Socorro, NM (KKOB) — The National Cave and Karst Research Institute will welcome a new director in July. Dr. Benjamin Tobin, a research geologist from Kentucky, has accepted the position to head the premier research center for cave and karst resources, located in Carlsbad, New Mexico, after a national search. NCKRI is a research center for New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, aka New Mexico Tech.
Dr. Tobin has been involved with cave and karst research and resource management for more than 20 years. For 10 years, he was a resource specialist for the National Park Service at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and at Grand Canyon National Park. Dr. Tobin currently works as a geologist at the Kentucky Geological Survey at the University of Kentucky.
His career has focused on integrating research, outreach, and education to minimize human impact on karst (a type of landform typically created when slightly acidic water dissolves the bedrock, leaving delicate formations that provide water for human consumption).
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Tobin to New Mexico Tech as the new director of NCKRI,” said NMT’s Vice President of Research Dr. Michael Doyle. “Dr. Tobin brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the institute. We are confident that under his leadership, the institute will reach new heights of innovation, outreach, and education. I know that all of the community will join me in supporting him in his endeavors to further the mission of NCKRI.”
Dr. Tobin’s current research deals with identifying resource vulnerability to help mitigate human impacts on delicate cave and karst resources. His work is well-known in the scientific community as he has presented numerous professional and public talks, published 34 peer-reviewed papers on karst resources, and worked closely with community groups and land managers to discuss his work.
“I am excited by the privilege to help lead the National Cave and Karst Research Institute in its pursuit of advancing cave and karst stewardship, education, and research,” he said. “I look forward to working alongside the talented staff and building deeper partnerships between New Mexico Tech, the National Park Service, and the City of Carlsbad to further our understanding of caves and karst landscapes. Together, we’ll develop exciting collaborations to meet these goals.”
Dr. Tobin earned a Ph.D. from Texas State University, a M.Sc. from Western Kentucky University, and a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire.
