Carly Robinson

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