Roberta is part of the Bio-manufacturing Textiles from Waste project funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
Roberta's research will include working closely with Leeds University and the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products at the University of York. The project focuses on manufacturing bacterial cellulose derived from agricultural and municipal waste into fibre and textile form creating circular new materials.
Key details
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Research interests
Exploring science and design, Roberta’s research targets the demand for sustainable material innovation. Her research method is built upon core design knowledge of materials science and textile manufacturing.
Roberta’s research interests surround biomaterials and textiles. Her experience in design, art, material architecture and materials science creates a hybrid of knowledge leading to innovation in the field of novel biomaterials.
Working with the inherent characteristics of bacterial cellulose, Roberta’s research provides an opportunity to observe and engage with biomaterials. Roberta translates living materials into functioning fibres and yarns with the aim of creating new sustainable materials, encouraging a method of material-led design.
Practice
Roberta’s research journey started at the University of Leeds where she studied her undergraduate in Textile Design. She specialised in structural knitted form, and later developed a key interest in living materials. Roberta was part of the first cohort to study the MSc program Sustainable Textiles and Innovation at the University of Leeds where she worked closely with bacterial cellulose and graduated with distinction. While completing her masters’ studies, Roberta become a research assistant for Dr Jane Scott at The Hub of Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE) located at Newcastle University. Roberta worked on Living textiles projects where she developed skills in digital programming (Shima Seiki) and living materials such as mycelium. Further exploring application and environment, Roberta was invited to be a guest researcher at the HBBE and had the opportunity to collaborate in Bacterial Cellulose and Biomaterial projects where her knowledge of textile manufacturing and living materials led to creative research questions.
External collaborations
- The University of Leeds Undergraduate -Textile Design
- The University of Leeds Master of Science – Sustainable Textiles and Innovation
- Hub of Biotechnology and the Built Environment (HBBE) Newcastle University – Research Assistant,
- Hub of Biotechnology and the Built Environment (HBBE) Newcastle University – Guest Researcher