Priscilla Martinez, MPhil, PhD
Deputy Scientific Director, Scientist
- pmartinez@arg.org 510-898-5860
EDUCATION
Priscilla Martinez received her BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Mills College, and her MPhil in International Community Health and PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Oslo in Norway. She went on to postdoctoral training in alcohol studies at ARG/UC Berkeley School of Public Health.RESEARCH FOCUS
Priscilla Martinez’s research examines population-level drinking patterns, alcohol’s health effects, biological mechanisms of those effects, and variations across population subgroups. Her work also examines awareness of alcohol’s health effects, and ways to effectively communicate those effects to the US general population. Her research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods and often draws on longitudinal and panel survey data, including the National Alcohol Survey, where she serves as lead Co-Director. She has also piloted and integrated biomarkers into the National Alcohol Survey and led innovative messaging campaigns such as Drink Less for Your Breasts, a social media campaign to increase awareness of alcohol’s link to breast cancer. Her current work includes examining alcohol use and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic, understanding diverse pathways to recovery, understanding public awareness of alcohol’s role in chronic disease, and identifying communication strategies that promote informed decision-making. Across all her work, she prioritizes methodologically rigorous research that is responsive to contemporary public health challenges and designed to inform evidence-based interventions at both individual and population levels.
Priscilla Martinez is a scientist and Deputy Scientific Director at the Alcohol Research Group with over 15 years of experience in public health research and alcohol research, specifically. She is the lead Co-Director of the National Alcohol Survey, the longest-running alcohol survey in the US. At ARG, Martinez has led several NIH- and state-funded studies examining changes in alcohol use and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the development and dissemination of health communication strategies related to alcohol and breast cancer risk, and alcohol’s effects on inflammation. Her work has contributed to understanding US drinking patterns, participation in mutual-help groups, and public awareness of alcohol’s health effects. She has also contributed to innovations in survey methodology, including the integration of biomarkers into population-based research and strategies for reaching populations less likely to participate in health surveys.
Given her commitment to the next generation of scientists, Priscilla plays an active role in mentoring early-career scientists and trainees and leads the Advanced Alcohol Research Seminar at the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley. She mentors students as part of her participation in professional societies, including the Research Society on Alcohol and the National Hispanic Science Network. She is committed to fostering collaborative research environments to support the growth of emerging scholars.
IN THE NEWS
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