Meet the Current ICers

Current Independent Concentrators at Brown

Check out some of the Independent Concentrations currently being pursued at Brown!

To see IC proposals written by graduated ICers, visit the CRC IC Database. Proposals for the Class of 2021 will be posted by the beginning of the fall '21 semester.

Aaron Castillo '23

Food & Identity

Food and Identity is the study of the intersection between food, culture, and identity. The concentration examines what we eat, how food has contributed to cultural development, as well as how food impacts our identity and who we become.

Anya Semizhonova '22

Visual Communication

Visual Communication is the practical and theoretical study of images created with the primary purpose of communicating information and ideas. The concentration investigates images beyond fine art and their relationship with other forms of communication. Through the study of history, aesthetics, visual perception, and illustration techniques, the concentration studies how to efficiently communicate in visual form.

When talking about painting and drawing, one's mind often jumps to the contents of museums. But we are constantly surrounded with images of all kinds: posters, signs, murals, billboard advertisements, book illustrations, packaging, and, of course, social media posts. I believe that these things that some may view as mundane can be just as fascinating as what is considered fine art. This passion for creating images and looking at them is what led my to develop an IC.

Carlos Perez-Ruiz '22

Game Design and Development

Learning how to make stories, art, music, code, all things gaming

Senior double concentrating in Computer Science and Game Design

Caroline David '23

Human-Centered Design

Human-centered design is the study of a problem-solving method which utilizes the scientific study of people to design objects, spaces, or systems.

I'm a junior at Brown studying engineering and human-centered design. I'm passionate about designing a better world by taking advantage of the knowledge of human capabilities and behavior through user research. My backgrounds in visual art, mechanical engineering, theatrical lighting design, and product design allow me to bridge traditionally separate academic fields in order to create without constraint. When I'm not drawing, designing or building you can find me in the woods, at a rock concert, studying, drinking tea, or spending time with my friends and family.

Charisa Shin '22

Human-Centered Design

Human-Centered Design explores the intersection of computer science, human factors, interaction design, and sociology with the objective of facilitating creativity, fostering community, and improving accessibility across digital interfaces.

Charisa (she/her) is a senior originally from the Bay Area, California in constant need of sunshine. She's a product designer by trade (and nature!) and is particularly drawn to designing tools that facilitate community and collaboration, or help people unlock the power of creativity. This past summer, she was a UX Design Intern at Microsoft and a Product Manager with ShelterTech, a San Francisco-based non-profit that develops tech for the homeless community. At Brown, she's an Engaged Scholars Peer Advisor and is involved with Design@Brown and VISIONS Magazine. Talk to her about social computing, books of all kinds, and your favorite hiking trail!

Davi Sapiro-Gheiler '23

The Body: Trans Studies, Aesthetic Culture, and Creative Practice

An in-depth study grounded in Transfeminism of the creation, function, and destruction of the physical and non-physical body in the socioartistic world. The concentration will facilitate creative practice in visual and performing arts through an intersectional curriculum inspired by the student’s identity, lived communities, and ancestry.

Davi is a multimedia artist synthesizing both theory and creative practice from their lived identities and communities. They are an avid consumer of film and television and enjoy collaboration across disciplines. Davi is a multimedia artist synthesizing both theory and creative practice from their lived identities and communities. They are an avid consumer of film and television and enjoy collaboration across disciplines.

Emily Moini '23

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)

PPE is an interdisciplinary concentration that uses an integrated viewpoint to understand, analyze, and address society’s most crucial problems. My IC specifically leveraged PPE as a comprehensive lens for exploring the political economy of the American nonprofit sector.

I am a junior who is a member of the Women’s Cross Country team, a Social Innovation Fellow at the Swearer Center, and a member of the student organization 180 Degrees. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, journaling, and exploring yummy food spots in Providence!

Ethan Pan '22

Food Writing

Food Writing draws upon scholarship on food cultures, strong creative nonfiction writing skills, and a theory-based framework of food justice to understand how food relates to written media and the sociopolitical world and how food writing can serve as a means towards food justice.

