Angel A. Martí

Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Martí's website 

Angel A. Martí, assistant professor in the Chemistry Department, comes to Houston from Utuado, Puerto Rico. He received his doctorate in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rice in 2004. He was a postdoctoral Research Scientist at Columbia University from 2004 to 2008.

Martí is interested in developing multifunctional molecular composites for the treatment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Other interests include the design and synthesis of artificial proteases activated by light and the development of sensor to track DNA and mRNA in living cells.

By 2050, the number of people who suffer from Alzheimer’s will increase from 5.2 million to 14 million unless a cure is found. Finding novel treatments for Alzheimer’s disease represent a challenge that will involve different scientific disciplines.

Finding effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease is relevant not only for people with the disease, but also for healthy individuals who might get the disease later on. The development of photoactivated artificial proteases has applications in medicine, molecular biology and industrial processes. Being able to track DNA and mRNA selectively and sensitively in vivo, will allow us to study all kinds of cellular processes which are initiated by mRNA transcription.

Martí is currently collaborating with Nicholas Turro at Columbia University, and Dave Sulzer at Columbia University Medical Center.

Dr. Martíi chose to come to Rice because of the high standards on education and research of Rice. He finds the most surprising thing about Rice is the close interaction between students and faculty.