PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
Nicolas Daniel Silva, LMSW, MS, “Nico” is a Society for Neuroscience “NSP” Scholar, social worker, artist, scientist, musician, curator, theatre maker, performance studies researcher, writer, and consultant.
He holds a BS in Microbiology with a concentration in Neuroscience, a Master of Social Work, a Master of Biological Sciences and Women’s and Gender Studies and is a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) investigating the use of music and sound as health behaviors, indicators, and neurotechnological interventions. He has lectured on performance studies theories, texts, and realities in the Department of Theatre and Dance with Dr. Melissa Melpignano, the Director of Dance. The first iteration of the course culminated in a multidisciplinary performance installation, MAPPING THE RIO which was part of World Water Week UTEP.
He has been invited to the NYU Hemispheric Institute for Performance and Politics Global Convening where he was part of the “Thinking Beyond the Human” Working Group. Last Summer, he presented on the Border Bioentrepeneurship Ecosystem at the NYU/Imperial College London Racial Equity in Technology Entrepreneurship Workshop. He published an article titled “Ultraendurance Sports: A Call to Action” in the peer reviewed Sport Social Work Journal. He also reviews for the Journal as an advanced social work and ultraendurance performance practitioner and researcher. He is a contributor to the Houston-based online arts magazine Glasstire and is a supporter, entrepreneur, and advocate of the Paso Del Norte region. Most recently, he was awarded a BIPOC Point Foundation scholarship and is part of the sixth cohort of the Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship.
He has attended and was awarded a Full Scholarship to the University of Florida Arts in Health Intensive 2023. He also was awarded a 50% Professional Scholarship to the 2024 Arts in Health Research Intensive with the Social Biobehavioural Research Group at the University College London. He currently serves as a PhD Research Associate under the mentorship of Dr. Eva Moya PhD, LMSW and has engaged in focused study on the impacts and realities of sensorineural hearing loss with his Dissertation Committee Chair, Dr. Jason Mallonee, DSW, LCSW-S. Nico’s research and practice spans many disciplines and intersections including performance, social work, arts in health, medicine, and society, mental health, disability, gender studies, queer studies, and basic needs security.