Research Interests

Interdisciplinary artist and educator investigating sculpture in an expanded field, intersecting with media technologies

and research in consciousness studies and neuroaesthetics.

Academic Background

2026–present
Member, Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity (SfNC) ,

an international network of scientists and practitioners studying the neuroscience of creativity.
Research Associate, Laboratory for Consciousness, Perception, and Neurophenomenology,

University of Haifa, Israel. Development of a 3D visual interface for mapping Near-Death Experience spaces,

self-location, self-motion, and emotional dimensions through graphic reconstruction.

2023–2025
Assistant Professor, BIMSA (Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications), Beijing, China.
Graduate courses taught:

(Fall 2024)
– Neuroaesthetics and Generative AI in Scientific Visualization: Theories and Applications

(Spring 2025)
– Embodied Learning in XR Technologies Applied to Mathematics 
– Theoretical Foundations of Neuroaesthetics Applied to Scientific Representations

via Generative AI Models and XR Technologies

(2023–2024)

2016–2022
Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory for Robotics and Virtual Reality, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science,

Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. Supervisor: Prof. Tamar Flash.
Conducted interdisciplinary research on motor control using Vicon motion capture and virtual reality.

2009–2010
Founder and Director, Jerusalem Open-Art, Jerusalem, Israel.
Participatory art project based in the Old City of Jerusalem, organizing workshops with local craft communities,

Armenian ceramicists, Palestinian embroiderers, and Russian Orthodox icon painters, promoting cultural sustainability

and interfaith collaboration.

2008–2010
Art and Design Program Author, Israeli Ministry of Education.
Commissioned by Yoel Tordjman to author a revised curriculum for Orthodox high schools, integrating contemporary art

and design within religious pedagogical frameworks.

2005–2010
Lecturer, Hadassah Academic College, Jerusalem, Israel.
Undergraduate courses: Inclusive Industrial Design Drawing Practices and Interactive Communication Drawing Practices.

2003–2005
Art Instructor in Sculpture and Drawing, Emunah College, Jerusalem, Israel.

2003–2004
Art Instructor, Talpiot College of Education, Holon, Israel.

Academic Background
2012–2016
Ph.D. in Art and Science, summa cum laude
Royal Academy of Arts / Faculty of Philosophy and Bioethics (HELESI), Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) and Université de Liège (ULg), Belgium.
Supervisors: Prof. Steven Laureys (Coma Science Group, ULg) and Prof. Mylène Botbol-Baum (UCL).
Co-promoter: Bruno Goosse (ARBA-ESA).
Dissertation: Matière des déplacements des états de mort imminente (e-motion, création, réparation) — Matter of Displacements in Near-Death Experiences: E-motion, Creation, and Repair.

2012–2014
Clinical Internship, Neurology, Coma Science Group (Prof. Steven Laureys), CHU Liège, Belgium.

2010–2012
Master of Advanced Studies in Art and Science (DEA), Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts (ARBA-ESA), Department of Public Space, Brussels, Belgium.
In collaboration with Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) and the Coma Science Group, Université de Liège (ULg).
Dissertation: Testimonies and Graphic Representations of Out-of-Body Experiences.

1991–1995
BA (Hons) in Fine Art with Art History, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom.
Specialization in sculpture with coursework in drawing, painting, printmaking, lens-based media, and performance.
Supervisor: Phillip King PRA (1934–2021), former President of the Royal Academy.

1993
Artist Residency (One-Semester Academic Exchange), Pushkinskaya 10 Art Center, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Created installations in collaboration with composer Yuri Kassyanik for the White Nights Festival (1994).

1989–1991
Foundation in Art and Design, Chelsea College of Art, London, United Kingdom.

Technical Training for Artistic Practice

2022
Digitization and Restoration Project, CMJ Israel Heritage Center.
Directed the digitization of over 8,000 autochrome and early photographic glass plates (c.1900–1920) from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, England, Ethiopia, Italy, and Palestine. Oversaw conservation, digitization, and cataloguing.

