Hi, I’m Phoenix Nénar Williams (they/she)—an interdisciplinary educator, researcher, writer, and artist.

My work spans multiple disciplines, but is unified by a focus on how structure—whether mathematical, biological, or cultural—shapes meaning and experience.

My work sits at the intersection of statistical physics, computational neuroscience, and education. I recently completed an M.S. in Applied Mathematics at the University of Colorado Denver, where I developed analytical and computational frameworks for the Ising model, with applications to inverse modeling of neural dynamics.

More broadly, I am interested in how mathematical models can be used not just for prediction, but for interpretation—using tools from statistical physics to understand the structure, interactions, and dynamics underlying complex systems.

🔬 Research

I’m particularly interested in how mathematical models can be used not just for prediction, but for interpretation—using tools from statistical physics to understand the structure, interactions, and dynamics underlying complex biological systems.

My work focuses on extracting physical meaning from inferred models: analyzing thermodynamic quantities, interaction structures, and the relationship between internal dynamics and external inputs in neural systems.

🎓 Teaching & Education

Alongside my research, I bring over a decade of experience in education, including curriculum development, classroom instruction, and work focused on building inclusive, equity-centered learning environments.

I’m especially interested in how non-traditional pedagogical approaches—such as Montessori-inspired methods—can be adapted to higher education to support more equitable and meaningful learning.

🎬 Creative & Media Work

My work in film, media studies, and creative practice explores how meaning is constructed, interpreted, and shared across different forms. I examine how identity—particularly race, queerness, and disability—shapes both narrative and audience experience.

Across filmmaking, media analysis, and writing, I am especially interested in how form and medium influence meaning, and how creative work can embody experiences that resist simple categorization.

🧠 Core Question

Across all of these areas, I am motivated by a common question:

How do structured systems—mathematical, biological, educational, and cultural—produce meaning, and how can we interpret that structure to better understand the world?