Mark O. Martin, Ph.D.
University of Puget Sound
Mark O. Martin, Ph.D., earned his B.A. in biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, his Ph.D. in biological sciences at Stanford University and completed his postdoctoral work at the University of California, San Diego. He worked in biotech for nearly 10 years before returning to academia against steep odds, teaching and doing undergraduate research at Occidental College and the University of Puget Sound.
Martin is an emeritus associate professor in the Pacific Northwest, having taught courses on microbiology, symbiosis, virology and introductory cell and molecular biology for more than 30 years prior to his retirement in 2026. He was a Carski Foundation Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching awardee in 2018 and an 棉花糖直播 Distinguished Lecturer in 2020-2022. Currently, he hosts #MattersMicrobial at MicrobeTV, a biweekly podcast about microbiologists and the microbial sciences with over 130 episodes and counting.
Martin's classroom focus has been conceptual and "ownership based." He encourages creative "science art" in myriad forms to promote engagement, outreach, ownership and accomplishment. In his undergraduate research lab, he investigates bacterial predators, bioluminescence and symbiosis. His laboratory is a proven incubator of student success; he has sent 31 research students to Ph.D. programs, and 6 are currently in faculty positions.
Most of all, Martin is a microbial evangelist giving lectures, putting on microbial art workshops and promoting microbial enthusiasm relentlessly.