'Einstein for Beginners' Leads Physics Student to a Path That
'Matters'   Luis Martinez's path to college wasn't a straight
line. In fact, higher education wasn't originally a part of his
post-high school plans.  "I didn't think about going to
college," he said. "I didn't even think that I could."  Fast
forward to 2009.  This semester, Martinez started his second
year as a doctoralstudent at UC Merced, where he is pursing a
Ph.D. in physics. He's also one of two students to receive the
university's Faculty Mentor Program Fellowship(FMP) for the
2009-10 school year.  The fellowship helps recipients acquire
and develop advanced research skills while working under a
faculty member's guidance. The goal is to improve mentoring
opportunities between faculty and doctoral students who aren't
yet at the dissertation stage but are currently engaged in
research. The fellowship covers school expenses for one academic
year.  Fellowship selectees conduct research during the fall
semester and develop an independent project