2003 Education Award in Neuroscience

Dr. Joe L. Martinez, Jr. 

Introduction of Dr. Joe L. Martinez, Jr., 2003 recipient of the ANDP Award for Education in Neuroscience

By Dr. Thomas O. Fox, Past President of ANDP (Harvard Medical School) 

At one level, Joe is the typical research professor dedicated to teaching, service, and research. Like his colleagues he seeks and trains eager and very strong students and with them advances research in learning and memory and allied fields. He is prolific with his research publications and with books on the neurobiology of learning and memory and others as diverse as neurobiology of sleep and memory and Chicano psychology. Joe has led departments, courses, and programs. And he has contributed to countless editorial boards and those for the two television series, "Discovering Psychology" and "Abnormal Psychology."

But in addition to what would be a full career, or two, for others, Joe has distinguished himself as designer, molder, and guide in broadening the reach of scientific research and the grasp to it by those not blessed with easy exposure. Joe created a new research center at San Antonio after long and productive service at Berkeley. He created a highly successful graduate and postdoctoral training program in neuroscience with support from the NIMH and partnership of the APA and some moral support of ANDP. Joe's Minority Fellowship Program has been a beacon for students, setting an example for opportunity and for fostering networking and accessibility. The MFP poster session at the SFN annual meeting is a valued fixture of the meeting.

And to make all this work and assist underrepresented students who got new access to outstanding research training centers as a result of the work of the MFP, Joe worked with others to create the Summer Workshop of the MFP at the MBL in Woods Hole, now an official MBL course, SPINES (Summer Program in Neuroscience, Ethics, and Survival). Through it Joe brought to fruition the best work of many educators including James Jones, his many mentors who include Jim McGaugh and Floyd Bloom, colleagues like Ed Kravitz and Michael Zigmond, and his partner in several of these efforts, Jim Townsel.

But what most characterizes Joe is that he is the consummate Mentor to large numbers, in the hundreds, of students, former students, and now faculty from underrepresented populations and often from backgrounds profoundly lacking in privilege. Joe has both devoted tremendous energy to these efforts, andt he has been a tireless advocate and one who is willing to raise sensitive issues. He has not shrunk away from the problems of opening neuroscience and our American society to everyone. He is not afraid to disagree with those who argue that problems have been solved that haven't been, to be cowered by wishful thinking. He just thinks of a new approach and tries to prepare and embolden others to carry the work forward. 

Joe has been recognized for this work and effect. Among many other awards and honors he received recognition from Berkeley more than once, from the University of Texas, and from the AAAS with its Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement.

But the real award is to see Joe in action. And I have to assume to be Joe in action. Joe remembers each trainee, even if he only knew him or her as one of dozens during SPINES month at MBL ten years earlier. Joe remembers what they were worrying about, what work they did, what aspirations they have. And when he meets past mentees he finds our how they are doing and he is always thinking about opportunities or solutions to life problems and career paths to pass along to them. He isn't a mentor in fashion or pose, he is a mentor with passion and poise.

ANDP recognizes Joe Martinez's contributions to research and education on learning and memory, to leadership in graduate training, and to blazing trails in creating and conducting programs that thoughtfully address the needs and dreams of young scientists from all strata of our society.