Martin Hetzer obtained his PhD in Genetics and Biochemistry from the University of Vienna in 1997. After a formative time as a postdoctoral fellow at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, he moved to California as an Assistant Professor. For 19 years, he pursued his scientific passion at the renowned Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla in various roles, including Professor, Chief Science Officer, and most recently, Senior Vice President.