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

• PublishedDifferential effects of field-aged versus new LDPE and PLA/PBAT plastic film fragments on soil quality and crop productivity
  Graf, M., Reay, M. K., Florent, P. J., Brown, R. W., Chadwick, D. R. & Jones, D. L., 15 Sept 2025, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 496, p. 139398
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedEarthworms-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 Apr 2025, In: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 13, 2, 115952.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedGreenhouse 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 Feb 2025, In: Biochar. 7, 1, p. 39 39.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedIron 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 Jan 2025, In: Science of the Total Environment. 958, 178019.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• E-pub ahead of printRestoring degraded agricultural peatlands: how rewetting, biochar, and iron sulphate synergistically modify microbial hotspots and carbon storage
  Peduru Hewa, J., Brown, R., Rhymes, J. M., Evans, C. D., Chadwick, D. & Jones, D. L., 10 Sept 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Biochar. 7, 108.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedRewetting alongside biochar and sulphate addition mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and retain carbon in degraded upland peatlands
  Peduru Hewa, J., Brown, R., Evans, C. D., Cook, J., Roberts, B. P., Fraser, M. D., Chadwick, D. & Jones, D. L., 1 Aug 2025, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 207
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• E-pub ahead of printSize-dependent effects of oxo-degradable plastic contamination on soil quality and the growth of Zea mays
  Thanh, D. T. K., Graf, M., Brown, R., Reay, M. K., Lloyd, C. E. M., Li, G., Jones, D. L. & Chadwick, D., 22 May 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering. 13, 1
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSoil application of PE and PLA microplastics alter earthworm (Eisenia nordenskioldi) gut bacterial community and soil microbiome-metabolome dynamics
  Lu, S., Brown, R. W., Li, M., Chen, M., Huang, C., Lian, J., Wu, D. & Jones, D. L., 2 Aug 2025, In: Environmental Pollution. 383, 126895.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedUnderstanding the legacy impact of biochar on soil function and carbon stocks – evidence from a 13-year field experiment
  Brown, R., Li, W., Uguna, C., Meredith, W., Stevens, L., Chadwick, D., Snape, C. & Jones, D. L., 20 May 2025, EGU General Assembly 2025. Copernicus GmbH
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

2024

• PublishedAgronomic 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 Feb 2024, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 189, 109265.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedCarbon 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 Apr 2024, In: European Journal of Agronomy. 155, 127111.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedMicroplastic 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 Dec 2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 954, p. 176273
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedPlasticity 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 Jan 2024, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 188, 109230.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedQuantifying 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 Jan 2024, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 349, 119526.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSoil 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 Jun 2024, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 109382.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2023

• PublishedBiochar 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., Dec 2023, In: Biochar. 5, 1, 33.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedBioplastic (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 Jan 2023, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 441, 129959.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedEarthworms 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 Dec 2023, In: Science of the Total Environment. 905, 166959.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedField 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 Jan 2023, In: Environmental Pollution. 316, 120556.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedOptimizing 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 Sept 2023, In: Agronomy Journal. 115, p. 2521–2532
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSeasonal 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 Sept 2023, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 184, 109088.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedThe 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 Jan 2023, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 442, 130055.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

2022

• PublishedClimate 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 Nov 2022, In: Geoderma. 425, 116083.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedCritical 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 Nov 2022, In: Water. 14, 21, 3568.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedField 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 Feb 2022, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 165, 108496.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedNutrient (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 Sept 2022, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 172, 108779.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedNutrient (C, N and P) enrichment induces significant changes in the soil metabolite profile and microbial carbon partitioning
  Brown, R., Chadwick, D. & Jones, D. L., 28 Feb 2022.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• PublishedSaltwater 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., Jul 2022, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 170, 108700.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2021

• PublishedDependence 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 Sept 2021, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 160, 108313.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedUse 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., Sept 2021, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 160, 108351.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) allow sensitive differentiation of biological soil quality
  Brown, R., Ian D. Bull, Toby Journeaux, Chadwick, D. & Jones, D. L., 1 May 2021, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 156, 108187.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2020

• PublishedVOC analysis in soils-Extending SPME to SPME-trap and SPME-trap with enrichment
  Brown, R., Mayser, J. P., Widdowson, C., Chadwick, D. & Jones, D. L., 2020, EGU General Assembly 2020. Copernicus GmbH
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution