The SciArt Team

Julia Buntaine Hoel
Founder, Executive Director
Julia Buntaine Hoel is a conceptual artist interested in the brain, and Founding Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief of SciArt Initiative. She holds positions at multiple academic institutions where she helps generate science-art-technology collaboration and curricula. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, and Forbes, among others. Julia is based in Boston, Masachusetts.
Kate Schwarting
​Programs Manager
Kate Schwarting is an Interdisciplinary artist from New York. Her work utilizes traditional and new media techniques to explore the intersection of art and science with an emphasis on time, process and interactivity. Her work is part of the permanent collection of the Microbiology Department at Oregon State University as well the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt. Kate is based in Long Island, New York.
Marnie Benney
​Curatorial & Innovation Advisor
Marnie Benney is an Independent Producer and Curator working at the juncture of art, science and technology. She has a passion for engaging local, regional and international communities and fostering connection through experimental, approachable, multi-sensory, contemporary art projects. Benney is also Gallery Director at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. Marnie is based in New York City.
Emily Garfield
​Community Synapse Architect
​Emily Garfield is a professional artist based in New York. She works in pen and watercolor to create intricate maps of imaginary places inspired by the visual language of cartography as well as the fractal similarity that cities share with biological patterns such as cells and neurons. She has held workshops at art venues across the country, from the DeCordova and Peabody Essex museums in the Boston area to the Snite Museum of Art of Notre Dame in Indiana.
Phoebe Chen
Community Instagram Curator
Phoebe is currently working as a research assistant in a psychology lab, and exploring various forms of art. She graduated last year with a neuroscience degree and a photography honor thesis. She believes that the interdisciplinary nature of both art and science would open up possibilities on an interesting level. Phoebe is based in New York City.
​Kiran Gurung
Colloquium Manager
Kiran Gurung is a PhD student in Microbiology at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Away from her PhD, she enjoys science-inspired artwork and pursues her enthusiasm of exploring pen and pencil art.

Board of Directors

Julia Buntaine Hoel (President)
Kate Schwarting (Secretary)
Jody Rasch (Treasurer)
Marnie Benney
​William Myers
Join our team:

We're currently accepting applications for Exhibits Intern and Social Media Intern. Email us at info@sciartinitiative.org for more information.

Where you can find us

While SciArt Initiative does not have one designated location, you can find us at our pop-up art shows and associated events. Stay tuned by joining our mailing list: