Dr. Martin has served as a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) since 2020. She teaches courses related to Environmental Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Dr. Martin attended Bucknell University earning a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2013. She earned her doctorate from Virginia Tech in 2020 conducting research under the supervision of Dr. Marc Edwards and Dr. Amy Pruden. Her graduate research focused on examining how plumbing materials and water heater design influence the growth of pathogens like Legionella, specifically investigating water quality concerns created during the Flint Water Crisis in 2016. Dr. Martin received the 2021 Outstanding Ph.D. Award from the Universities Council on Water Resources. In addition to her technical research, she is a dedicated educator who publishes on engineering pedagogy, ethics education, and student success. She remains active in professional service as a reviewer for several journals and organizations, including the American Society for Engineering Education, American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Society of Women Engineers.

Dr. Martin’s research focuses on two areas: the intersection of environmental microbiology and drinking water infrastructure as well as engineering pedagogy. She is particularly interested in how the design and operation of built environments influence public health outcomes. She investigates improving the civil engineering curriculum and student experience through research into FE exam performance, ethics integration, and student success predictors.