Robbie's love for marine life started young, while beginning at ages 7-17 he'd accompany his parents who taught college courses in the Caribbean at a marine field station for the University of Virginia. At ages 18 and 19, he spent the summers wrestling alligators for research with the the University of Florida at the marine station in Sapelo Island, GA. As a sophomore in college at U of O he was awarded a Hollings Scholarship which took him to Guam to study and map Spinner Dolphins.  He then graduated with honors from U of O with degrees in both Marine Biology and Ecology and Evolution. He's also worked as a teaching assistant for OIMB and U of O for classes such as Fish Biology, Invertebrate Zoology, Ecology, and Botany. Robbie has extensive experience in the local commercial fishing industry in crabbing, tuna fishing, and clamming.