In a past life I trained to become a professional ballet dancer, and studied briefly at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. Ballet inspired my passion for understanding human motion and the art of correct technical movement. Ballet training, much like all serious athletic pursuits, takes a toll on the body. I have beeen in and out of physical therapy throughout the past two decades (thankfully nothing permanent). As a result I am also very passionate about injury prevention, rehabilitation, and exercises for longevity. I am always looking to apply my work to this domain.

Nowadays, outside of research, I play and watch a lot of tennis. I also enjoy pilates, swimming, hiking, and generally photosynthesizing. Indoors, I love reading (flash fiction and memoirs), journaling, and chess.