Carly Robinson

- BS Applied Physics 2007
Carly Robinson graduated from Michigan Tech in 2007 with a BS in Applied Physics and
a
minor in mathematical sciences. She went on to graduate school at the University of
Colorado,
Boulder, obtaining an MS (2010) and PhD (2013) in Atmospheric Chemistry.
Robinson is currently a senior policy fellow at SPARC, a nonprofit, library membership
organization advocating for open systems of research. She leads SPARC’s efforts to
advance
policies related to persistent identifiers (PIDs) and metadata standards, is exploring
the
intersection of AI and research access policies, and contributes more broadly to policy
work on
open research.
Until summer 2025, she worked at the US Department of Energy (DOE) for a decade, last
serving as an assistant director in the Office of Scientific and Technical Information
(OSTI). Her
work focused on dissemination of DOE-funded research results. She led a team of 25
employees and contractors, managed OSTI’s search and discovery tools, and provided
PID
services, which make research outputs (publications, datasets, software, etc.) more
broadly
discoverable and reusable. In her role, Robinson served as an advisor to the White
House on
PIDs.
She was elected to the board of both DataCite and ORCID—international nonprofit organizations providing PID services. In 2014, Robinson was selected to be an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellow. The year before, she was named the Optical Society of America and International Society for Optics and Photonics AAAS Congressional Fellow.
Robinson made a last-minute switch from the US Air Force Academy to attend Michigan
Tech.
“Thankfully, Tech welcomed me in late summer so I could start college immediately
and I
quickly realized the University was a great fit.” Robinson had a wide-ranging experience
in
Houghton. She was a member of the varsity tennis team, president of the Society of
Physics
Students, member of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Fraternity, member of
the
Society of Women Engineers, and vice president of the Ski and Snowboard Club. “Playing
tennis and being involved in the athletics community was my favorite part of Tech
outside the
classroom. My team and other athletes were a welcoming and supportive community and
ended
up being my best friends.”
Robinson credits professors Will Cantrell and Jacek Borysow for their impact on her
academic
career. “Dr. Borysow was my first physics professor and provided much needed support
when I
was struggling with my physics classes. Dr. Cantrell was an incredible mentor throughout
my
time at Tech, first as my freshman advisor and then as my research advisor. Without
their
influence, I doubt I would have gone on to study atmospheric chemistry and earn my
PhD or
make my way to Washington, DC to work in science policy.”
A former student body president at the University of Colorado, Robinson has been a
member
and leader in numerous professional and community organizations including AAAS, American
Geophysical Union, American Chemical Society, and American Physical Society. She was
inducted into Michigan Tech’s Academy of Sciences and Arts in 2024.
Robinson will be inducted into the Presidential Council of Alumnae in November 2025.
“Michigan Tech helped shape my life and career trajectory in incredible ways I never
expected.
I’d like to be a part of that journey for other students, offering support, sharing
experiences, and
providing help in any way I can.”
Robinson is from Romeo, Michigan. She now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her
partner,
Nick Shockey. They enjoy traveling, spending time with family in Tennessee and Michigan,
regularly visiting the UP and Tech, and outdoor activities – hiking, biking, and skiing.
Updated September 2025