Martin Spalding

Martin Spalding is a Professor of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology at Iowa State University. His research focuses on understanding plant and algal genetics, particularly mechanisms of CO₂ concentration and photosynthesis regulation, alongside developing CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing technologies for agricultural applications.

Education:

• B.S., Washington State University, 1974
• M.S., Washington State University, 1976
• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1979

Research Interests:

• CO₂-concentrating mechanisms in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
• Gene editing in crops (e.g., peanut, maize) using CRISPR/Cas9
• Regulation of Rubisco activase and photosynthetic efficiency
• Environmental stress adaptation in plants and algae

His work bridges fundamental biology with applied biotechnology, aiming to enhance crop productivity and improve bioenergy production through genetic innovation.