Martyn completed his PhD with MOAC in 2009, having worked on linear dichroism of DNA and related systems including the use of Markov chain Monte Carlo to model prokaryotic cell division kinetics. He was supervised by Alison Rodger (chemistry) and Barbel Finkenstadt (statistics) and Matthew Hicks (chemistry).

From late 2008 to 2011 he worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Adam Squires at the University of Reading. During this time he studied amphiphilic cubic phases, using methods such as atomic force microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering and electron microscopy.

In August 2011 he moved to the University of Freiburg, Germany and the group of Max Ulbrich to study single molecule TIRF microscopy.