Faculty Profile for Dr. Benjamin Martin

profile photo for Dr. Benjamin Martin
Dr. Benjamin Martin
Associate Professor — Chemistry and Biochemistry
CHEM 311
phone: (512) 245-6077
Scholarly/Creative Work
Awards
Grants
Service

Biography Section

Biography and Education

 B.S., Chemistry, Truman State University (Kirksville, MO) 1996Ph.D., Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA) 2001Postdoctoral Fellow, Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO) 2001-03

Research Interests

 I am interested in the synthesis and properties of 'metastable' inorganic structures. These are compounds that are generally unstable under traditional synthesis conditions. Our group utilizes many methods to kinetically trap structures, including ion exchange, electrochemical modification, solvothermal reactions, and most recently laser heating. Our goal is to synthesize materials with enhanced properties. For example, catalytic activity may be enhanced by trapping a catalyst in a state that contains many defects to create new active sites in domains that would otherwise be inactive.

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Laipan, M., Xiang, L., Yu, J., Martin, B., Zhu, R., Zhu, J., … Sun, L. (2020). Layered intercalation compounds: Mechanisms, new methodologies, and advanced applications. Progress in Materials Science, 109, 100631. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2019.100631
  • Yu, J., Ding, H., Lampron, J., Martin, B., Clearfield, A., & Sun, L. (2020). Complexing Agent Directed Growth of α-Zirconium Phosphate-Based Hexagonal Prisms. Inorganic Chemistry, 59(2), 1204–1210. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b02929
  • England, C. J., Gray, T. C., Malla, S. R. L. R., Oliveira, S. A., Martin, B. R., Beall, G. W., & Lewis, L. K. (2020). pH-dependent sedimentation of DNA in the presence of divalent, but not monovalent, metal ions. Analytical Biochemistry, 616, 114099.
  • Yu, J., Xiang, L., Martin, B., Clearfield, A., & Sun, L. (2015). Direct growth of layered intercalation compounds via single step one-pot in-situ synthesis. Chemical Communications, 51, 11398–11400.
  • Yu, J., Martin, B., Clearfield, A., Luo, Z., & Sun, L. (2015). One-step direct synthesis of layered double hydroxide single layer nanosheets. Nanoscale, 7, 9448–9451.

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: College of Science and Engineering Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Service, Texas State University. 2019
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching, Texas State University. 2017
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Favorite Professor Award, Alfred H Nolle Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. 2017
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Runner Up: College of Science and Engineering Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, Texas State University. 2016
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Favorite Professor, Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. 2015

Selected Grants

  • Miyahara, Yoichi (Principal), Satchell, Nathan David (Co-Principal), Holtz, Mark W (Co-Principal), Kim, Namwon (Co-Principal), Martin, Benjamin (Co-Principal), Chen, Yihong (Supporting), Theodoropoulou, Nikoleta (Supporting), Geerts, Wilhelmus J (Supporting), Piner, Edwin L (Supporting), Haque, Ariful (Supporting), Droopad, Ravindranath (Supporting), Mahato, Dip Narayan (Supporting), Smith, Casey Eben (Supporting). MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of state-of-the-art lithography system for micro/nanometer scale device fabrication in research and education, National Science Foundation, Federal, $569780. (Submitted: November 14, 2023, Funded: September 1, 2024 - August 31, 2027). Grant.
  • Betancourt, Tania (Principal), Brittain, William J (Co-Principal), Irvin, Jennifer A (Co-Principal), Theodoropoulou, Nikoleta (Co-Principal), Martin, Benjamin (Co-Principal), Rhodes, Christopher Peter (Co-Principal), Wistey, Mark A (Co-Principal), Miyahara, Yoichi (Co-Principal), Kerwin, Sean Michael (Co-Principal). TxState-UT PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly (CIMA), National Science Foundation, Federal, $3822000. (Funded: July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2027). Grant.
  • Rhodes, Christopher Peter (Principal), Martin, Benjamin (Co-Principal), Schilter, David (Co-Principal), Kerwin, Sean Michael (Co-Principal), Kornienko, Alexander Vladimir (Co-Principal), Peterson, Ryan Loren (Co-Principal), Schwartz, Benjamin F (Co-Principal), Dutton, Jessica (Co-Principal), Ikehata, Keisuke (Co-Principal), Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Co-Principal), Ozbakkaloglu, Togay (Co-Principal). Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Shared Research and Education Instrument, Texas State University, $259195. (Funded: 2022 - 2023). Grant.
  • Martin, Benjamin R (Principal). Solid State Laser Synthesis, Texas State Universtiy, Texas State University, $8000. (Submitted: November 2020, Funded: January 2021 - December 2022). Grant.
  • Martin, Ben (Principal), Silva, Jesse (Co-Principal). The Development and Implementation of Bias-Related Event Reporting System, a Project in Support of Texas State's Diversity and Inclusion Plan, Texas State University, Texas State University, $5000. (Funded: September 2018 - Present). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Participant
Bobcat Days
October 2024-Present
Chair
Faculty Search Committee - Tenure Line Chemistry
September 2024-Present
Organizer
San Marcos Summer Library Series: "Chemical Reactions"
July 2024-Present
Volunteer
PREM activities at Centro Cultural Hispanico de San Marcos
July 2024-Present
Volunteer
San Marcos STEAM fair
April 2024-Present