Mike Martin
sameoldmike@gmail.com
Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering
The Johns Hopkins University
M.S., Geography and Environmental Eng. Johns Hopkins U. 2008
B.S., Electrical Engineering. Boston University. 2005
Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests
My current research interests are in using molecular techniques to study changes in populations over time. My research has so far focused on wind-pollination and population genetics of ragweed (genus Ambrosia).

I am currently a Research Student at the Smithsonian Institution Laboratory of Analytical Biology. There I am working with Dr. Elizabeth Zimmer on a project that will characterize recent changes in North American Ambrosia artemisiifolia populations through molecular analysis of of modern specimens and ancient DNA preserved in historical seeds, pollen, and leaf tissue. We are also conducting a detailed scanning electron microscopy survey of ragweed floral morphology, and producing a phylogeny for genus Ambrosia.

In Fall 2006, I completed a two month field experiment in Upper Marlboro, MD designed to study the effects of ragweed floral morphology and pollen clustering on the atmospheric dispersal of pollen. From April to September 2008, I worked in the Environmental Fluid Mechanics group at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland helping with a large campaign to measure methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide flux from a lake environment.

Publications

1. MD Martin, M Chamecki, GS Brush (2010). “Anthesis synchronization and floral morphology determine diurnal patterns of ragweed pollen dispersal.” Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 150: 1307–1317. [PDF]
2. MD Martin, M Chamecki, GS Brush, C Meneveau, MB Parlange (2009). “Pollen clumping and wind dispersal in an invasive angiosperm.” American Journal of Botany 96: 1703–1711. [PDF]

Manuscripts in preparation

1. MD Martin, GS Brush, EA Zimmer. "Phylochronology of globally invasive common ragweed across its native range."
2. MD Martin, GS Brush, EA Zimmer. "Biogeography of the North American Ragweeds (genus Ambrosia)."
3. MD Martin, GS Brush. “History of land use and the spread of ragweed in North America.”

Presentations

1. MD Martin, EA Zimmer, GS Brush (2010). “Phylogeography and population genetics of common ragweed.” Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution. 9 March. Washington, D.C.
2. MD Martin, M Chamecki, GS Brush (2009). "Influence of synchronization and floral morphology on ragweed pollen dispersal." Baltimore Ecosystem Study Annual Meeting. 21 October. Baltimore, Maryland.
3. MD Martin (2009). "Ice Age Chesapeake Bay." Plants & People Sundays at Rawlings Conservatory . 27 September. Baltimore, Maryland.
4. MD Martin, M Chamecki, G Brush, C Meneveau, M Parlange (2008). "Wind dispersal and clumping of ragweed pollen." First International Ragweed Conference. 11 September. Budapest, Hungary.
5. MD Martin, M Chamecki, GS Brush, C Meneveau, MB Parlange (2008). “Field studies of ragweed pollen dispersal.” Invited lecture in Clinical Immunology Lecture Series, Johns Hopkins Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 29 February. Baltimore, Maryland.
6. MD Martin, GS Brush, M Chamecki, MB Parlange, C Meneveau (2007). “Plant-atmosphere exchange: field studies of the dispersion of pollen in the lower atmosphere.” European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2007. 20 April. Vienna, Austria.
7. MD Martin, M Chamecki, GS Brush, MB Parlange, C Meneveau (2007). “Dispersal and deposition of ragweed pollen in the lower atmosphere.” Baltimore Ecosystem Study NSF Mid-Term Review. 28 March. Baltimore, Maryland.

Popular press

Sneezing for Science, Alleric Living, Fall, 2009.
Un laser sonde l'atmosphère de Seedorf, La Liberté, 9 September, 2008.
Ragweed Adapts Around the Globe, Baltimore Examiner, 27 September, 2007.
Study Focuses on Unwelcome Seasonal Visitor, Baltimore Sun, 1 October, 2007.
Environmental Research That's Nothing to Sneeze At, The JHU Gazette, 1 October, 2007.
Ragweed Research is Nothing to Sneeze At, Headlines@Hopkins, 24 September, 2007.