Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Patrick Biber
Research Focus
Dr. Patrick Biber conducts research on the dynamics of coastal systems, exploring how they evolve over time and the factors driving these changes. His work emphasizes primary production in coastal habitats, including marshes, mangroves, seagrass, seaweeds, and phytoplankton. Dr. Biber earned his PhD from the University of Miami and holds a BSc with Honors from the University of Queensland. He joined the GCRL as a tenure-track research-intensive faculty member in 2004 after a transformative postdoctoral experience with GCRL researchers.
recent Projects
Dr. Biber is at the forefront of several key research initiatives, including:
- National Science Foundation (NSF): Co-Principal Investigator on the Dynamics of Integrated Social and Environmental Systems, collaborating with Virginia Tech and Old Dominion University.
- National Fish and Wildlife Federation (NFWF): Lead Principal Investigator for the National Coastal Resilience Fund project, working alongside the University of Mississippi, Virginia Tech, and Grand Bay NERR/MDMR.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Lead Principal Investigator (pending) on the Healthy and Resilient Gulf of Mexico project, in partnership with the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, Grand Bay NERR, and the City of Moss Point.
Student Highlights
Dr. Biber is dedicated to nurturing emerging scholars through hands-on research experiences:
- Shahinur Rahman (MS): Investigating nature-based solutions to address compound flooding risks for underserved communities in Mississippi and Virginia.
- Margaret Waldron (PhD): Examining the ecological role of Phragmites in enhancing the resilience of marsh ecosystems amid rising sea levels.
- Mary-Esther Leckie (Honors): Utilizing drone imagery to map and monitor seagrass in turbid inshore waters.
Commitment to Coastal Restoration
In 2010, Dr. Biber founded the Center for Plant Restoration (CPR), which actively
collaborates with local partners to improve access to knowledge and resources for
coastal restoration projects.