Martin joins the Department of Biomedical Engineering

The School of Engineering is thrilled to welcome Dr. Karen Martin as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, starting January 1, 2026.

Martin earned her BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and a PhD in Bioengineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. Her doctoral research focused on developing synthetic biomaterial delivery vehicles for regenerative cell therapies, with a special emphasis on understanding how immune responses shape therapeutic outcomes.

Following her PhD, Martin completed her postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Karl-Johan Malmberg at Oslo University Hospital in Norway. There, she developed genetic engineering strategies to reduce immune rejection of allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cell therapies, deepening her expertise at the intersection of immunology and translational medicine.

Her work has appeared in several high-impact journals, including Biomaterials, Nature Reviews Immunology, Science Advances, Nature Communications, Nature Materials, and Cell Stem Cell. Martin has also played a key leadership role in the scientific community, serving as co-chair of the inaugural Immunoengineering Gordon Research Seminar and as a co-organizer for both the Georgia Tech Immunoengineering Seminar Series and the Oslo University Hospital Department of Cancer Immunology Seminar Series.

Her lab will focus on developing strategies to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of NK cells for the treatment of solid tumors and other immune-mediated diseases. Additionally, her lab will continue advancing off-the-shelf approaches for allogeneic cell therapies by improving immune-evasion strategies and optimizing cell manufacturing technologies, with the goal of reducing costs and expanding access to these powerful therapies.

Outside the lab, Martin is an avid adventurer and foodie. During her postdoc, she spent her free time exploring  the Norwegian wilderness on skis and hiking boots. She enjoys rock climbing, running marathons, and discovering new cuisines.

Tufts is excited to welcome Martin’s passion for cellular research and student mentorship to campus. Her arrival marks a valuable addition to our vibrant biomedical engineering community.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Karen Martin to Tufts School of Engineering!