My primary research focuses on reconstructing the geologic histories of important vertebrate fossil-bearing continental deposits. My research involves sedimentary facies and provenance analysis (heavy mineral geochronology), coupled with taphonomy, ichnology and geochronology. A key aspect of my research is to provide geologic context to the vertebrate and hominin faunas preserved within these basins and karst settings. This holistic approach to sedimentology is critical to testing a variety of hypotheses related to past environments and climates, uplift and drainage histories, palaeobiogeography, and extinction and evolution of vertebrate and plant communities.

My three primary research themes include:

1) geological characterisation & dating of early anthropoid primate and hominin records from karst systems of South Africa (e.g. Rising Star Cave) and rift deposits of the East African Rift System.

2) palaeontological exploration, stratigraphy and dating of Jurassic & Cretaceous strata throughout Gondwana (esp., Australia; Africa; Antarctica).

3) stratigraphy, palaeontology & high-precision geochronology of the Western Interior Basin, North America.

 

****I am always seeking students interested in conducting PhD research that integrate tectonic, sedimentologic (detrital geochronology) and palaeontologic data for reconstructing Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary basins in Australia, China, North America, and Africa. James Cook University offers competitive PhD scholarships to well-qualified applicants. Please email me for details (eric.roberts@jcu.edu.au).****

Go to my research group website for more information.  http://www.gravelmonkeys.org

Teaching

• EA2110: Introduction to Sedimentology (Level 2; TSV)
• EA3650: Sedimentary Environments and Energy Resources (Level 3; TSV)
• EA5650: Sedimentary Environments and Energy Resources (Level 5; TSV)
• SC1101: Science: Nature, Knowledge and Understanding (Level 1; TSV)

Experience

• 2001 to 2005 - PhD, University of Utah
• 1997 to 1999 - MSc, University of Montana
• 1992 to 1996 - BA, Cornell College

Research Disciplines

• Geology (0403)
• Geochemistry (0402)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Expanding Knowledge (9701)
• Energy Exploration (8501)

Awards

• 2017 - James Cook University Excellence Award for Research (awarded to the entire Geosciences Group at JCU)
• 2015 - James Cook University Excellence Award for Research

Other

• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Earth Sciences
• Associate Editor, Palaios
• Editorial Board Member, Scientific Data (Nature)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Widlansky S, Clyde W, O'connor P, Roberts E and Stevens N (2018) Paleomagnetism of the Cretaceous Galula Formation and implications for vertebrate evolution. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 139. pp. 403-420
• Berger L, Hawks J, Dirks P, Elliott M and Roberts E (2017) Homo naledi and Pleistocene hominin evolution in subequatorial Africa. eLife, 6. pp. 1-19
• Carr T, Varricchio D, Sedlymeyer J, Roberts E and Moore J (2017) A new tyrannosaur with evidence for anagenesis and crocodile-like facial sensory system. Scientific Reports, 7. pp. 1-11
• Dirks P, Roberts E, Hilbert-Wolf H, Kramers J, Hawks J, Dossetto A, Duval M, Elliott M, Evans M, Grün R, Hellstrom J, Herries A, Joannes-Boyau R, Makhubela T, Placzek C, Robbins J, Spandler C, Wiersma J, Woodhead J and Berger L (2017) The age of Homo naledi and associated sediments in the Rising Star Cave, South Africa. eLife, 6. pp. 1-59
• Gorscak E, O'Connor P, Roberts E and Stevens N (2017) The second titanosaurian (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the middle Cretaceous Galula Formation, southwestern Tanzania with remarks on African titanosaurian diversity. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 37 (4).
• Hawks J, Elliott M, Schmid P, Churchill S, DeRuiter D, Roberts E, Hilbert-Wolf H, Garvin H, Delezene L, Williams S, Feuerriegel E, Randolph-Quinney P, Kivell T, Laird M, Tawane G, DeSilva J, Bailey S, Brophy J, Meyer M, Skinner M, Tocheri M, VanSickle C, Walker C, Campbell T, Kuhn B, Kruger A, Tucker S, Gurtov A, Hlophe N, Hunter R, Morris H, Peixotto B, Ramalepa M, van Rooyen D, Tsikoane M, Boshoff P, Dirks P and Berger L (2017) New fossil remains of Homo naledi from the Lesedi Chamber, South Africa. eLife, 6. pp. 1-63
• Hilbert-Wolf H, Roberts E, Downie B, Mtelela C, Stevens N and O'Connor P (2017) Application of U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology to drill cuttings for age control in hydrocarbon exploration wells: a case example from the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania. AAPG Bulletin, 101 (2). pp. 143-159
• Jadoon Q, Roberts E, Henderson B, Blenkinsop T, Wüst R and Mtelela C (2017) Lithological and facies analysis of the Roseneath and Murteree shales, Cooper Basin, Australia. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 37. pp. 138-168
• Makhubela T, Kramers J, Belyanin G, Dirks P and Roberts E (2017) Proterozoic 40Ar/39Ar ages from cave deposits of the Malapa, Sterkfontein and Dinaledi fossil sites, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology, 120 (1). pp. 733-756
• Mtelela C, Roberts E, Hilbert-Wolf H, Downie R, Hendrix M, O'Connor P and Stevens N (2017) Sedimentology and paleoenvironments of a new fossiliferous late Miocene-Pliocene sedimentary succession in the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 129. pp. 260-281
• Tucker R, Roberts E, Darlington V and Salisbury S (2017) Investigating the stratigraphy and palaeoenvironments for a suite of newly discovered mid-Cretaceous vertebrate fossil-localities in the Winton Formation, Queensland, Australia. Sedimentary Geology, 358. pp. 210-229
• Dirks P, Berger L, Hawks J, Randolph-Qunney P, Backwell L and Roberts E (2016) Comment on "Deliberate body disposal by hominins in the Dinaledi Chamber, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa?". Journal of Human Evolution , 96. pp. 149-153

