CURRENT MISSION

Post-doctoral research fellow at Mass. General Hospital

ABOUT ME

"I was kicked out of school for cheating on a metaphysics exam. I stared into the soul of the boy sitting next to me." -- Woody Allen

I find it hard to resist spending summers touring the northeast by bicycle, winters accompanying friends in Schubert Lieder (i.e., 19th C. schmaltz, but gorgeous schmaltz), and evenings of all seasons playing Mozart sonatas or reading about stuff like evolution or music history.

I work at Mass General researching how to make MRI scanners faster and more portable. It's time-consuming work but I enjoy what I do.

Politics are important to me. But I've shifted much of my energy from national to local affairs, where I feel like an individual can have more impact. When I lived in Connecticut I spent a lot of time trying to make New Haven's roads safer for cycling and walking. I've also worked to get bike hooks installed on commuter trains. Both efforts ended up being fruitful. I'm now working on a campaign to remove an ugly viaduct highway in Somerville, MA and replace it with a surface boulevard lined by trees, cycle tracks, and pleasant sidewalks, knitting the community back together.

I love finding patterns and threads that weave together disparate ideas or aspects of life and make them cohere.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've met so many wonderful people as both a surfer and as a host.

Hopefully I'll get to meet you!

Interests

Cycling, classical music (especially Baroque), swing and blues dancing, medical image reconstruction, urban planning and advocacy. Also, most recently, keyboard instrument building. I'm working on a Flemish single-manual harpsichord kit.

• performing arts
• dancing
• walking
• politics
• reading
• music
• classical music
• blues
• cycling
• history
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Lots of Classical, but especially BACH (!), Brahms, Schubert, Mozart, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Purcell. When I surf or host with you, be forewarned that if you get me started, I'll talk endlessly about classical and baroque music.

Jazz and ragtime/stride pianists: Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Fats Waller, Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington, and Scott Joplin. I also love the greats of the post-war / bebop generation: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Charlie Parker, and many others.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Biking in the mountains of the Schwarzwald.

Hearing a live performance of the St. Matthew Passion by Bach.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States

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