Martin gained a BSc from UCNW Bangor (1975) and a PhD from Imperial College, London (1978), for which he was awarded the TH Huxley Award of the Zoological Society of London. He studied tsetse flies in Africa for seven years then joined the Natural History Museum, researching in the fields of forensic and veterinary entomology. He retired in 2020 but continues to research and teach as a Scientific Associate of the Museum. He has authored >160 peer-reviewed scientific publications and been a consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organisation and the International Office of Epiztootiology. He has contributed to >230 criminal investigations in the UK, with 165 expert witness statements in the field of forensic entomology. Martin has been a Vice-President of the Royal Entomological Society, London and was founding President of the European Association for Forensic Entomology (2002-2006). He has been an Associate Editor for Forensic Science International and for Medical and Veterinary Entomology.