Scott L. Collins
From a “Focus on Ecologists” maintained by the ESA Education Office about 2009-2011.
| Full Name | Scott L. Collins |
| Degree | PhD |
| Job Position | Professor |
| Organization | University of New Mexico |
| Department | Department of Biology |
| Professional Affiliation | Academic |
| Research Discipline | Community Ecology |
| Research Habitat | Grassland |
| Research Organism | Terrestrial plants |
| Describe what you do and briefly describe the activities that your job encompasses | As a professor, I teach upper division ecology courses, and I also teach in our Biology Major’s core course sequence. I serve on university and other committees. I spend a lot of time writing grant proposals, working with my graduate students, and reviewing and writing manuscripts for publication. I do field work (less than I would like) in New Mexico, Kansas and South Africa. |
| What do you love most about your job? | Research allows me to spend time pursuing ideas I find interesting. I really enjoy collaborating with friends and working with my students. Also, I get to be in New Mexico which is a wonderful place to live and work. |
| For each degree you’ve obtained, list the degree, field, and institution. | BA Biology, Wittenberg University, Springfield OH MS Botany, Miami University, Oxford, OH PhD Botany, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK |
| Briefly describe your job path. | I went straight into graduate school from my undergraduate degree. I then had a 2.5 year teaching appointment at the University of Oklahoma. From there I did a postdoc at Rutgers University before returning to OU as an Assistant and then Associate Professor of Botany. In 1992 I went to the National Science Foundation as a Program Director in Ecology. In 2003 I moved to the University of New Mexico as a Professor of Biology and to serve as the Principal Investigator for the Sevilleta LTER Program. |
| What challenges did you need to overcome? | A very difficult job market when I started, and then getting research funding is always a challenge. |
| What’s one thing you hope to do in the future? | Go to Antarctica. |
| How do you describe your job when you meet people at a party? | I tell them I work at the university. They usually want to know what I teach, so I say ecology courses. At that point they often ask if I “believe in” global change. At that point, I loose all restraint…. |
| What is your family background and what did they think of your career choice? | Neither of my parents graduated from college, but they always assumed I would. They were supportive when I wanted to go to graduate school even though they didn’t understand what that meant. My father is still very supportive even if he is completely mystified by what I do. |
| Who or what inspired you to become a scientist (or other profession)? | I was encouraged to pursue ecological research by one of my undergraduate advisors. He had a huge influence on my life. |
| Who currently inspires you? | My colleagues. |
| What is the most valuable advice a mentor gave you or that you would offer to someone who’d like to do the same job as you? | Don’t give up, stay current, stay active, meet people, put yourself in a position to pursue opportunities. |
| What would you like people to remember about your life as a scientist (or other profession)? | That I was a nice guy. |
| How do you feel your work has contributed to society? | We all sell the value of our research in the same way. We say it will help us manage the planet better. Well, maybe it will or maybe it won’t. I think the training grants I have been involved with (GK12 and REU Sites) are perhaps more important contributions because they help give others a chance to improve knowledge through teaching and research opportunities. |