Alexandra Rieger is a cognitive neuroscientist, multimedia creator, cross-modal researcher, multi-instrumentalist musician, doctoral student and instructor at the MIT Media Lab. She has published over 15 peer-reviewed journal articles and publishings across these fields. Before her PhD placement and second MS at MIT, she received a master’s degree in Neuroscience, Engineering and Cross-Modal Studies at Dartmouth College, received her Bachelor’s at Stanford University and is an Oxford University Alumna (Bing Programme). As a honorary United Nations youth ambassador, her social service work throughout the world (ranging from poverty alleviation to youth wellbeing), international music-healing performances and myriad academic experiences, have informed some of the larger questions in her work. She is passionate about promoting neurodiversity and improving upon the human experience by creating pathways between the fields of neuroscience, technology, music, accessible design and multisensory studies. She is the inventor of the worlds first series of medical-musical instruments: non-invasive devices to heal the brain, engage the senses and support novel musical creativity. Currently she is working on the collaborative Aging Brain Initiative to research the effects of specific frequencies in the treatment of Alzheimer's. Her background in the neurosciences and multi-instrumental skills allow her to design and conceptualise a positive sensory experience around this stimuli to support efficacy and encourage patient compliance. Her research in this area furthermore contributes aspects of cross-modal gamma stimulation for human-centred applications. She is also carving out a new field of inquiry, engaging multimodal sensory and hyper sensory research. Broadly, she seeks to develop and deploy sustainable solutions, assistive technologies and innovations for cognitive pathologies like Alzheimer’s and other challenges facing our communities and world. As of 2016 she was appointed as a MindHandHeart MIT Fellow and a CAST committee member. In 2019 she founded 'Songs for the Earth' in partnership with Club Passim, MIT's MindHandHeart and Open Space MIT; a monthly celebration of intersections between science, music and our planet. Her international lectures on stages across Harvard University, Oxford University and MIT - connect general and expert audiences to cutting-edge, cross-field scientific innovation and dynamic performance.
MULTIMEDIA BIO
ABOUT ALEXANDRA
Alexandra Rieger is a multimedia creator, empathetic design neuroscientist, producer, doctoral student and instructor at MIT. She is a patented inventor, published in over 15 peer-reviewed journal articles across these fields and has contributed to hundreds of videos within non profit sectors, the entertainment industry, Fortune 500 companies and hospitals such as MGH (many projects for internal funders/ patient support/education). Her client list of content creation and creative consulting includes member companies Bose, Harmon, Kia, LEGO, Google, IDEO, Comcast, Colgate-Palmolive, VSP Global and Twitter. Before her PhD placement and second MS at MIT, she received a master’s degree at Dartmouth College, received her Bachelor’s at Stanford University and is an Oxford University Alumna (Bing Programme). While also being a recognised clinical researcher, Alexandra has held the position of MIT MindHandHeart Multimedia Creation and Design Specialist since 2016, creating custom-publicly facing content for the whole institute and the broader global community. She has held similar roles at Dartmouth College earning a Mellon Grant and at the Stanford Daily. Industry credits include leading Variety Magazine’s Altruism in the Arts Interview Series in collaboration with the Screen Actors Guild and Variety’s Peter Debruge. She has also worked as an audio engineer and content creator for The Grammy Foundation and supported the creation of their headlining documentary “Happy on the Ground.” As a Youth Ambassador, Youth Delegate and member of over 20 NPO's (including Ronald McDonald House, Environmental Media Association, In A Perfect World Foundation, Mattel Children’s Hospital and Boys and Girls Town, Operation Smile, etc.) her myriad experiences in social service work throughout the world using arts to promote youth literacy and poverty alleviation, have solidified her dedication to using her innovative media skills for important causes. She is a recognised member of SAG, The Coca Cola Foundation, The Grammy Foundation, MIT’s CAST, an MHH Fellow and Founder of Socially Conscious Multimedia Performance Series: Songs for the Earth.