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Nic Flatt is a part-time PhD researcher in Performance Science Â鶹ÊÓƵ, supervised by Dr George Waddell and Dr Tania Lisboa. His doctoral research examines how recording environments influence musicians’ attention and perfectionism, with a particular focus on “red-light fever”—the heightened anxiety unique to recording situations. Grounded in performance science and positive psychology, his project explores how mindfulness-based approaches may support the development of metacognitive skills and seeks to better understand their relationship with attention. While focused on musicians, Nic’s research also has applications in other fields where recording plays a key role in performance and assessment, including business, healthcare, and education. 

Alongside his research, Nic is Co-Founder and Creative Director of Fat Panda, an award-winning agency with 15 years’ experience in media and communications. He leads a small team creating meaningful content for global clients. His specialism in science communication and sustainability has led to collaborations with the NHS, the United Nations Foundation, and universities and colleges worldwide. At Imperial College London, Nic has led creative projects on antimicrobial resistance, climate change, global health, information security, engineering, and business innovation. 

Nic first connected with the RCM through Fat Panda, producing animations for the Musical Care project. This led to further collaborations on the HEartS, CPS Podcast, Music and Parental Wellbeing Alliance, and Music, Migration and Mobility projects, inspiring him to return to academia after more than a decade focused on professional practice. He completed his MSc in Performance Science at the RCM, where his dissertation explored flow in virtual reality performance contexts. 

Nic previously studied Music Technology and Digital Media at the University of Huddersfield, followed by a Master’s of Enterprise, during which he founded Fat Panda. He now lives in Sherwood Forest and enjoys long-distance running, meditation, and vegan cooking.