Ross Family Fellowship Helps Students Conduct Geological Research
by Brandi Segura

Colin Robins is a geoscience Ph.D. candidate at UNLV and the first recipient of the Jack and Fay Ross Family Endowed Fellowship. The fellowship provides support to UNLV graduate students studying geoscience by allowing them to pursue field research, address important geological changes in Nevada, and learn new scientific practices.

“This fellowship is a landmark gift and resource for the geoscience department. The extraordinary generosity of the Ross family provides year-long support for Colin,” said Wanda Taylor, interim dean of UNLV’s College of Sciences. “As a professor, I worked with Colin in a writing group and on one of my research projects. During these interactions, I came to respect him for his analytical skills and his commitment to excel in all his science endeavors."

Since he has received the fellowship, Robins has accelerated his laboratory work where he is developing a new tool to help better understand soil formation rates, climate cycles, and landscape dynamics in arid regions. He has also presented his research at important conferences in China and Houston where he had the privilege of meeting world-renowned experts in the field to exchange ideas and discuss possibilities for his post-doctoral research.

“The financial support has given me the unparalleled and exciting opportunity to improve the progress and depth of my research and to develop competitive skill sets,” Robins said. “I’m grateful to receive such a tremendous gift.”

Robins was drawn to geoscience because to him rocks and soils are “stories frozen in time.” He said the power to reconstruct ancient landscapes, environments, and geological events is addictive. Robins will also have the opportunity to travel to remote corners of the world to study geoscience.

“My goals for the future include conducting extensive research similar to my current project, to pursue soil and landscape processes research,” Robins said.

The Jack and Fay Ross Family Endowed Fellowship supports UNLV graduate students studying geoscience.