone: 01248 382456

Address: 2nd Floor, Environment Centre Wales, 

Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW

• PhD: Metabolomic and volatilomic profiling for the assessment of soil carbon cycling and biological quality
  2018–2022
• BSc: Environmental Science
  2014–2017

Rob Brown is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Biogeochemistry working within the Ecosystems and Environment group. He is currently working on the BBSRC funded greenhouse gas removal demonstrator (GGR-D) project examining biochar as a tool for carbon sequestration. This interdisciplinary, multi-institution collaboration aims to address the uncertainties concerning the extent and scope of the deployment of biochar. The focus of his research is on the deployment of biochar to land, in particular the applicability of biochar as a carbon storage to tool in grassland soils; examining the effect of biochar application on soil and plant health, and ecosystem service delivery. Broadly, his research interests include; soil carbon dynamics, exploring biological function particularly through the use of novel methods (metabolomics and volatilomics), soil quality and radioisotope tracing.

2025

• CyhoeddwydEarthworms-mediated the effects of polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics on bacterial community in different soil aggregates
  Lu, S., Chen, M., Yan, J., Brown, R., Yu, W., Wu, D. & Jones, D. L., 1 Ebr 2025, Yn: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 13, 2, 115952.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydGreenhouse gas removal in agricultural peatland via raised water levels and soil amendment
  Peduru Hewa, J., Brown, R., Rhymes, J., McNamara, N., Chadwick, D., Jones, D. L. & Evans, C., 21 Chwef 2025, Yn: Biochar. 7, 1, t. 39 39.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydIron oxides promote physicochemical stabilization of carbon despite enhancing microbial activity in the rice rhizosphere
  Sun, H., Ma, X., Van Zwieten, L., Luo, Y., Brown, R., Guggenberger, G., Tang, S., Kuzyakov, Y. & Peduru Hewa, J., 1 Ion 2025, Yn: Science of the Total Environment. 958, 178019.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2024

• CyhoeddwydAgronomic amendments drive a diversity of real and apparent priming responses within a grassland soil
  Brown, R., Reed, E., Chadwick, D., Hill, P. & Jones, D. L., 1 Chwef 2024, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 189, 109265.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydCarbon emissions in winter wheat – summer maize double cropping system under manure application and limited irrigation
  Wang, S., Wang, X., Nie, J., Zang, H., Zhao, J., Wang, P., Min, K., Yang, Y., Brown, R. & Zeng, Z., 1 Ebr 2024, Yn: European Journal of Agronomy. 155, 127111.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydMicroplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming
  Zhou, J., Feng, W., Brown, R. W., Yang, H., Shao, G., Shi, L., Gui, H., Xu, J., Li, F.-M., Jones, D. L. & Zamanian, K., 1 Rhag 2024, Yn: Science of the Total Environment. 954, t. 176273
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydPlasticity of microbial substrate carbon use efficiency in response to changes in plant carbon input and soil organic matter status
  Brown, R. & Jones, D. L., 1 Ion 2024, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 188, 109230.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydQuantifying synergies and trade-offs in the food-energy-soil-environment nexus under organic fertilization
  Xu, Y., Luo, B., Jia, R., Xiao, J., Wang, X., Yang, Y., Xue, S., Zeng, Z., Brown, R. & Zang, H., 1 Ion 2024, Yn: Journal of Environmental Management. 349, 119526.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydSoil metabolomics - current challenges and future perspectives
  Brown, R., Reay, M. K., Centler, F., Chadwick, D., Bull, I. D., McDonald, J., Evershed, R. P. & Jones, D. L., 1 Meh 2024, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 109382.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2023

