Robert M. Martin graduated with a diploma in biology from Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany, and pursued his doctoral studies under M. Cristina Cardoso at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin. He earned his Dr. rer. nat. (PhD equivalent) in molecular biology and genetics from Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany, in 2009. For his Postdoc, he joined the lab of M. Carmo-Fonseca at iMM Lisbon (FCT Fellowship), with a keen interest in RNA biology, splicing, and gene expression regulation. During this time, Robert developed and applied systems for quantitative microscopic imaging of transcription and splicing with single-molecule sensitivity. He also collaborated with Prof. Tom Kirchhausen, a world expert in single-molecule microscopy at Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA, under an EMBO Short-term fellowship. This collaboration culminated in the premier description of single-molecule live cell kinetics of pre-mRNA splicing (Martin et al., Cell Rep, 2013). In 2016, Robert joined Sergio de Almeida to develop an original interdisciplinary project bridging basic research and translational oncobiology, studying how DNA damage affects multinucleate muscle cells. He contributed to improving single mRNA detection in muscle tissue (Noma et al., Small Meth, 2018). The emerging FCT-funded project "ENUCLEATE" (PTDC/MED-OUT/32271/2017), with Robert as principal investigator, uses live cell imaging and optogenetics to reveal the roles of nuclear inactivation in multinucleated cells. Recently, the team published their findings on the adaptive changes in the DNA damage response during skeletal muscle cell differentiation (Faleiro et al., 2023). Early in the project, the team uncovered transcription originating from DNA damage sites at the single-molecule level in live cells (Vitor et al., Sci Adv, 2019; co-corresponding author), which sparked interest in the role of co-transcriptional R-loops in DNA damage and RNA processing. Subsequently, Robert received a 6-year contract as a senior postdoctoral researcher and directly supervised two "excellent" rated master projects. Alda Silva (2019) characterized the single-molecule kinetics of transcription at the pre-mRNA polyadenylation signal and RNA Pol II termination, while Eduardo Gameiro (2020) developed with Robert a novel tool (RHINO) to detect and quantify R-loops in live cells. Robert also co-supervises the FCT-funded PhD project of Madalena Almeida since 2020, investigating R-loops as regulators of splicing and transcription dynamics. The team published how transcription at DNA double-strand breaks is detected in 2021 (de Almeida et al., JoVE, 2021; corresponding author). The work of Madalena and Robert led to the award of an FCT exploratory Grant in 2022 "R-loopRS" (2022.08846.PTDC) to investigate R-loops as important regulators of splicing. Continuing Eduardo's work in 2021 under Roberts supervision culminated in the first-time detection of R-loops at an actively transcribed reporter gene and R-loop quantification in live cells, published in a prestigious journal with Robert as a co-corresponding author (Martin et al., NAR, 2023). Roberts invention of the RHINO tool for R-loop detection and quantification resulted in a patent application and was the basis to secure more than half a million Euros from national funds (CTI - Centers for Technology and Innovation) to implement and equip a RHINO screening platform at GIMM (former iMM), which Robert is now heading as contracted Scientific Director. Robert refined his team-leading skills, in a "Lab Management and Leadership" course by Hfp Consulting and attended several workshops and seminars to improve his soft skills such as grant writing and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, Robert published 21 peer-reviewed scientific articles, including 8 first and 3 corresponding authorships in international journals, and presented his findings in national and international conferences.