On January 16th, 2026, the microbiology lab lost a beloved member of our team, Amber Martin. In honor of her passion for education, the Department of Pathology and the Center for Advancement have established the Amber Martin Laboratory Science Fund.
This fund provides scholarship support for the Medical Laboratory Science program and/or programmatic support for laboratory students, faculty, and staff.
If you’d like to donate to this fund, please use the link or scan the QR code below:
About Amber
Amber moved to lowa City from Quincy, Illinois, so she could fill our lead MLS Supervisor position. At the time of her passing, Amber was in her last semester at the University of Cincinnati, working on her Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science Leadership with an Advanced Concentration in Micro/Molecular Diagnostics. Amber's commitment to education, both her personal and professional life, was a lifetime endeavor.
According to her friends and loved ones, if she was interested in a subject, she didn’t settle for surface knowledge: she would sign up for classes or do her own extensive research.
Amber loved microbiology because of the everchanging science in the field. She had a strong interest in forensics and often spoke about the brain and how it functions under different internal and external conditions.
Her best friend, Kristen, put it best:
“She knew the best way to retain knowledge was to learn all about the subject. You've heard the saying "Jack of all trades, master of none,” Amber was a "Jackie of all trades" and she mastered all she was curious about!”