USF’s Collins Selected as 2020 CUR Geosciences Undergraduate Research Mentor Awardee

The Geosciences Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) has selected Jennifer Collins, professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida, as its 2020 Undergraduate Research Mentor Awardee. Dr. Collins is the 10th recipient of this annual award that recognizes role models who demonstrate productive and transformative student-faculty mentoring relationships and innovative approaches to undergraduate research. The award will be presented at the Geological Society of America’s Connects Online event on October 26–30, 2020.

Dr. Collins earned her BS Honors degree in physical geography from Lancaster University and her PhD in physics from University College London. She serves as a national councilor for the Association of American Geographers and is a past president of the West Central Florida Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. As a hurricane researcher, Dr. Collins studies the interaction between large-scale climatic patterns such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Madden–Julian Oscillation and seasonal patterns of tropical cyclone activity in multiple oceanic basins.

Dr. Collins is principal investigator of the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site “Weather, Climate, and Society” that encourages involvement of first- and second-year undergraduates, community college students, and underrepresented students in analyzing factors that affect decision making in hurricane evacuations. She works to give students experience in the entire scientific enterprise—from initial idea, project process, and publication of results to communication with the public about why the research matters. As one student commented, Dr. Collins encourages “students to creatively step outside typical boundaries.” Her students have embarked on a wide range of careers, including some who have received National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hollings scholarships and served as Udall Fellows, as well as others who are leaders in science communication on television.

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The Council on Undergraduate Research supports faculty development for high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. More than 700 institutions and more than 13,000 individuals belong to CUR. CUR believes that the best way to capture student interest and create enthusiasm for a discipline is through research in close collaboration with faculty members.

The University of South Florida is a preeminent research university located in the heart of Tampa Bay that is dedicated to empowering students to maximize their potential for lifelong success.