Martin T. Zanni

Martin T. Zanni is the V. W. Meloche-Bascom Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Letters & Science. His research focuses on biophysics, energy sciences, and ultrafast spectroscopy, particularly using 2D IR spectroscopy to study potassium ion channels, protein folding, and carbon nanotube energy transfer. He has developed advanced spectroscopic technologies and biochemical adaptation methods like expressed protein ligation.

• B.S., B.A. (University of Rochester, 1994)
• Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley, 1999)

Research Interests:
The Zanni Group specializes in 2D IR spectroscopy to investigate structural dynamics in challenging systems, including

• Protein aggregation in type 2 diabetes
• Carbon nanotube energy transfer
• Solar cell charge transfer
• Membrane-bound protein structures
• Ion channel selectivity filters
• Ultrafast multidimensional spectroscopies
• Biosynthesis and isotopic labeling

Scientific Awards:
Recipient of the

• 2025 US National Academy of Sciences election
• 2023 ACS tribute for physical chemistry
• 2022 ACS Young Investigator Award
• NSF fellowships for advisees
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship for collaborations

Advising and Grants:
Mentored numerous Ph.D. students including Drs. Matt Ryan, Tommaso Bianconi, and Minjung Son. Research funded by NIH (R01GM135936) and NSF (OIA-2229651). Collaborates extensively with theorists, organic chemists, and materials scientists.