Department of Astronomy

Dr. Martin's research focuses on the formation and evolution of galaxies, particularly star-forming galaxies at high redshift. His research primarily investigates giant, UV-bright star-forming clumps and the role of galactic feedback in shaping the evolution of galaxies. His observational work uses data from space-based observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope, to investigate the physical processes that drive star formation and galaxy growth across cosmic time.

Dr. Alec Martin joined the IU Astronomy faculty in August 2026. He received his B.S. from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2019 and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2025. Prior to joining Indiana University, he held a faculty position as a lecturer in several physics and astronomy courses and labs at Troy University.

[1] Martin, A., Guo, Y., Wang, X., et al. 2023, UV-bright Star-forming Clumps and Their Host Galaxies in UVCANDELS at 0.5 ≤ z ≤ 1, ApJ, 955, 106, doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/aced3e

[2] Kuhn, V., Guo, Y., Martin, A., et al. 2024, JWST Reveals a Surprisingly High Fraction of Galaxies Being Spiral-like at 0.5 ≤ z ≤ 4, ApJL, 968, L15, doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad43eb

[3] Sattari, Z., Mobasher, B., Chartab, N., et al. (including Martin, A.) 2023, Fraction of Clumpy Star-Forming Galaxies at 0.5 ≤ z ≤ 3 in UVCANDELS: Dependence on Stellar Mass and Environment, ApJ, 951, 147, doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/acd5d61285