Student Experience

From the Air Force to the lab: Veteran J. Scott Martinez translates military experience into neuroscience research

Student J. Scott Martinez took his experience from the U.S. Air Force into his studies in psychology at UC Santa Cruz. Martinez is the recipient of the Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship, an award at UCSC supporting veterans pursuing their degree at the university awarded by the Retiree’s Association.

November 9, 2026

Naomi Friedland

United States Air Force veteran J. Scott Martinez (’27, psychology) was born in San Jose, California. After spending years abroad during his military service, he felt called to return home. UC Santa Cruz proved to be the right fit.

Martinez is a recipient of the Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of the late veteran and former UC Santa Cruz staff member Bruce Lane, who worked for UCSC for 27 years as a project architect, educational facilities planner, and director of capital planning, and was an advocate for providing veterans with scholarships. The Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship was established by his late wife and 22-year UCSC staff member Maxine Lane, with help from the Retiree’s Association after Bruce’s passing in 2008. 

Martinez said the scholarship has given him a sense of belonging on campus. Although he also receives support through the GI Bill, the scholarship helps offset the cost of living in Santa Cruz and the expense of college supplies.

“It has been incredibly profound as far as the opportunities that are available,” Martinez said, referring to the resources available to student veterans at UC Santa Cruz.

Martinez is studying psychology and neuroscience, fields he became interested in while working in the Air Force’s Equal Opportunity department. He began his military career as a hydraulic mechanic before retraining in Equal Opportunity while stationed in Japan from 2015 to 2018. 

The department is responsible for implementing laws, regulations, and U.S. Department of Defense policies addressing unlawful discrimination, harassment, and sexual harassment, involving Air Force personnel and job applicants.

Martinez continued working in the Air Force’s Equal Opportunity department while stationed in South Dakota, England, and Kuwait. During his time in Kuwait, a mentor introduced him to industrial-organizational psychology, prompting him to consider pursuing further education in the field. Industrial-organizational psychology examines human behavior in the workplace and applies psychological principles to organizational and employee challenges.

Before enrolling at UC Santa Cruz, Martinez completed two internships and took courses at City College of San Francisco. An internship through ChangeSF, the Community Housing Agency for Generational Equity, at the University of California, San Francisco, ultimately shifted his career ambitions away from I/O psychology and toward neuroscience research.

At UCSF’s Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Martinez worked in the Sohal Laboratory, where he studied cognitive flexibility. The experience helped him see new possibilities for his future.

“The internship changed the way I view the world, how I see myself, and what I’m capable of,” Martinez said.

Martinez plans to apply to graduate programs for fall 2027 after graduating from UC Santa Cruz in the spring.

Before beginning the ChangeSF internship, Martinez participated in the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program, which connects transitioning service members with civilian work experience during their final 180 days of military service. Through the program, he worked for the County of San Mateo for four months.

Now, as a UC Santa Cruz student, Martinez is working to bring SkillBridge opportunities to University of California campuses, allowing transitioning service members to gain research experience before beginning their studies. He is developing a five-year implementation plan that he hopes to present to UCSC leadership one day.

Beyond his research and advocacy, Martinez is active in several campus organizations. He is a member of the Neuroscience Club, Psi Chi—the international honor society in psychology—the Cognitive Science Students Association, Slugs United by Mathematics (SUM), one of UC Santa Cruz’s math clubs, and the Veterans Center community.

Martinez has continued pursuing neuroscience research beyond the classroom. He completed an independent research project with the Sohal Laboratory at UCSF and plans to present his work in Seattle in November at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists.

He also recently began working within Stanford’s Biomedical Innovation department under Professor Anthony J. Ricci, studying hearing. The work aligns with Martinez’s interest in tinnitus, the perception of sounds such as ringing, buzzing, hissing or roaring when no external sound is present.

Martinez said tinnitus affects many veterans, yet much remains unknown about the condition. He hopes his research will contribute to a better understanding of the issue.

Martinez continues to serve in the Air Force Reserve and credits his military experience with helping him succeed in college. He said that compared with when he first took community college courses after high school, he now approaches his education with greater discipline and a clearer sense of purpose.