Martha Clark Walz

I am currently the editor in chief of R&D Magazine (www.rdmag.com).  How did I get here? 

After graduating from Miami (BS Engineering Physics, BS Math, 1996), I went to grad school at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  I graduated with my M.S. in physics in 1998 and subsequently moved to New Jersey.  My first job out of grad school was at a defense contractor, programming in LabVIEW (a skill I picked up during my internship at NIST during the summer between my junior and senior years at Miami).  After about a year and a half, I took an engineering position at OFR, an optics company.  I was in product development and eventually moved to sales and tech support.  I also wrote ads and the company's catalog on the side.

In August 2005, I became the senior editor for R&D Magazine.  With no formal editing or writing experience, this was a new world to me.  I immediately knew this is what I was supposed to be when I grew up.  Since then, I have moved up the ranks at R&D to managing editor and now to editor in chief.  I absolutely love my job.  Everyday I get to read and write about new technological innovations across every scientific discipline imaginable.  This is something I used to do as a hobby, and now it is what I do for a living.  It doesn't get any better than that.

My hobbies these days are the same as always: running and volleyball.  I completed the NYC Marathon in 2002 and have been trying to get back to a marathon start line ever since.  I also play competitive volleyball in the tri-state (NJ/NY/CT) area and at the national tournament every year.

I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me or anyone who is interested in contributing an article to R&D Magazine!