Ethan studies Cognitive Science along with Food Writing. In his free time, he enjoys singing, playing guitar, and talking to people over long meals.

Gemma Brand-Wolf '22.5

Studies of Death & Dying

Studies of Death & Dying is the interdisciplinary exploration of death as a social, political, and personal reality. This concentration considers the ways in which death is woven into the fabric of our lives and ponders the fundamental questions of how we die, what it means to die, how we imagine and represent death, and how we consider life in the knowledge and wake of death. This concentration explores topics related to death and dying, including trauma, memory, loss, grief, and violence, and investigates these topics through historical and political research, as well as personal narrative and creative practice.

I'm one of the IC coordinators but I also exist outside the IC world!! I am double concentrating in American Studies with a focus on Legal and Political Systems. I am from Los Angeles, so I am always cold in Providence. I miss my dog, Taz, who you can see prominently featured in my headshot. If you are looking for a book to read about death & dying, I recommend Hanif Abdurraqib's "A Little Devil in America," which is not completely about death, but is amazing and you should read it.

Izzy Cox '23

Human Rights and the Refugee Experience

Human Rights and the Refugee Experience explores the ideologies underpinning universal human rights, the enforcement, interpretation, and evolution of human rights, and how these ideas’ circulation and practice shape the lives, identities, and experiences of refugees and other groups.

I am on Brown's coed/women's varsity sailing team and I am involved with college sailing's regional and national DEI initiatives. I'm studying Arabic at Brown. My family has a rescue dog named Shadow that keeps getting kicked out of daycare. I love warm apple cider, reading, and naps.

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Jason Tristan Brown '23

Black Speculative Arts & Afrofuturism A.B.

Black Speculative Arts & Afrofuturism focuses on the study of Creative Writing and Acting through the lens of the black diaspora; it explores the past, present, future, and alternate realities of the black diaspora through performance art, filmmaking, and literature.

My name is Jason Tristan Brown, a Junior at Brown University. I am studying Black Speculative Arts & Afrofuturism A.B. with a focus on amplifying Black voices in multimedia entertainment. I believe in embodying the kindness in the world that I would like to see. And that there is NO compromising identity. In my pastime, I write children’s fiction novels, feature films, short stories, novellas, and performance scripts for short films and plays. I am interested in the Film Production Industry, Creative Publishing Industry, and Marketing Industry. My aim is to serve my community by fostering a love of film production and literary prowess in multi-ethnic, low-income backgrounds.

Kaitlin Goldin '23

Storytelling

This concentration explores a multitude of storytelling methods (from theater to creative nonfiction to oral traditions and more) along with critical perspectives to delve into the questions: How do we tell stories in a way that compels others to listen? How does each medium of storytelling shape the story it is telling? And how can I, a storyteller who is privileged in many ways, consider my own positionality in telling stories and work to use my power to create space for others (i.e. POC, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities) whose stories have historically been pushed to the sidelines?

Kaitlin Goldin is a theatermaker, comedian, and writer who currently focuses on telling stories about queer identity, mental health, interpersonal relationships, and womanhood. She is from Marin County, California, and transferred to Brown from NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study in Fall 2020.

Lily Lewis '22

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

PPE explores how human ideas and institutions drive change. The study implores the utilization of philosophical ideals and economic realities in the formulation of policy-based solutions for key societal problems. Just as sailors at sea require three compasses to discern their position and navigate tumultuous foreign waters, PPE utilizes three different instruments to explore today’s equally turbulent affairs. I am exploring PPE in the context of sustainable finance and attempting to discern whether we can accord capital markets with a conscience!

I am a senior from London concentrating in PPE. I am currently working at a sustainable investing startup and am passionate about contributing to the energy transition. On campus, I serve as the Editor in Chief of Brown’s Journal of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. In my free time, I can be found going on adrenaline adventures, eating croissants and writing haikus.

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Maisy Meyer '22

Human Biological and Medical Illustration

My concentration in Human Biological and Medical Illustration would unite the study of technical art skills with the study of medical and biological science. These two fundamental parts of the concentration will come together and allow me to study the communication skills required to convey medical information effectively. Biological and medical illustration is crucial to communicating medical science to a broad and diverse audience– from students to professionals to the general public.