2020
3D Modeling & Photogrammetry.
Trained in 3DF Zephyr for FBX and OBJ model generation from high-resolution images. Applied to sculpture, virtual installations, and digital archiving.

2008–present
Molding and Casting.
Expertise in life casting (Alginate, BodySilk™, dental silicone), plaster, and latex techniques for direct application and replication.

2008–2010
Advanced Patina and Bronze Casting, Esh Castings Ltd., Israel.
Work on Resuscitation bronze installation; specialization in ferric and cupric nitrate patinas, sulfurated potash, and heat-based coloration.

2004 (Summer)
Bronze Restoration, Israel Museum.
Restoration of Jim Dine’s The Crommelynck Gate with Tools (1983).

2001
Silver Electroplating Internship, Interplate Ltd., Bnei Brak, Israel.

1998–2000
Intaglio Printmaking, Jerusalem Print Workshop.
Trained in drypoint, etching, and aquatint on copper and aluminum plates.

1996
Lost-Wax Casting, Fonderie Barthélémy Arts, Crest, Drôme, France.
Produced Sacrifice Without an Offering and studied étainage (tin-layer patina technique).

1995 (Summer)
Bronze Casting Internship, Putney Art Foundry, London, United Kingdom.

1995
Glass Casting Specialization, University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Farnham, United Kingdom.

1993–1994 (Summer)
Drawing Training with Euan Uglow, Slade School of Fine Art, London, United Kingdom.
Workshops focused on proportion, spatial calibration, and tonal construction.

Publications

2025 — “Virtual Reality Setup to Assess Space-Time Geometry Effects on Retrospective Temporal Perception,” PRESENCE: Virtual and Augmented Reality (under revision).
2025 — “Architecture of Near-Death Experience Spaces,” bioRxiv preprint; submitted to i-Perception (Sage Publications).
2021 — “VR Setup to Assess Peripersonal Space Audio-Tactile 3D Boundaries,” Frontiers in Virtual Reality.
2021 — “Self-Locations Kinematics Influence the Generation of Near-Death Experience Cognitive and Affective Perceptions,” Journal of Near-Death Studies.
Research and Ongoing Projects
2023–2025 — The Sense of Space, Self-Location, Motion, and Emotions in Near-Death Experiences.
Collaboration with Bar-Ilan University Cognitive Neurosciences Department (Prof. Roy Salomon) and IANDS.
2023–2025 — Neurophysiological Basis of Visual Representations in NDEs.
Collaboration with Prof. Ben Thompson, University of Waterloo.
2024 — Development of a 3D Digital Questionnaire for Near-Death Experiencers.
Pilot study for hospital-based assessment of self-location and spatial cognition.
2023–2025 — Virtual Reality Application for Knot Theory in Mathematics.
Collaboration with BIMSA and Tsinghua University.
Awards and Grants
2023–2025 — Beijing Natural Science Foundation (BJNSF).
2020–2022 — Braginsky Center Grant, Interface between Science and the Humanities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.
2008 — Baumann Prize, French Jewish Foundation, Paris.
2003 — European Association for Jewish Culture Grant.
1997 — First Prize, David de Rothschild Fund.
Talks and Interviews (Selected)
October 2025 — New York Post article: “Architecture of Near-Death Experiences.”
October 2025 — Daily Mail interview with William Hunter on NDE research.
September 2025 — Lab Talks, Center for Sleep and Consciousness (Madison, USA) and Martinez-Conde Laboratory (SUNY Downstate, NY).
July 2025 — ASSC Satellite Event on Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness, Ligres, Crete.
April 2025 — Visiting Researcher, University of Santiago de Compostela (Spatio-Temporal Configuration of Transcendental Experiences).
June 2022 — Lecture, Liad Mudrik Laboratory, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
2019 — Virtual and Robotic Embodiment: From Neuroscience to VR and Robotics, Barcelona University, Spain.
2018–2019 — Conferences and workshops in Tübingen, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem.
2015 — Radio interviews (Reshet Bet in Hebrew; Kol Israel in French).
2015 — Art and Technology: Research Team of Artists and Scientists for Nanotechnology Project Development, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel.