Maya Martinez is a third-year undergraduate studying chemistry and business economics. She is passionate about renewable energy and learning how to prioritize economic growth while developing clean energy solutions. Maya interned last summer at the Marine Biological Laboratory as a research assistant where she developed and tested kelp-based biofuels. On campus, she is a member of the Energy and Climate Club and varsity softball team.
Martinez attended Climate Week NYC in September 2025 as part of the Institute’s first student delegation.
“Attending NYC Climate Week gave me a clearer understanding of the many challenges clean tech companies face. Local regulations, federal policies, social concerns, market demands, and environmental constraints all shape how technologies can or can’t make an impact. One moment that stood out was a quote from the CEO and Co-Founder of InnerPlant. She said, “Climate isn’t an industry but a lens that needs to be used to view every industry.” This perspective pushed me to think about how I can bring a sustainable lens to whichever field I pursue, knowing the opportunities to make a difference are limitless.”
In summer 2025, Martinez worked as a Polsky Research Fellow with Professor Laura Gagliardi. Martinez’s goal was to learn what role computational chemistry has in materials science and to get practice using these molecular simulations in order to understand the capabilities of nano-engineered porous materials for a variety of environmental solutions. Through this role, Martinez also learned about the current limitations in computational chemistry and the need for machine learning models to further material science.
“I developed great relationships with the members of my lab who are now incredible connections for me to have as I explore my career within science. Additionally, they are currently helping me join a lab full time for the school year, which was ultimately my goal entering this summer experience.”