I am a senior studying my IC and Chemistry! I love to crochet, embroider, paint and cook, and I am absolutely terrible baker. I also play the cello and spend a lot of my free time doing organic chemistry, either in the lab or in the classroom.

Reetam Ganguli '23

Cancer Engineering in Medicine

Cancer Engineering covers the intersection of medical engineering, statistics, AI (machine learning), and cancer biology. It looks at unqiue medical engineering adjacent courses at brown (Neuroengineering, Tissue Engineering, Carduiovasculr Engineering, Deep Learning in Genomics, etc) and applies them to the realm of cancer biology and cancer therapeutics.

I'm from San Jose, CA, but have moved 8 times throughout my life! I love entrepreneurial/nonprofit work, and like fiddling around with card tricks at parties :)

Sojas Wagle '23

Psychiatric Epidemiology

Psychiatric Epidemiology studies the incidence, distribution, and control of mental illness in populations, especially racial, gender, and sexual minority populations.

Sojas Wagle hails from Springdale, Arkansas and serves as a board member of the theatre group Production Workshop, works with BWell: Health Promotion as a Wellness Peer Educator and Sexual Assault Peer Educator, and conducts research in public health and Indigenous mindfulness.

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Theodore Akpinar '22.5

Computational Neuroscience

Computational Neuroscience uses computers and mathematical tools to study the brain. Computational methods are used to quantitatively research and model neural processes and then neurological research and data are used to inform the development of new and better computational tools. This concentration lives at the intersections of minds, brains, machines, and math.

My favorite spot on campus is the Sci Li! 🧠✨

Class of 2021.5:

Peter Deegan, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, AB
Saoirse MaherGreene, Social Trauma Studies, AB
Ivy Scott, International Journalism, AB
Benjamin Spiegel, Computers and Minds, ScB

Class of 2022:

Sara AlRabiah, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, AB
Evan Dong, Sustainability, Institutions, and Organizations, AB
Muskaan Garg, Political Psychology and Behavior, AB
Ilia Giokaris, Human-Centered Design, AB
Alexander Kamper, Geography, AB
Starling Lily Louis, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, AB
Maisy Meyer, Human Biological and Medical Illustration, AB
Neha Mukherjee, Journalism, AB
David Onabanjo, Communication and Social Influence, AB
Ethan Pan, Food Writing, AB
Carlos Perez-Ruiz, Game Design and Development, AB
Laila Rodenbeck, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, AB
Diego Rodriguez, Philosophical Inquiry Through Creative Forms, AB
Sydney Scott, Entrepreneurship and Music Innovation, AB
Anya Semizhonova, Visual Communication, AB
Charisa Shin, Human-Centered Design, AB
Thomas Summe, Computational Neuroscience, ScB

Class of 2022.5:

Theodor Apkinar, Computational Neuroscience, ScB
Gemma Brand-Wolf, Studies of Death and Dying, AB
Aicha Soukab, Transnational Indigenous Memory, AB

Class of 2023:

Jason Brown, Black Spectulative Arts and Afrofuturism, AB
Aaron Castillo, Food and Identity, AB
Kira K. Clarke, Imagination (Cognition, Computation, and Expression), ScB
Izzy Cox, Human Rights and the Refugee Experience, AB
Caroline David, Human-Centered Design, AB
Reetam Ganguli, Cancer Engineering in Medicine, ScB
Kaitlin Goldin, Storytelling, AB
Rachel Huynh, Food and Culture in US American Society, AB
John Lin, Health Systems and Policy, AB
Emily Moini, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, AB
Alex Purdy, Identity, Being, and Otherness, AB
Sojas Wagle, Psychiatric Epidemiology, ScB
Lila Zimbalist, Computational Neuroscience, ScB

Class of 2023. 5:

Davi Sapiro-Gheiler, The Body: Trans Studies, Aesthetic Culture, and Creative Practice