Martin Schmidt

Martin Schmidt is an Associated Researcher at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) since 2017, working in the "Learning, Knowledge, Innovation" research programme which addresses the interfaces of science and digitisation. He concurrently pursues a PhD in environmental modelling at the University of Potsdam while working as a Data Analyst and Consultant, and serves as co-editor of the critical blog journal Elephant in the Lab.

Schmidt holds foundational training as an agricultural and soil scientist, now advancing through doctoral studies in environmental modelling at the University of Potsdam. His academic trajectory reflects interdisciplinary movement from agricultural sciences into digital scholarship and research system analysis.

His research critically examines scientific infrastructure through lenses of Science of Science and Open Science. Key interests include research evaluation frameworks, authorship ethics in collaborative science, societal impact measurement, and digital transformation in both academic practices and agricultural systems. This work bridges technical data science applications with systemic analysis of scholarly communication, emphasizing tensions between academic incentives and societal relevance.

Analysis of his publication record reveals evolving focus from 2017-2021: early work dissected authorship inflation and collaborative norms in "factory science," progressing to open access implementation challenges and culminating in practical data science management frameworks. Collectively, these contributions demonstrate consistent engagement with scientific system reform, particularly regarding digitalisation's impact on research credibility, equity, and effectiveness across domains including environmental science and agriculture.

Schmidt actively disseminates research through media engagements in Berliner Zeitung, TAZ, and Laborjournal Blog, addressing issues like citation cartels and artificial publication inflation. While no formal awards are documented, his commentary reaches broad academic and public audiences through these prominent platforms.

As a current PhD candidate, Schmidt has not yet supervised graduate students. His advocacy for early-career researchers is evidenced through former representation of doctoral researchers in the Leibniz Association, highlighting institutional engagement beyond formal research roles. Current work is sustained through HIIG affiliation and consulting practice rather than discrete grant funding.

Schmidt operates within HIIG's "Learning, Knowledge, Innovation" programme team and co-leads the Elephant in the Lab editorial collective. These environments foster interdisciplinary dialogue about digital transformation in knowledge production, positioning him at critical intersections of research policy, scholarly communication, and data-intensive science across academic and agricultural contexts.