A Scientist’s Journey at Houston Methodist: From Graduate Researcher to Post-Doctoral Innovator

Dr. Antonio Martino completed his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering through a joint program between the University of Houston and Houston Methodist. Now he continues his work at Houston Methodist as a postdoctoral fellow at the Houston Methodist Research Institute in the laboratory of Dr. Carly S. Filgueira, an assistant professor of nanomedicine.

Dr. Martino has worked at the intersection of nanomedicine, computational modeling and polymeric targeted delivery. After earning his PhD in 2025, Dr. Martino began his postdoctoral fellowship, focusing on biomaterials and imaging technologies for cardiovascular applications. He is particularly interested in how material mechanics, tissue engineering and translational device development converge.

In addition to his research activities, Dr. Martino is actively involved in community outreach and trainee leadership through the Methodist Association for Postdoctoral and Trainee Affairs (MAPTA), where he has served as Vice President of Outreach and currently serves as Vice President of Career and Professional Development. In his free time, Martino enjoys playing the guitar and cooking.

By supporting scholars from doctoral training through postdoctoral fellowships, Houston Methodist fosters a culture of growth and continuity in research.

In the Q&A below, Dr. Martino reflects on his journey, accomplishments, and experiences at Houston Methodist.

Q. How did you initially find out about Houston Methodist?

Dr. Martino: I first discovered Houston Methodist while I was looking for a place where engineering, materials science and medicine truly intersect. What immediately caught my attention was the strength of research in nanomedicine and drug delivery. I started reading publications coming out of the institute, especially on mass transport, biomaterials and translational devices, and I realized this was not just basic science, but science built to reach patients. That combination of rigor and purpose hooked me.

Q. What led you to decide to pursue your post-doctoral training at Houston Methodist?

Dr. Martino: My long-term dream is to become a professor and lead my own research lab one day. The Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, is an extraordinary environment for that vision. Staying at Houston Methodist for my postdoc with my PhD mentor, Dr. Carly Filgueira, was a natural decision: I already knew the scientific culture, the clinical connections, and the opportunities for growth were unmatched. It felt like the right ecosystem to mature scientifically and professionally.

Q. What do you like best about Houston Methodist?

Dr. Martino: The culture. It’s a place where science feels alive and connected to real clinical needs. I love the constant exposure to seminars, professional development events, career workshops and public speaking opportunities. I also really value being close to clinicians; you’re not working in isolation. You can collaborate directly with people who see patients every day, and that makes research feel meaningful and urgent. There is a strong sense of community and purpose: patient-centered, collaborative, and supportive.

Q. What accomplishments or milestones during your time at Houston Methodist are you most proud of?

Dr. Martino: I’m very proud of how much I’ve grown thanks to my mentors during my PhD training and now during my postdoc. Scientifically, I’ve expanded my work across nanomedicine, biomaterials, imaging and translational cardiovascular research. On a personal and professional level, I’m especially proud of winning the Three Minute Thesis People’s Choice Award in 2023, which showed me I could communicate complex science clearly and passionately and joining the MAPTA board as Vice President of Professional and Career Development, where I help lead initiatives and organize events for trainees across the institute. Working with such an exceptional group of people has been incredibly motivating.

Q. What would you tell another student who is considering joining Houston Methodist for a PhD program or a postdoctoral program?

Dr. Martino: I would tell them they are joining a unique place: a research institute embedded in a hospital, where cutting-edge science happens every day with direct clinical relevance. You will find excellent facilities, strong mentorship and endless opportunities to grow — not just as a scientist, but as a professional and leader. Houston Methodist is a place where curiosity is encouraged, collaboration is natural and people genuinely care about a shared mission.

Q. How do you think Houston Methodist’s research culture compares to other leading research institutions nationally?

Dr. Martino: What makes Houston Methodist stand out is its translational mindset. Many top institutions do excellent science, but here the bridge between lab and clinic is especially short. The research culture at Houston Methodist is patient-oriented, collaborative and interdisciplinary. Engineers talk to clinicians, biologists talk to physicists, and everyone works toward a common goal: impact. There’s also a strong investment in trainees, which is not always the case elsewhere.

Q. What resources, mentorship or institutional support at Houston Methodist have been most helpful to your career as a researcher?

Dr. Martino: My biggest support has come from different factors. Mentorship from my PI, Dr. Filgueira, who constantly pushes me to think independently, scientifically and translationally. MAPTA and OGSTA (Office of Graduate Studies and Trainee Affairs) provide professional development, leadership opportunities, and career-focused programming that go far beyond bench work. Departmental initiatives like journal clubs and seminar series, which continuously expose me to new ideas and fuel my curiosity. Together, these resources shaped me into a more complete researcher, scientifically strong and professionally prepared.

Q. What are your future plans?

Dr. Martino: My goal is to continue growing as a scientist, start applying for grants, expand my research independence, and deepen my expertise in biomaterials, imaging, and translational nanomedicine. Long term, I want to lead my own lab and train future scientists, combining experimental and computational approaches to solve clinically relevant problems.

For further information on Dr. Martino’s research, please see the following papers:

In Vivo Assessment of Cardiac Radiofrequency Ablation in a Large-Animal Model Using Photoacoustic-Ultrasound Imaging. Mathuria N, Vishwanath K, Fa lon BC, Martino A, Brero G, Wilson RC, Valderrabano M, Filgueira CS, Bouchard RR. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, 2025:S2405-500X(25)00146-X.

Investigating the Relationship Between Geometry and Hemodynamics in an Experimentally Derived Murine Coronary Computational Model. Martino A, Serafini E, Sangiorgio E, Bovetti M, Corti A, Fa lon BC, Wi lson RC, Ga lo D, Chiastra C, Li XC, Filgueira CS, Casarin S. Computers in Biology and Medicine, 2025 Mar;187:109793. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.109793

Open-Chest Cardiac Ultrasound-Mediated Imaging with a Vacuum Coupler. Mathuria N, Vishwanath K, Brero G, Fa lon BC, Martino A, Wi lson RC, Filgueira CS, Bouchard RR. Medical Physics, 2025 Feb;52(2):880-888. doi: 10.1002/mp.17511

An Insight into Perfusion Anisotropy within Solid Murine Lung Cancer Tumors. Martino A, Terracciano R, Milićević B, Milosevic M, Simić V, Fa lon BC, Carcamo-Bahena Y, Royal ALR, Carcamo Bahena AA, Butler EB, Wi lson RC, Kojić M, Filgueira CS. Pharmaceutics, 2024 Jul;16(8):1009. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16081009

Evaluation of OBDII Data Contribution in Tiny Machine Learning-Based Driving Behavior Monitoring. Merenda M, Mazzulo V, Princi M, Martino A, Carotenuto R, Iero D. 2022 7th International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Technologies (SpliTech) doi: 10.23919/SpliTech55088.2022.9854360

Short-Term Time Series Forecasting Based on Edge Machine Learning Techniques for IoT Devices. Rasch M, Martino A, Drobics M, Merenda M. 2022 7th International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Technologies (SpliTech) doi: 10.23919/SpliTech55088.2022.985429