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Daniel M. Martínez, PhD
Engineer, Scientist, Author
Principal, Random Walk Research LLC

Introduction

I am a chemical engineer by schooling, an environmental scientist by experience, and published author by sheer will. I have a passion for research and writing about environmental science & technology, data analysis, and thermodynamics. All of my degrees are in Chemical Engineering (BS/MS/PHD) and I have navigated a diverse career as a NASA scientist studying how metals condense, as a postdoctoral fellow studying energy-society linkages, and as an environmental science professor doing scholarly work, and teaching courses in energy sustainability, atmospheric science, and environmental quantitative reasoning. Recently, I decided to leave my academic institution to pursue research full time, operating through my LLC, Random Walk Research. I’m particularly (but not exclusively) interested in ground and space-based sensing of the atmosphere and how it impacts weather, climate, and health.

Relevant Education

Undergraduate
BS Chemical Engineering; University of Rochester (1999)

Graduate
PhD Chemical Engineering; University of Rochester (2007)

Relevant Experience

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (2000-2007)

• After my 1-year PhD residency requirement at UofR, I spent the balance of my PhD doing research at NASA-Goddard’s Code 691 (Astrochemistry), first as a Graduate Student Researchers Program Fellow and then as a NASA Co-Op, which was an immediate path to federal employment.

University of Rochester and AHEAD Energy Corp (2007 - 2008)

• I left NASA in 2007 to start a family with my wife back in Rochester. During that year I worked with Ben Ebenhack, a lecturer at UofR and founder of AHEAD Energy, and that is where I began my journey studying energy systems, sustainability and energy transition theory. It’s also where I taught my first class, Sifting Through Trash: Myths and Facts of the Energy Crisis.

University of Southern Maine (2008 - 2022)

• After one year back in Rochester, we decided to move to Maine. I connected with USM’s Department of Environmental Science and started out as a part-time research professor. I eventually received a full-time offer that was renewed until I applied for and received a promotion to Associate Research Professor.

Random Walk Research LLC (2022 - present)

• I established Random Walk Research to focus on my passion for fundamental research, applied R&D, and writing. My past experience has provided me a unique skillset to tackle science, engineering, technology, and policy problems. Send me an email to discuss how Random Walk Research can help you with your project.

Useful Skills I Picked Up During My Journey

• Data analysis and Visualization with MS Excel (a way under-rated skill in my opinion)
• Technical Writing
• Literature Review
• Project Management
• Presenting and/or teaching diverse subject matter to informed and uninformed audiences
• Programming (BASIC, MathCad, a little C and FORTRAN)
• Protoype development

What I’m learning Now

• Data Science Fundamentals (Python, R, SQL)
• IOT sensor systems
• CubeSats