Martin completed his Ph.D. in Systems Biology under Tim Mitchison at Harvard, where he explored the adaptation of cell division machinery to changing cell sizes in early vertebrate embryos. For his postdoctoral research, he collaborated with Steven Gygi, a pioneer in quantitative proteomics, and Marc Kirschner, known for his systems-level analysis of cellular processes.

Leading his laboratory at Princeton, Martin's goal is to develop and utilize quantitative proteomics methods for a deeper understanding of cellular organization. His team is advancing proteomics, notably through the complementary reporter ion quantification approach, which improves measurement sensitivity and quality while reducing costs. They apply these innovations, along with computational, biochemical, and imaging techniques, to study protein abundance control in cells, the organization of cytoplasm, and protein partitioning between organelles.