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Dr. John Medina, PhD
NBBJ Fellow
Dr. John Medina, PhD
NBBJ Fellow
Dr. John Medina is a developmental molecular biologist focused on the genes involved in human brain development and the genetics of psychiatric disorders. He has spent most of his professional life as a private research consultant, initially to investigators in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Medina’s client base expanded to include tech industries, governmental agencies, parenting programs, various education-related organizations, senior care professionals – and architecture and design firms.
Several years ago, Medina was offered a fellowship from NBBJ to explore the potential relationship between the cognitive neurosciences and the world of building design. Activities included teaching how the human brain processes external information, and eventually, discussions about the design of individual projects. Medina was initially skeptical about applying cognitive neuroscience to architectural design. But that conviction has changed over the years. Working with NBBJ, Medina has become convinced that, with careful, even grumpy, analysis, the cognitive neurosciences has a well-deserved a place at the design table.
Medina is an affiliate associate professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He is the author of 11 books, including the New York Times bestselling Brain Rules.