Susan A Martinis

Susan A. Martinis is the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and holds the Stephen G. Sligar Professorship in Biochemistry at the University of Illinois. She is affiliated with the Chemistry department and Biomedical and Translational Sciences. Her research focuses on tRNA synthetases, RNA-protein interactions, and mechanisms underlying protein synthesis fidelity. Her work explores both enzymatic accuracy and novel roles of these ancient proteins in cellular processes like RNA splicing and muscle regeneration.

Education: B.S. (1985, Washington State University), Ph.D. (1990, University of Illinois), Postdoc (1990, MIT). Her research spans enzymology, molecular evolution, and biotechnological applications of engineered amino acids. Notable collaborations include studies on SARS-CoV-2 transmission at universities and the role of leucyl-tRNA synthetase in skeletal muscle regeneration.

Her articles address topics like RNA splicing mechanisms, extremophile enzyme adaptations, and clinical impacts of tRNA synthetase mutations. She leads a research group investigating the dual functions of tRNA synthetases in both protein synthesis and alternate cellular roles.