Robin was born in New Haven, CT and raised in Halifax, NS. After graduating from Queen Elizabeth High School (RIP) in 1986, he attended Dalhousie University for his undergraduate studies. An early interest in synthetic inorganic chemistry was kindled through research experiences in the laboratory of Dr. Neil Burford. Robin obtained his B.Sc. (1st class Honours) from Dalhousie University in 1990 and then took up graduate studies at the University of Guelph under the tutelage of Dr. Richard Oakley, where his thesis research focused on the synthesis and solid state charge transport studies of sulfur-nitrogen radicals. Robin received his Ph.D. in 1994 and then took up an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Working under the supervision of Dr. Fred Wudl, Robin’s research spanned charge transfer salts, fullerenes and electrochemistry.

Robin’s independent scientific career began in 1996 when he joined the University of Victoria as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2002 and to Full Professor in 2007. Along the way, Robin received several awards in recognition of his research accomplishments, including the 2003 Canadian Society for Chemistry Award for Pure or Applied Inorganic Chemistry (now the Strem Chemicals Award), the 2003 UVic Craigdarroch Silver Medal for Research Excellence, the 2005, UVic Faculty of Science Award for Research Excellence, a 2007 Vancouver Island Visionary Under 40 Award, and in 2009 he received an NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplement. Robin has given over 30 invited conference presentations and over 50 departmental seminars.