Cultivating Resilience in Education and Beyond
I’m Dr. Flux, a neuroscientist, psychologist, and interdisciplinary artist whose work moves between science, creativity, and advocacy. My path has never followed a straight line, and that’s by design. Each turn - from research labs to art studios, from clinical settings to underground performance spaces - has deepened my fascination with how humans think, feel, and learn.
Flux isn’t just my name.
It’s how I live.
From neuroscience to nightlife, art to advocacy, I’ve built a life around curiosity, compassion, and change.
I’ve been a researcher, a body painter, an educator, a bartender, a performer, and a content creator - sometimes all in the same year. Through every chapter, one principle has remained constant: movement.
Research and Education
I hold a joint PhD in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder, where my research focused on novel therapeutics for mental health, particularly floatation tank therapy, also known as sensory deprivation. My broader academic interests include psychoneuroimmunology, the study of how mind and body interact through the immune system, and the relationship between emotion and reality perception.
As a clinician, I’ve worked in multiple therapeutic settings, including substance use, severe and persistent mental illness, and community mental health. A large portion of my clinical work was done serving indigenous communities. While I am not currently acting in a clinical capacity, these experiences continue to shape my understanding of human resilience and mental health.
I also hold degrees in Biotechnology (B.S., Thomas Jefferson University), Neuroscience and Physiology (M.S., NYU), and Psychology (M.S. CU Boulder), and I’ve worked in over a dozen research labs across industry and academia. My consulting work has included clinical trial design for the psychedelics company Cybin, grant writing for the Australian nonprofit ShareTree, science communication for Social Creatures, and ethical consultation for the State of Colorado during the development of the Natural Medicine Health Act. I have also promoted safety and harm reduction in nightlife spaces, being on hand for individuals struggling with drug use and preventing overdose.
Currently, I’m collaborating with colleagues at Carleton University and CU Boulder on projects that explore gender equity in psychology, the microbiome, and the human affectome. Across all of these efforts, I’m drawn to research that crosses disciplines and expands how we understand being human.
Measuring Affect: A Novel In-the-Moment Tracking Tool
This presentation was part of the 2023 Nova Annual Conference on the "Seeds of Change: Inspiring a Better Future” which explored a wide range of issues underscoring the interconnections between the well-being of individuals, communities, and the environments on which we depend—including challenges to our physical, social, economic, and spiritual climate. The conference had a strong emphasis on solutions, positive narratives, and healthy relationships, as a path to cross-sectoral engagement for collaborative change.