Suffolk Reporter

Stony Brook University has announced a leadership change at the Turkana Basin Institute (TBI), effective September 1, 2024. Dr. Dino J. Martins, a Kenyan entomologist and evolutionary biologist, will take over as director of the institute.

Martins has been with TBI since 2011 and served as CEO of TBI (Kenya) Ltd. since August 2022. His new role will involve leading the institute's vision and strategy, overseeing activities such as recruitment and development of facilities, and managing fundraising efforts.

Dr. Lawrence Martin, who has directed TBI since 2007, will become director emeritus. He will support fundraising by organizing donor visits to Kenya and working on various projects for Stony Brook University.

Carl Lejuez, Provost of Stony Brook University, stated: “As Lawrence and Dino have worked hand-in-hand over the last several years, this will be a seamless transition in the leadership of TBI. I am grateful to Lawrence for his outstanding leadership of TBI, and I look forward to working with Dino to build upon the incredible foundation that has been established and to elevate TBI to even greater heights.”

Martins holds a PhD in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University. He began his career at TBI as a postdoctoral fellow at Stony Brook University after earning degrees from Indiana University and the University of KwaZulu Natal.

In addition to his work at TBI, Martins was executive director of the Mpala Research Center in Kenya for seven years. During his tenure there, he improved operations and expanded research opportunities.

His research contributions include discovering new bee species in the Turkana Basin and co-leading the Turkana Genome Project. This project examines interactions among human genes, environment, and adaptation.

The Turkana Basin Institute is known for its field research infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa. It supports scientists through two field campuses in Turkwel and Ileret as well as an administrative center in Nairobi.

Stony Brook University is New York’s flagship public university within the SUNY system with nearly 26,000 students enrolled. The university ranks #58 overall among U.S universities according to U.S News & World Report’s Best Colleges listing.