Rosetta C Blackman

Me - in a nutshell

I am fascinated by freshwater ecosystems: understanding the biodiversity within it and how communities are shaped in the face of global climate change - if you need me, you’ll find me in a river… in my waders!

I graduated from the University of Lincoln with 1st Class (honours) BSc Conservation Biology and Animal Behaviour in 2007. Then worked for the UK Environment Agency for over 6 years, firstly as an Environmental Monitoring Officer, and then as a Technical Advisor in the ecology team, specialising in freshwater macroinvertebrate identification to species level, lowland and upland macrophyte identification, diatom and River Habitat Surveys (RHS). I also taught RHS accreditation courses for internal and external staff.

In 2014 I started a PhD in Molecular Ecology at the University of Hull looking at the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect freshwater macroinvertebrates in rivers, both at a community level, (via metabarcoding), and by developing species-specific assays for priority invasive alien species. My PhD was heavily influenced by my aim to develop my scientific research to application for end-users, and I worked with government agencies and stakeholders to apply my research for routine invasive alien species monitoring.

I am currently a Senior Scientist in the Altermatt Lab at University of Zurich, Switzerland. In my recent postdoc and current role I have been developing eDNA for whole biodiversity assessment in rivers at large spatial scales and over time. I have worked on a number of exciting projects including large scale biomonitoring campaigns, developing a multi-marker approach in order to investigate food web characteristics in riverine networks and exploring microbial diversity and function using molecular methods, the latter as part of the Univerisity of Zurich PostDoc fellowship I was awarded in 2022.

Working across large rive networks has driven my interest in the impact hydrological change has on biodiversity and ecosystem function. I therefore lead a project with the EU Cost Action Science and Management of Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams and DNAqua-net (publication available here) to explore future research in this area, and recently I have also been working in an interdisciplinary project connecting ecology and hydrology using eDNA (publication available here). My future research will focus on the impact changing hydrology due to climate change has on biodiversity and ecosystem function.

As part of my work ethos, I promote equity and diverse representation in research, teaching activities and everyday life. As an active member of the international science community, I believe it is necessary to promote others outside our everyday network and I strive to do this. I am also the co-creator of the ABCD Conference format, which aims to change the way conferences and workshops are organised, focusing on global inclusivity while minimising carbon footprint.

I am also a full member of the Royal Society of Biology.

CV on request.

ORCiD 0000-0002-6182-8691