In the early ​’80s, Rob Ross got his hands on an Apple computer and began writing code. ​“I started by creating very simple choose-your-own-adventure games,” he said.

His parents bought him an Apple IIe with a modem, and he learned about bulletin board systems. Ross began exchanging messages with new friends all over the Atlanta area. Occasionally, his parents would drive him across town to finally meet someone in person. ​“It was often the first time I had seen the person,” said Ross, ​“as digital cameras weren’t really a thing at the time.”

Ross brought his passion for computing to Clemson University in South Carolina. He earned a B.S. and Ph.D. in computer engineering and considers himself a lifelong learner.

“Our work has benefitted climate and weather science, astrophysics and cosmology among others, and I get to learn about the cutting edges of these domains as part of my job.” — Rob Ross, deputy division director, Mathematics and Computer Science division, Argonne National Laboratory 

“Computing is this constantly changing landscape,” he says. ​“There’s always room to revisit assumptions, understand new technologies and solve the new problems that become feasible.”

When Ross completed his dissertation, he started visiting the Mathematics and Computer Science division of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory. He joined the lab in 2000 as an Enrico Fermi Scholar.

Ross leads a small team working on high-performance storage system software. His team develops new approaches for dealing with large volumes of data on platforms like the Aurora exascale supercomputer at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, a DOE Office of Science user facility.

Additionally, he leads a multi-institution team under the SciDAC RAPIDS Institute. The team works with domain scientists across DOE’s Office of Science and applied programs. They help researchers make the best use of world-class computing platforms like Aurora and Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Frontier to make discoveries in their fields.

Finally, as deputy division director, Ross advocates for his staff and their work. He responds to calls for proposals, helps keep the division running and mentors early-career staff.

“My team is amazing,” said Ross. ​“Communication lines are wide open, and we have a broad set of strengths, including project ideation, rapid prototyping, partnering with science teams, software stewardship and training.” He added, ​“I do my best to make sure team members have the opportunities and tools they need to succeed, and they continue to make great things happen.”

Ross appreciates the great people at Argonne, the community dialogue that enables open science to thrive, and the knowledge that his work at the lab drives science forward. He said, ​“I’ve lost numerous colleagues to jobs at Google, Facebook and Amazon, but I cannot imagine I would have the same satisfaction at those companies as I have at Argonne.”

The breadth of science he gets to explore and impact through his work at the lab is truly incredible. He explained, ​“Our work has benefitted climate and weather science, astrophysics and cosmology among other fields, and I get to learn about the cutting edges of these domains as part of my job.”