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 78+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Eric Roberts from 2004 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Cenozoic Seismic Stratigraphy of the Great Barrier Reef (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
• Structure and stratigraphy of the Oobagooma Sub-Basin, Northwest Shelf, Western Australia (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
• Establishing a Tectonic Framework for the Cretaceous break-up of Eastern Gondwana: Insights from Papua New Guinea and Offshore Geology of the Coral and Tasman Seas. (PhD , Advisor Mentor)
• Paleoenvironmental and Paleoclimatic Analysis of Selected Cretaceous, Oligocene and Miocene Palesols from the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Cave sedimentation processes, geochronology, and the distribution of hominins at Rising Star Cave, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
• Mesozoic Detrital Zircon Provenance of Central Africa: Implications for Jurassic-Cretaceous Tectonics, Paleogeography and Landscape Evolution. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
• Understanding the Genesis and Patterns of Cave Fill across the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Revealing the Enigmatic Alkaline Volcanism of the Rukwa Rift through Weather Resistant Minerals and their Inclusions (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Basin Analysis of Queensland's Jurassic to Cretaceous Basins, and the application of U-Pb Detrital Zircon Geochronology to Reconstruct Tectonic History and Palaeodrainage Evolution. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
• Bentonite Tephrostratigraphy and High-Precision Geochronology of Richly Fossiliferous Upper Cretaceous Continental Strata in the Western Interior Basin, North America (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
• Jurassic Arc - Recontructing the Lost World of Eastern Australia (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)

Completed

• Unconventional shale gas reservoir characterization and modelling of the Permian Roseneath and Murteree shales in the Cooper Basin, Australia (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Integrating paleoseismic studies with geochronology and thermochronology to understand the timing of rifting, volcanism and uplift in the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Sedimentology and stratigraphy of the late Cenozoic lake beds succession, Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania: implications for hydrocarbon prospectivity (2017, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Reflected in the soil: Site formation processes as an index of social and environmental change at the site of Ban Non Wat, NE Thailand (2016, Masters , Secondary Advisor)
• Stratigraphy, sedimentation and age of the upper cretaceous Winton formation, central-western Queensland, Australia: implications for regional palaeogeography, palaeoenvironments and Gondwanan palaeontolog (2014, PhD , Primary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.