Richard Martinez

Richard Martinez, Ph.D., is a National Science Foundation Fellow and Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he heads the Cognitive and Social Neuroscience Lab. Previously, Richard was a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University. His research focuses on unraveling the cognitive mechanisms that influence social interactions and decision-making processes within diverse communities, exploring how these dynamics evolve over time and under varying cultural contexts.

Sarah Bennett, Ph.D., joined Richard's lab as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UCSD in early 2024. Before this position, Sarah worked as a Research Scientist at MIT and completed her doctoral studies at Harvard University. Her work delves into understanding the factors that motivate individuals to engage in community service and volunteerism, examining which environmental conditions foster such behaviors, and tracking the development of these tendencies from adolescence through adulthood.

Together, Richard and Sarah are pushing the boundaries of what we know about human social behavior and its underlying psychological principles, contributing valuable insights that can help promote more cooperative and empathetic societies. Their collaborative efforts aim to bridge the gap between neuroscience and real-world applications, seeking solutions to enhance social cohesion and mutual support in an increasingly interconnected world.