Faculty Directory

Martin, John

Martin, John

Assistant Professor
Aerospace Engineering
Maryland Robotics Center
3184 Glenn L. Martin Hall

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Astrodynamics, Scientific Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Dynamical Systems

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. 2023, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO. Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
  • M.S. 2021, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO. Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
  • B.S. 2018, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. Department of Physics and Astronomy
  • B.A. 2018, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. Department of Music

BACKGROUND

John R. Martin is Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. He received his PhD and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences specializing in Astrodynamics and Satellite Navigation from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and his B.S. in Physics and Astronomy and B.A in Music from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. At UMD, his research focuses on the intersection of machine learning and astrodynamics research. His current projects focus on the construction of high-fidelity and reliable machine learning dynamics models that can be leveraged onboard spacecraft for guidance, navigation, and control purposes. His projects make frequent use of Scientific Machine Learning, developing models with physics-informed neural networks and neuralODEs, as well as reinforcement learning to enhance autonomous capabilities of satellite in deep space environments.

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Outstanding Dissertation, CU-Boulder Aerospace Engineering Sciences, 2023
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, NSF, 2018-2023
  • Dissertation Completion Fellowship, CU-Boulder, 2023 
  • John A. Vise Graduate Student Excellence Award, CU-Boulder, 2022
  • Dean's Fellowship, CU-Boulder, 2018 
  • Dean's Assistantship, CU-Boulder, 2018
  • Chancellor's Award Outstanding Senior in Physics Award, UNC Chapel Hill, 2018
  • UNC Churchill Scholarship Nominee, UNC Chapel Hill, 2017 
  • Daniel C. Johnson Outstanding Junior Award, UNC Physics and Astronomy, 2017
  • Honors Thesis Research Award, UNC College of Arts and Sciences, 2017
  • North Carolina Space Grant Recipient, NASA, 2017 
  • North Carolina Space Grant Recipient, NASA, 2016

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Member,  American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

PUBLICATIONS