Dr. Martin is a professor at the University of RI. Her lab focuses on the complex interactions between biopolymers (peptides, proteins, DNA, RNA, lipids, and carbohydrates) in order to understand cellular physiology at the molecular level.

Dr. Martin's research is important because biopolymers are the building blocks of all living organisms. The cell is the smallest unit of living organisms. Researching the basic building blocks of what contributes to the cell's function, its survival, and its adaptations to the environment around it are important factors. Researching biopolymers that make up the cell can lead to important contributions that may help researchers later on. One example may be discovering the proteins responsible for cell membrane repair may lead to future research in repairing muscles and bones faster for applications in medicine.

There are a range of 1-5 undergraduates working in the lab at a time. Important skills used in this lab are chemistry and enzyme skills, particularly purifying peptides and DNA/ protein extractions.

The major lab interests are:

Investigate the complex interactions between biopolymers (peptides, proteins, DNA, RNA, lipids, and carbohydrates) in order to understand cellular physiology at the molecular level.

Development of novel methods for monitoring dynamic properties of peptides, proteins, lipids and DNA using capillary electrophoresis (CE), circular dichroism (CD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Expand the application of molecular mechanics techniques in order to model dynamic processes in the biopolymers we investigate.

Best to contact through email: martin@uri.edu

Dr. Martin's lab also has its own lab website that's much more in-depth about their research and findings: http://martinlab.homeip.net/