A little about me...
I'm a neuroscience research trainee who prefers drawing/painting/you-name-it over talking to my therapist.
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In all seriousness, I've been drawing for as long as I can remember, and I'm so glad to be sharing my passion for all things art and design with you!
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I studied neuroscience at USC (grad. '22) to delve into my love for art by understanding the cognitive components that drive the creative process.
As a research assistant at the USC Brain & Creativity Institute (BCI), I helped investigate how intergenerational relationships help adolescents connect daily experiences to broader life purpose. I also began studying adaptive therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD), ultimately designing an art therapy program that leverages the creative process to address PD motor symptoms and build resilience against emotional challenges.
This led me to the Stanford School of Medicine Poston Lab, where I currently study biological markers of neurodegenerative disease, namely Lewy body disease (which includes PD).
I currently evaluate blood-based biomarkers for the detection of Alzheimer's disease co-pathology in Lewy body disease --aiming to provide objective information to support diagnostic and treatment decisions for those with neurodegenerative disease.
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I'm also interested in understanding the biological factors and pathways which underly vulnerability and resilience in brain aging. I hope to translate this knowledge into preventive strategies for neurodegenerative disease.​​​
Though my research interests no longer lie within art, I will always be driven by the following: creation is a tool that brings people together.
The collaborative nature of art and science is what makes these fields so impactful. The products of artistic and scientific inquiry are a reflection of the shared human drive to understand, connect with, and better the world around us. When we come together to create something new, not only do we form meaningful relationships with each other, but we also build a greater sense of belonging and purpose.​
Driven by this, I lead the California Connecting Through Art program, a partnership between Stanford and the American Parkinson's Disease Association. We provide monthly group art therapy sessions to the PD community. Our gathering aims to provide a supportive and therapeutic environment for participants to explore and share their emotions through artistic expression.
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My art is largely an exploration of identity as I've grown into adulthood, reflecting how incredibly unlinear this journey of "finding myself" has been. I'm still learning what it means to be a young woman in STEM. As I grow personally, my work (in both science and art) will grow too. I hope you'll join me on this endeavor! ​​
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With love always,
Alena
