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Scientist Spotlight:
Scientist Spotlight:
Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Robinson, PhD
Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Robinson, PhD
College: Bryn Mawr
Graduate school: University of Southern California (Master's), University of Michigan (PhD)
Current position: Professor of Oceanography at The University of Rhode Island
The following information has been adapted from an interview between Kiley and Becky.
Q: What type of scientist do you consider yourself?
A: I'm a geochemist. I am a geologist by training, but I use geochemistry to study biologically and chemically linked processes.
Q: How did you end up on the educational track of marine science?
A: After I graduated with my bachelor's degree in geology from Bryn Mawr, I decide to get a master's degree at the Univsersity of Southern California. After my first year at USC, my advisor asked me if I wanted to go on an ocean drilling program, because they were looking for temporary technical staff. I was a little nervous because I only had a bachelor's degree and was not experienced in ocean drilling, but I took the job to see where it would lead.
So I flew to Acapulco and got on the drill ship with all of these really important people in the field, including the person who wrote the textbook for marine geology. I ended up really liking the work, which set me on the path to continue my education.
So I moved to Michigan to do my PhD. At the time, the University of Michigan had one of the best geochemistry programs in the country and at this point I was pretty sure I wanted to do marine geochemistry.
Then I did a postdoc at Princeton and had a research position at Princeton before coming to URI.
Q: What is your job at URI (University of Rhode Island)?
A: I am a full professor of oceanography. I also mentor, graduate students, and teach undergrad and grad students. I'm also the co-director of the Marine Geological Samples Laboratory, which is a core repository that's funded by NSF. It's like a lending library for sediment.
URI's Grad. School of Oceanography campus in Narragansett, RI
Q: What does an average work day look like for you back home?
A: I classes at set times and try to check in with all of the grad students that I am advising at least once a week. I spend time writing scientific papers and grants, and peer-reviewing other scientists' papers. And of course, there are plenty of emails to write and respond to and meetings to attend.
Q: What will a day on board the NBP as Chief Scientist look life?
A: I am usually the first one out of bed and the last to go to sleep. I wake up and check the screen that we all have in our rooms to see where we are in terms of latitude and longitude, and check the temperature and wind speed. I go down to the labs and make sure the CTD is ready to be cast and that the appropriate people are in place to take samples when it comes up.
Then Pat (my lab manager) and I start getting the pumps into the water since those have to run for several hours.
After that I try to check in with everyone and see if they have what they need, answer any questions and make sure they are feeling okay (especially if the water has been rough).
Then I am making sure things are probably labeled and all of the science that needs to happen in a timely manner is underway. I help get the net tows out in the afternoon and get the nitrate measured.
Our science days are very busy but we start to get into a rhythm after our first couple of research stations.
Q: What do you love about your job?
A: It's a whole range of things! I love that I get to ask questions and then find the answers to them. It's both creative and investigative. I also really enjoy watching the next generation of scientists and mentoring them along the way. They teach me things all the time, too.
Q: What activities and experiences helped land you the job you have now?
A: That early shipboard experience was crucial. Not only did it look good on my resume, but it also exposed me to the collaborative aspect of science, which in many cases is international collaboration too.
I also developed a new method during my postdoc to study atmospheric carbon dioxide. This method turned out to work quite well, so having something I could put my name to was helpful in opening up future opportunities.
Q: Why is it important to have someone like me (Kiley), an educator from the middle of the country, as part of this cruise?
A: First of all, you're a massive multiplier. You will share this information with 140 students this year, and then that many again next year and so on. Your audience is huge.
Even though you and your students don't live anywhere near the ocean, you're still experiencing climate change. Since we are looking at a group of organisms that can impact the global climate, it's applicable to everyone.
Q: What do you like to do outside of being a scientist?
A: Well, I'm a crazy dog lady so I like taking my two dogs out for walks and spending time with them. I also like to garden and cook. In winter when I can't garden, I like to knit. Since we live close to the ocean, my family also likes to go out on our boat.
Links to Becky's work and more:
Links to Becky's work and more:
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