Professor Mirjam Roeder is an internationally recognised expert in sustainability, with a research portfolio that spans bioenergy systems, carbon removal technologies, and evidence-based policy design. Her work is driven by a commitment to creating sustainable, low-carbon futures through rigorous analysis, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic innovation.

At the core of her research is the integration of environmental, economic, and social dimensions to assess and guide the development of technologies and systems that support climate goals and resource resilience.

Areas of Expertise

• Sustainability assessment of energy and resource systems
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis
• Socio-economic and political economy analysis
• Policy nalysis
• Bioenergy & BECCS: Evaluating the role of biomass and carbon capture in net-zero transitions
• Circular economy and resource efficiency strategies
• Science-policy interface: Translating research into actionable policy insights

Mirjam’s work informs national and international policy frameworks, helping shape the future of sustainable energy and climate mitigation. She collaborates with government bodies, industry leaders, and academic institutions to ensure that sustainability is embedded in decision-making at every level.

Research Vision

Her research is grounded in systems thinking, aiming to:

• Identify sustainable pathways for energy and resource use
• Quantify trade-offs and synergies across environmental and socio-economic goals
• Support the deployment of innovative technologies that deliver real-world impact

Leadership & Collaboration

Mirjam is a director at the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) and leads the System Analysis group at EBRI. She plays a key role in multi-disciplinary projects and advisory groups, contributing to the development of robust, science-based sustainability strategies.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are integral to Mirjam's mission of building a truly sustainable future. She led the successful Athena Swan Gold Award for the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and supported Aston University's institutional Athena Swan Gold Award and the Bronze Race Equality Charter.

Research areas

• Sustainability
• Bioenergy and bioeconomy
• Energy system resilience
• Climate change
• Negative emissions
• Bioenergy and Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
• Bioenergy in the context of global challenges and development
• Bioenergy and interfaces with forestry and agriculture
• Land use

Skills and methods

• Sustainability assessment and mapping
• Life cycle assessment
• Emission accounting and carbon budgets
• Environmental and sustainability assessment
• Socio-economic and social assessment
• Policy analysis
• Social justice
• Whole systems approaches
• Stakeholder engagement

• Prince Anthony Okoro: The cost of the transition to a low-carbon future. Economic and socio-economic feasibility of bioenergy in Nigeria (since October 2021)
• Dan Abudu: The Future of Forests in sub-Saharan Africa (since October 2022)
• Czaneil Gomez: Advancing biogenic carbon lifecycle assessment in bio-based systems with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (since October 2024)

Completed PhDs

• Samira Garcia Freites: Using agricultural residues to support sustainable development: A case study of coffee stems gasification to supply energy demands in rural areas of Colombia https://www.escholar.manchester.ac.uk/uk-ac-man-scw:323470
• Dan Taylor: A political economy approach to sustainable production of bioenergy and bioproducts

You are intested in doing a PhD? Get in touch!

Potential PhD topics are:

• Sustainable bioenergy
• Enviromental impacts and climate change
• Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage/use
• Carbon dioxid removal
• Energy policy
• Socio-economic and social aspects of bioenergy deployment
• or propose your own topic :)