Arwyn Edwards

Arwyn Edwards is a Reader in Biosciences at the Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University. He is also the course coordinator for the Microbiology degree schemes and Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Environmental Microbiology (AU iCEM). His academic journey began at Aberystwyth, where he earned his BSc in Microbiology (2005) and PhD (2009), before joining the faculty in 2010. He has led over 30 field expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic, and European Alps, and his work is supported by major grants from UKRI NERC, the Research Council of Norway, EU InterReg, and Horizon2020.

His research focuses on microbial interactions within the cryosphere, particularly how microbial communities form, respond to environmental change, and can be studied using novel omics tools like portable genomics. He explores the intersection of microbial ecology, planetary health, and climate change, with field and lab-based approaches.

The most recent publications reflect a strong trend in glacier microbiology, cryoconite ecosystems, microbial genomics, and responses to environmental change. His work spans from Arctic ice caps to deep subsurface environments, employing metabolomics, metagenomics, and resistome analysis to understand microbial function and adaptation. Key themes include habitat-specific microbial dynamics, climate-driven habitat loss, and microbial contributions to biogeochemical cycles.

Among his scientific awards are the Dr Katherine Giles Award (2024), election as Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (2025), and the Royal Geographical Society’s Walters Kundert Arctic Fellowship (2017). He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, the Higher Education Academy, and the Royal Geographical Society.

Edwards currently supervises three PhD students and manages four postdoctoral researchers. His research group is involved in externally funded projects such as BIOICE, MicroMelt, and Cryo365. He is actively engaged in public science communication, contributing to BBC, Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, and S4C. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and life on land.

He leads research teams and collaborates internationally, with projects focused on glacier surface ecosystems, subglacial lakes, and microbial responses to polar night conditions. His lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining field microbiology, 'omics technologies, and environmental modeling.