Martin's current research at the Oxford Silk Group is based within the field of materials science, with particular focus on the thermal and mechanical characterisation of silk materials.
He obtained a B.Eng and M.Eng in Plastic Engineering from the Hochschule Darmstadt - University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Following this, he completed his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield. Martin’s doctoral research examined the development of novel porous and three-dimensional bioelastomer implants for biomedical applications. Based on his research background, he has broad interests in natural and synthetic polymers, tissue engineering, smart materials, polymer nanocomposites and various polymer-based fabrication techniques.
Prof. Fritz Vollrath and colleagues from the Fudan University in China are widely covered in the news for their discovery of a means to produce fake Rhino horns using horse hair. Hopes are that this product may undermine the illegal market for rhino horn, and demistify the properties of rhino horn. View Here
