Rachel Coppock

Dr. Rachel Coppock is a marine ecologist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory's Marine Ecology and Biodiversity Research Group, specializing in microplastic pollution impacts. Her work bridges field observations from Arctic expeditions to laboratory ecotoxicology, focusing on biodegradable plastics and nature-based remediation solutions.

Her research interests span:

• Microplastic fate and transport in marine systems
• Biologically mediated sediment burial processes
• Arctic pollution dynamics and polar research
• Development of field-deployable analytical methods
• Ecosystem-level impacts of biodegradable alternatives

Publication trends reveal consistent high-impact output since 2014, with increasing focus on solution-oriented research. Her work appears in leading environmental journals, showing progression from foundational plastic distribution studies (2014) to mechanistic impact assessments (2017-2019) and current solution development (2020-2024).

Current funding includes:

• NERC Highlight Topic Grant: BIO-PLASTIC-RISK (2020-2024)
• Western Channel Observatory long-term monitoring program

She leads the Marine Ecology and Biodiversity Research Group's microplastics initiative, conducting monthly L4 station sampling and Arctic research cruises. Her lab emphasizes field-method innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration between ecologists, chemists, and policy specialists to address plastic pollution holistically.