• CyhoeddwydBiochar application to temperate grasslands: challenges and opportunities for delivering multiple ecosystem services
  Brown, R., Chadwick, D., Bott, T., West, H., Wilson, P., Hodgins, G., Snape, C. & Jones, D. L., Rhag 2023, Yn: Biochar. 5, 1, 33.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydBioplastic (PHBV) addition to soil alters microbial community structure and negatively affects plant-microbial metabolic functioning in maize
  Brown, R. W., Chadwick, D. R., Zang, H., Graf, M., Liu, X., Wang, K., Greenfield, L. M. & Jones, D. L., 5 Ion 2023, Yn: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 441, 129959.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydEarthworms mediate the influence of polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics on soil bacterial communities
  Lu, S., Hao, J., Yang, H., Chen, M., Lian, J., Chen, Y., Brown, R. W., Jones, D. L., Wan, Z., Wang, W., Chang, W. & Wu, D., 20 Rhag 2023, Yn: Science of the Total Environment. 905, 166959.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydField application of biodegradable microplastics has no significant effect on plant and soil health in the short term
  Chu, J., Zhou, J., Wang, Y., Jones, D. L., Ge, J., Yang, Y., Brown, R., Zang, H. & Zeng, Z., 1 Ion 2023, Yn: Environmental Pollution. 316, 120556.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydOptimizing sowing date and plant density improve peanut yield by mitigating heat and chilling stress
  Liu, C., Xu, Y., Zhao, J., Nie, J., Jiang, Y., Shang, M., Zang, H., Yang, Y., Brown, R. & Zeng, Z., 13 Medi 2023, Yn: Agronomy Journal. 115, t. 2521–2532
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydSeasonal variation is a bigger driver of soil faunal and microbial community composition than exposure to the neonicotinoid acetamiprid within Brassica napus production systems
  Potts, J., Brown, R., Jones, D. L. & Cross, P., 1 Medi 2023, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 184, 109088.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydThe long-term uncertainty of biodegradable mulch film residues and associated microplastics pollution on plant-soil health
  Zhou, J., Jia, R., Brown, R. W., Yang, Y., Zeng, Z., Jones, D. L. & Zang, H., 15 Ion 2023, Yn: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 442, 130055.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl adolygu › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2022

• CyhoeddwydClimate warming masks the negative effect of microplastics on plant-soil health in a silt loam soil
  Nayab, G., Zhou, J., Jia, R., Lv, Y., Yang, Y., Brown, R. W., Zang, H., Jones, D. L. & Zeng, Z., 1 Tach 2022, Yn: Geoderma. 425, 116083.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydCritical Evaluation of Different Passive Sampler Materials and Approaches for the Recovery of SARS-CoV-2, Faecal-Indicator Viruses and Bacteria from Wastewater
  Jones, D. L., Grimsley, J. M. S., Kevill, J. L., Williams, R., Pellett, C., Lambert-Slosarska, K., Singer, A. C., Williams, G. B., Bargiela, R., Brown, R. W., Agency, U. & Farkas, K., 6 Tach 2022, Yn: Water. 14, 21, 3568.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydField application of pure polyethylene microplastic has no significant short-term effect on soil biological quality and function
  Brown, R., Chadwick, D., Thornton, H., Marshall, M., Bei, S., Distaso, M., Bargiela, R., Marsden, K., Clode, P., Murphy, D., Pagella, S. & Jones, D. L., 1 Chwef 2022, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 165, 108496.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydNutrient (C, N and P) enrichment induces significant changes in the soil metabolite profile and microbial carbon partitioning
  Brown, R. W., Chadwick, D., Bending, G. D., Collins, C. D., Whelton, H. L., Daulton, E., Covington, J. A., Bull, I. D. & Jones, D. L., 1 Medi 2022, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 172, 108779.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydSaltwater intrusion induces shifts in soil microbial diversity and carbon use efficiency in a coastal grassland ecosystem
  Brown, R. W., Rhymes, J. M. & Jones, D. L., Gorff 2022, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 170, 108700.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2021

• CyhoeddwydDependence of thermal desorption method for profiling volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from soil
  Brown, R. W., Mayser, J. P., Widdowson, C., Chadwick, D. R. & Jones, D. L., 1 Medi 2021, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 160, 108313.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydUse of metabolomics to quantify changes in soil microbial function in response to fertiliser nitrogen supply and extreme drought
  Brown, R. W., Chadwick, D. R., Zang, H. & Jones, D. L., Medi 2021, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 160, 108351.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) allow sensitive differentiation of biological soil quality
  Brown, R., Ian D. Bull, Toby Journeaux, Chadwick, D. & Jones, D. L., 1 Mai 2021, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 156, 108187.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid