SMARTlab New York

SMARTlab New York is an interdisciplinary research hub based in New York City and part of the global SMARTlab network of innovation-focused clusters. Dedicated to socially responsive research, creative technology, and inclusive design, SMARTlab New York fosters collaboration across the arts, sciences, and humanities to address some of today's most pressing cultural and ecological challenges.

Explore Our Research

The core team brings together renowned experts and visionary thinkers. Dr. Gayil Nalls, an interdisciplinary artist and sensory theorist, leads projects at the intersection of olfactory heritage, environmental conservation, and public engagement. Dr. Daria Dorosh, an artist and researcher, explores the convergence of fashion, data, AI, and sustainability through feminist and systems-based approaches. José Marinez integrates his expertise in humanistic intelligence and AI with hardware and software engineering, developing ethically grounded technologies that augment human capabilities and support integrative health, cognitive empowerment, and community flourishing.

Together, the SMARTlab New York team is advancing transdisciplinary research and public scholarship through artistic experimentation, technological innovation, and community-centered practice.

Dr. Gayil Nalls

Dr. Gayil Nalls is an interdisciplinary artist and sensory theorist whose work with SMARTlab New York centers on the complex relationships between scent, memory, ecology, and cultural identity. Through her founding and leadership of the World Sensorium Conservancy, she has created a globally recognized platform for research and action at the intersection of olfactory heritage and environmental conservation.

Her work is rooted in the understanding that scent is not only a biological and emotional trigger but also a cultural archive. The World Sensorium Conservancy documents and protects the world's most culturally significant aromatic and medicinal plants, many of which are endangered due to climate change, deforestation, and habitat loss. This living archive is supported by rigorous research, drawing on ethnobotany, conservation science, and community memory to highlight the ecological and cultural importance of iconic species.

Dr. Nalls's artistic and theoretical practice invites people to engage with scent as a way of reconnecting with place and history. By using scent as a primary medium, her work bridges the sensory and the political, offering experiences that move people beyond visual aesthetics to embodied environmental awareness. From public scent installations to educational campaigns, she encourages participatory experiences that foster ecological empathy and a sense of collective responsibility for the natural world.

Her projects often take the form of collaborative and community-based efforts, connecting local knowledge with global networks. Through the World Sensorium Conservancy, its journal Plantings, and global database, she promotes the stewardship of aromatic plants and traditional ecological knowledge, while advocating for conservation strategies that are as culturally informed as they are scientifically grounded.

More about Dr. Nalls's work and the World Sensorium Conservancy can be found at worldsensorium.com

Dr. Daria Dorosh

Dr. Daria Dorosh is an artist, designer, and researcher whose work sits at the intersection of fashion, data, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. A pioneer in integrating feminist theory with systems thinking and emerging technologies, she brings decades of experience in both practice and pedagogy to SMARTlab New York. Her interdisciplinary approach reimagines the role of art and design in shaping more equitable and ecologically sound futures.

Central to Dr. Dorosh's practice is her exploration of how bodies, garments, and information systems interact—challenging conventional narratives in fashion and proposing alternative models rooted in care, repair, and resilience. She is especially interested in how digital tools, AI, and pattern recognition can support sustainable fashion practices and empower individual and collective agency.

Her current experimental project, Be the Museum, is a collaboration with artist Yvonne Shortt that reframes the museum not as a static institution, but as a living, participatory entity. The project invites viewers to rethink authorship, ownership, and visibility in the cultural sector. You can learn more about this work and her contributions on the Museum for Contemporary Artists website, where she maintains dedicated project pages.

Dr. Dorosh's contributions to SMARTlab New York reflect a commitment to rethinking how knowledge is created, embodied, and shared, inviting new modes of inquiry that merge art, technology, and systems change. Her work can be seen at: https://www.dariadorosh.com/

José Marinez

José Marinez is a PhD candidate at the College of Engineering and Architecture, University College Dublin. His research focuses on the synergy between humanistic intelligence and artificial intelligence, driven by the core principle of augmenting rather than replacing human capabilities. Specifically, he applies this humanistic intelligence framework to develop AI systems that help induce better lifestyle choices related to nutrition, empowering individuals to make more informed decisions about their health and well-being. A systems thinker with a rigorous and ethically grounded approach, José is committed to developing technologies that amplify cognitive agency, embodiment, and individual potential.

As both a hardware and software engineer, José skillfully integrates physical and digital interfaces to create meaningful interactions that support integrative health, cognitive autonomy, and practical usability. Drawing inspiration from cognitive science, inclusive design, and personal wellness, his research and professional contributions prioritize usability, accessibility, and long-term societal impact.

With experience at several of the world's leading software companies, José has played pivotal roles in the development and deployment of scalable, high-impact technological solutions. His work consistently demonstrates a deep respect for broad usability, practical innovation, and the thoughtful integration of technology into daily life.

Driven by a clear ethical compass, José advocates for technology designed with integrity—fostering an environment where critical inquiry meets actionable innovation. He envisions a future where technology responsibly enhances human potential, empowering individuals and communities to thrive.