Vivienne Ming, PhD

Professional Mad Scientist
Founder of Socos Labs
Chief Scientist at Dionysus Health

Vivienne Ming is a theoretical neuroscientist, AI expert, and unapologetic visionary dedicated to solving some of the world’s toughest challenges. 

Named one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2017 and recognized by the Financial Times as an influential LGBTQ+ leader, she has built a career at the intersection of neuroscience, technology, and human potential.

Vivienne’s path to success was anything but conventional. Early in life, she struggled with depression, homelessness, and leaving university before returning a decade later to earn a Bachelor of Science in cognitive neuroscience from UC San Diego. She went on to complete a PhD in psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, where she also trained in computational neuroscience at the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition. She later held a joint postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford and UC Berkeley, where she remains a visiting scholar. Over her career, Vivienne has founded six startups and served as chief scientist for multiple organizations. 

Our executive director Robin Zander was the first employee at Vivienne’s company Socos Labs, a “mad science incubator” where Vivienne and her team explore ways to maximize human potential, tackling issues from economic inclusion to bias in hiring. As Chief Scientist at Dionysus Health, she applies machine learning to counteract the harmful effects of chronic stress. Her work extends into neurotechnologies for dementia, AI-driven tools for education, and predictive models for health and well-being.

Outside of her professional work, Vivienne applies her expertise in deeply personal ways. She developed a predictive model of diabetes to help manage her diabetic son’s glucose levels and has designed systems to anticipate manic episodes in individuals with bipolar disorder. Not only that, she also developed ‘Muse’, which is a machine learning tool to help parents support creativity, motivation, and emotional intelligence for their children. 

Beyond research, Vivienne is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM. She serves on the board of Our Family Coalition, supporting LGBTQ+ families, and speaks globally on AI ethics, equity, and the future of work. Her insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Quartz Magazine, The Financial Times, BBC Radio 4, and NPR. She has delivered talks at TEDx, Singularity University, the Royal Irish Academy, and the Royal Society, consistently challenging conventional thinking on AI, creativity, and human capability.

How to Robot Proof Your Kids

Vivienne Ming will dive into how AI and neuroscience intersect to reshape human potential. Her session explores practical ways to use AI as an empowering tool, helping us prepare future generations to thrive in a technology-driven world while maintaining creativity, emotional intelligence, and autonomy.