(they/them)
Hey there,
I’m Max Schaffer (they/she)—or if you’ve met me online this year in my avatar form, lulu10tacles (she/her). Currently, I’m a third year PhD candidate in the UC San Diego Music department, where I develop & teach courses on virtual embodiments and vocal synthesis. My research sits in the intersection of music and gender studies, with work revolving around digital augmentation and trans identity. I received my BA at Harvard as a hxstory major and gender studies minor—my projects included Pornhub metadata analyses, emotional labor & marxist theory in the gig economy, trans armament & liberation movements, the colonial engine of the Call of Duty franchise, and virtual reality community dynamics. My research ethos centers around accessibility & empathy-driven work with meaningful stakes in community.
Prior to academia I worked as an electrician & lighting designer in theatre & television, a bike messenger & barista, and eventually a startup founder & product manager in the tech sector, where I designed & managed live event applications & hardware. I’ve shown visual art in festivals as an installation artist and perform as Saint Taint. I produce all sorts of music from bass-boosted memecore, to pop, to dance, theatre & film scores, and am primarily trained as a drummer. I grew up in New York City and spent time in Boston and Seattle--now I live in San Diego. I’m proud to identify as nonbinary transfemme, am obsessed with the national parks system (I’ve visited 36 so far), and am pretty friendly, so say hi anytime.
(PhD Integrative Studies)
(B.A. Hxstory & Gender Studies)
(Technical Theatre)
Experience
UC San Diego - Associate Instroctor (April 2023 – Present)
Unbabel - Creative Project Manager (Oct 2021 – January 2023)
UC San Diego - Teaching Assistant (Sept 2020 – April 2023)
Nugg - Product Owner & Manager (July 2018 – December 2018)
Endless Riff - Design Strategist & Product Manager (Feb 2018 – July 2018)
Zuckerberg Media - VP of Product (Apr 2017 – Nov 2017)
Wavelength - Co-founder & CEO (Sep 2015 – April 2017)
Harvard Office for the Arts - "Deep Wounds" Resident Artist Assistant (Feb 2015 – Apr 2015)
Uber - RUSH Bike Messenger & Beta Tester (May 2014 – Sept 2015)
Marshmallow Laser Feast - Projection Media Intern (Jan 2014 – Feb 2014)
Frost Productions NY - New York Event Production Intern (Sep 2012 – Dec 2012)
Manhattan Center Studios - Lighting Tech and Studio Management Intern (Jul 2012 – Aug 2012)
ACT Lighting Inc. - East Intern (Jul 2012 – Aug 2012)
Electronic Theatre Controls - Northeast Intern (Jul 2011 – Aug 2011)
Events, Publications & Interviews
Science on Screen: Teknolust - Post-Film Presentation & KPBS Interview (May 2023)
Harvard Music iii Conference - Workshop (May 2023)
Korea Electro-Acoustic Music Society Conference - Workshop (October 2022)
Future Bodies Conference - Workshop (Oct 2022)
International Association of Women in Music Conference - Workshop (June 2022)
Radio Ö1 - Radiokolleg: Vom Labor auf den Dancefloor Interview (Nov 2020)
Selected Photography
#turkeywatch
As a student I focused most of my papers on the effects of rock & punk music in communist & authoritarian states, pursued independent research on obscure cultural figures from the American Indian movement, and even studied the United State's history of drug-manipulation & torture, but of course the biggest splash I ever made was from the one time I tracked a Turkey for 24 hours in the rain.
My "Day in the Life" study of the Harvard Square turkey (of local lore & fame), began with an open email I sent to students and faculty asking to send pictures and locations if they happened to spot the turkey. By the end of the study I'd received hundreds of responses and a ton of support. I used the information to keep tabs on the lovely creature while I went to classes and took food breaks. The study has gotten mentions from The Boston Globe, Boston.com, & Harvard Flyby. That's probably the closest I'll get to publishing right now.
Rhythm of the City
I've ridden thousands of miles on my bike delivering all sorts of things to all sorts of people. Rhythm of the City is meant to capture the excitement I felt going out to work every day. The project is comprised of the sights and sounds I discovered while exploring the streets & buildings of New York -- despite growing up here things always still managed to surprise me. The music was composed only out of found-sounds from the city and my bicycle, and the visuals were captured by a mounted Go Pro. I unfortunately wasn't recording with a truck clipped my wheel and sent me flipping over the handlebars, but I was fine, so I guess we didn't miss much there. To this day, this is still my favorite job I've ever had-- any messenger will tell you, there's just nothing quite like it.
