As a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Jennifer Munson's Lab in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Tech, Roberts studied the role fluid flow and intratumoral heterogeneity in cancer stem cell populations in glioblastoma as well as lymphatics in glioblastoma and other pathologies. As a PhD student, her aspirations to understand mechanisms in pathological states led to Dr. Matthew Paszek's lab at Cornell University in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. In his lab, the role of the sugar rich outer coating on the cellular surface known as the glycocalyx was studied, as well as its role in driving membrane curvature in the biogenesis of microvesicles in breast cancer.
Inside and outside of the lab, Roberts has a strong passion for mentoring and teaching and will continue to be committed to these efforts during her journey as tenure-track faculty member.