Steve W. Martin

2026 Sigma Xi Fellow

Statement

"My involvement with Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, has been one of the most rewarding and meaningful professional experiences of my academic career. I have been privileged to serve in numerous leadership roles, including President-Elect, President, and President Emeritus of the Iowa State University Chapter of Sigma Xi, as well as a member of its Executive Committee. At the national level, I served on the Sigma Xi Board of Directors and as Director for the Comprehensive Colleges and Universities Constituency, helping to advance the Society's mission of promoting excellence in scientific research and scholarship. In recognition of my contributions, I am truly honored to be elected a Fellow of Sigma Xi in 2026.

Beyond the professional recognition and leadership opportunities, Sigma Xi has provided me with something even more valuable: a community of colleagues and friends who share a deep commitment to scientific discovery, scholarship, and education. Through chapter activities, national meetings, governance responsibilities, and countless scientific discussions, I have developed lifelong friendships and enduring professional relationships with researchers from a wide range of disciplines and institutions. These interactions have led to meaningful collaborations, broadened my perspectives as a scientist and educator, and enriched both my research program and teaching at Iowa State University."

Biography

Steve W. Martin is the Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering and University Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Iowa State University, where he has served on the faculty since 1986. He received his B.A. in Chemistry from Capital University in 1980 and his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Purdue University in 1986. He joined Iowa State immediately after completing his doctorate and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1991, Professor in 1996, University Professor in 2006, and Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in 2009.

Professor Martin is an internationally recognized expert in glass science, solid-state ionics, and electrochemical energy storage materials, with particular emphasis on the development of glassy solid electrolytes for next-generation lithium and sodium batteries. His research spans glass structure and dynamics, ion transport, solid electrolytes for batteries and fuel cells, optical materials, and advanced materials characterization.

He is a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society and recipient of numerous national and international honors, including the 2026 Otto Schott Award in Glass Research, the 2026 Darshana and Arun Varshneya Frontiers of Glass Science Lecture Award, the George W. Morey Award in Glass Science, the Outstanding Educator Award from the American Ceramic Society, and election as University Professor and Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering at Iowa State University.

Professor Martin has held visiting appointments at leading institutions worldwide, including the University of Oxford, University of Münster, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Johnson Energy Storage, Chalmers University of Technology, University of Messina, Changwon National University, and Gyeongsang National University.

His research program has attracted more than $28 million in sponsored research funding from organizations including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, ARPA-E, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and numerous industrial partners. He currently leads multiple projects focused on developing high-performance glassy solid electrolytes and all-solid-state lithium and sodium batteries.

Professor Martin has authored more than 245 refereed journal publications, numerous book chapters and patents, delivered more than 250 invited lectures and seminars worldwide, and mentored dozens of Ph.D., M.S., postdoctoral, and undergraduate researchers. His work has significantly advanced the understanding of ion transport in glasses and helped establish glassy solid electrolytes as enabling materials for next-generation energy storage technologies