New Scripps Professor of Marine Chemistry

Todd Martz was recently appointed as the newest faculty member of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. He joined Scripps’ Geosciences Research Division in November 2008.

Martz’s research focuses on exploring new methods and technologies for measuring dissolved carbon dioxide in the ocean and adapting these techniques for use on autonomous instrumentation, such as oceanic floats and moorings.

His research employs instrumentation to study both short-term biogeochemical processes, such as estimating biological rates of ecosystem-level production over days to seasons, and long-term trends or shifts in ocean chemistry, such as annual to decadal changes in ocean carbon dioxide and oxygen.

"I am delighted to join the faculty at Scripps Institution of Oceanography,” said Martz. “I look forward to building a new research group at Scripps, mentoring new students in the marine sciences, and continuing my own education alongside the many distinguished scientists at UC San Diego."

Prior to joining Scripps, Martz was a postdoctoral fellow in the Chemical Sensor Laboratory at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California. While at MBARI, Martz was involved in the development of new sensor technologies for studying marine carbon dioxide processes. He also participates in work on the Land Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory (LOBO), a wireless real-time chemical sensor network located in Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, near Monterey.

Martz received a B.S. in chemistry and a B.A. in mathematics from Newman University (2000), and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Montana (2005). He has also received numerous honors from both alma maters.

Martz is a member of the American Chemical Society, American Geophysical Union, and the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography and has published papers in the fields of analytical chemistry, sensor development, and analysis of ocean biogeochemical datasets.