Maya Theresia is a scientist, storyteller and artist. Born in the U.S. and raised in Australia, Maya’s multicultural background spans 6 continents and gives her a unique perspective on the world. At Tufts University, Maya earned a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering with a minor in computer science, while sneaking in art classes at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts whenever she could. In 2021, Maya began her post-baccalaureate training in the Peron Lab at NYU. As a Senior Research Associate, she is studying how circuits in the somatosensory cortex drive tactile perception and influence behavior in mice. Outside of the lab, you can find Maya telling stories through painting, performing and filmmaking. Currently, Maya is developing an animated short film, inspired by her Grandpa’s experience time-shifting with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Personal Science New Wave Manifesto:

Science and art are not in opposition but are closely intertwined. They both start with an observation, whether physical (the world) or abstract (the human condition), that sparks our imagination. Ultimately, they are both pursuits to make sense of our reality. There seems to be a modern idea that science is purely rational; yet, we are not unbiased observers of the world, but active participants experiencing it. Though anchored in repeatable steps and empirical evidence, the process of science is a creative one. In fact, to truly be unbiased is to set your imagination free – and art is creativity in its freest form. As Einstein said, “where the world ceases to be the scene of our personal hopes and wishes, where we face it as free beings admiring, asking, and observing, there we enter the realm of Art and Science.”