Paul Martinez is the Director of Data Partnerships and Compliance at the California Policy Lab. Paul came to the California Policy Lab after over two decades in research administration, including eleven years at the UC Berkeley Sponsored Projects Office, where he provided high level technical leadership in legal, regulatory, and policy matters and subject matter expertise on all things grants and contracts.

His passion for research and policy intersected when he published a peer-reviewed journal article on State of California contracting in the Journal of Research Administration where he researched the impact of the California Model Agreement on the University of California and California State University systems after the passing California Assembly Bill 20 (AB20). The California Model Agreement revamped the way the UC and CSU systems conducted business with the State of California by implementing an “all-in-one” proposal application and award generation approach with set terms and conditions and standardized proposal content requirements for all research, training and services contracts and grants.

The California Policy Lab allows him the opportunity to share his knowledge, experience, and expertise in the pursuit of improving and transforming public policy. Paul has served as a Principal Contracts and Grants Officer, Contracts Manager, Clinical Trials Officer, Principal Investigator, and a NIH Study Coordinator. Paul is a Certified Research Administrator and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Humboldt State University. Outside of work, Paul enjoys cooking, learning new musical instruments, Eurogames, and redwood trees.