David Martinez, PhD

Getting through UCT’s sociology program while researching post-apartheid social dynamics was intense. But those four years of navigating complex social research taught me something invaluable: how to find clarity in the messiest, most emotionally charged topics. Now I spend my time helping students do exactly that with their own research.

My journey started in social work, but I quickly realized I was more interested in understanding the systems behind social problems than treating individual cases. That led me to a Master’s in Sociology, then a PhD focusing on urban inequality and community resilience. Along the way, I developed a serious appreciation for mixed-methods research – sometimes you need numbers to show the scope of a problem, and sometimes you need stories to show what it actually feels like.

What I bring to the table after seven years of academic coaching is real experience with research that matters. I’ve worked in townships, conducted interviews in multiple languages, and learned how to present sensitive findings to audiences who might not want to hear them. That background helps me guide students through politically charged topics, community-based research, and studies that tackle uncomfortable truths.

My client base spans Social Sciences, Public Health, Development Studies, and Education – basically anywhere human behavior intersects with social systems. I’ve successfully mentored 340+ students, with a particular talent for helping people who feel overwhelmed by the scope of social problems they’re trying to study. Sometimes the hardest part isn’t collecting data; it’s figuring out how to present findings that can actually create change.

Technical skills include qualitative analysis software (I’m practically married to Atlas.ti at this point), survey design, focus group facilitation, and community engagement strategies. I’m fluent in APA, ASA, and Harvard citation styles, though honestly, I spend more time helping students organize their thoughts than fixing their references.

My success rate of 94% comes from meeting students where they are emotionally, not just academically. Social research can be draining – you’re constantly confronting inequality, trauma, and systemic failures. I help students process that emotional weight while maintaining scholarly objectivity. It’s a delicate balance, but essential for producing work that’s both rigorous and humane.

What sets my coaching apart is cultural competency. Having grown up in Cape Town and worked across different communities, I understand how race, class, and culture shape research relationships. I help students navigate ethical considerations, build genuine community partnerships, and avoid the colonial academic mindset that treats communities as data sources rather than collaborators.

Students appreciate my direct communication style – I’ll tell you when your methodology has holes, but I’ll also brainstorm solutions with you. Academic writing doesn’t have to be pretentious to be powerful. Some of the most impactful social research uses accessible language to reach broader audiences.

Outside work, I’m usually hiking Table Mountain when the weather cooperates, or hunting down the best bunny chow in whatever city I’m visiting. I also volunteer with a youth mentorship program because I believe academic skills should benefit communities, not just individual careers. Oh, and I make a mean bobotie – cooking helps me think through complex research problems.