Rachel Martin

Rachel Martin is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Her research focuses on analytical chemical biology, physical chemistry, and chemical physics, with a particular emphasis on protein structure, stability, and dynamics. She investigates molecular chaperones, lens crystallins, and extremophilic enzymes, often employing NMR spectroscopy and computational modeling.

Dr. Martin's work integrates biophysical chemistry with instrumentation development, such as NMR probe fabrication and automated testing systems. She also explores educational innovations, including specifications grading in chemical biology courses. Her research has implications for understanding protein aggregation in aging, cold adaptation mechanisms, and enzyme function in extreme environments.

Recent projects include studying deamidation effects on γ-crystallins, radiation resistance in lens proteins, and collaborative efforts in protein crystallization and structure determination. Her lab leverages open-source tools and maker methodologies for experimental instrumentation.