Faculty
FLAVIO FROHLICH, PH.D. – PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Flavio’s goal is to revolutionize how we treat psychiatric illnesses. His vision is that understanding cortical state dynamics will enable the development of novel non-invasive brain stimulation paradigms that directly target pathological network dynamics. Flavio is convinced that such rational design of neurotherapeutics will open the door for individualized, highly effective brain stimulation in psychiatry. Flavio directs the Carolina Center for Neurostimulation that offers numerous clinical trials of novel experimental treatments for depression and other mental illnesses.
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ANGIESZKA ZUBERER, PH.D. - RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Agnieszka explores the cognitive and neural mechanisms that shape our attention and emotional engagement in the world. Agnieszka is fascinated by understanding what makes us more or less engaged than others and how these processes impact our well-being. Agnieszka’s particular interest lies in advancing closed-loop paradigms, where brain stimulation protocols are refined using real-time behavioral and pupilometric markers. With a focus on optimizing attention and affect regulation, Agnieszka aims to contribute to the ever-evolving research in cognitive psychiatry.
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Postdoctoral & Associated Scholars
MAGDALENDA CAMENZIND, PH.D. - POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR
Magdalena earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Bern in Switzerland, where she delved into the intricate world of brain science. Her passion revolves around unravelling the intricate web of interactions that occur between different brain areas—a captivating field known as network neuroscience. She finds great fascination in the transformative power of neurostimulation, which holds the potential to untangle and define the relevant brain regions and networks responsible for specific cognitive functions, most notably cognitive control. By exploring this area, Magdalena is actively paving the way for identifying promising targets for therapeutic neurostimulation application to treat cognitive impairment.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Magdalena finds inspiration in the natural wonders of North Carolina. Whether on foot or bicycle, she avidly explores the diverse flora and fauna of the region. Additionally, she channels her creativity into the creation of photo books, capturing and preserving the beauty she encounters along her journeys. |
CORINNE CARLTON-SMITH, PH.D. - CLINICAL FELLOW
Corinne earned her Clinical Psychology PhD at Virginia Tech. Corinne is interested in reward-related mechanisms as they relate to anhedonia within anxiety and depression. She conducts clinical assessments and interventions for the lab, and hopes to examine the effect of a single-day treatment for depression that combines psychotherapy and neurostimulation. In her free time, Corinne enjoys baking, reading, hiking, and hanging out with friends.
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ZACHARY FELDMAN, M.D. - SENIOR RESEARCH CLINICIAN
Dr. Zachary Feldman is a board-certified psychiatrist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina. He is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and past-president of the North Carolina Psychiatric Association. Dr. Feldman graduated from the University of Virginia in biology before attending medical school at Duke University. He then completed residency in General Psychiatry and fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UNC. Dr. Feldman practiced psychiatry in private practice and community settings for 11 years before returning to UNC to join the faculty in 2021. He aims to utilize his experience in clinical psychiatry to help direct the study of novel treatments through his work with the Carolina Center for Neurostimulation.
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MAX ARCHIBALD MONTGOMERY, PH.D. - POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR
Max received his Ph.D. from the University of Ghent, in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany. During his doctoral studies, he explored how components of music therapy, such as music listening, influence temporal neural dynamics, specifically phase-amplitude coupling. Max is passionate about leveraging neuroscience to benefit patients with various neurological and psychiatric disorders, ranging from Parkinson’s disease to major depressive disorder. His current research focuses on validating neurophysiological correlates of emotion processing, including pupillometry and functional connectivity during movie watching.
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MELANNI NANNI-ZEPEDA, PH.D - POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR
Melanni earned her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Tubingen in Germany, specializing in the exploration of behavioral and pupillometric markers to elucidate the foundations of emotional processes. Her current research endeavors center on the real-time utilization of these markers, employing state-of-the-art techniques such as brain stimulation and neuroimaging with a paramount objective of enhancing treatments for emotional disorders. Outside of her academic pursuits, she derives fulfillment from artistic endeavors such as drawing, watching movies, dance, and recreational sports activities.
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JIMIN PARK, PH.D. - POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR
Jimin earned his Ph.D. in Electronic Engineering from Hanyang University in South Korea. He is focused on defining causal roles of neural oscillations during cognitive processing using brain stimulation and neuroimaging. He is also interested in the computational simulation of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation, using signal processing and artificial intelligence to analyze oscillatory signals. In his free time, he enjoys playing board/online games and watching/playing sports.
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SUSANNE RADTKE-SCHULLER, PH.D. - ASSOCIATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Susanne focuses on the question how neuroanatomical structure is linked to neurophysiological function and especially what is the 'hardware' underlying behavior and cognitive processing in the brain. She is convinced that this is essential to understand brain processes in healthy and pathological states.
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ATHENA STEIN, PH.D. - POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR
Athena received her PhD from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. During her PhD, she investigated the novel use of non-invasive neurostimulation to improve attention in children with acquired brain injury. In particular, she investigated personalised treatment targets using brain connectivity measured from source-reconstructed high-density electroencephalography (HD-EEG), and developed an at-home neurostimulation clinical trial to improve attention in this population. Athena is now interested in furthering understanding of personalised application of neurostimulation in psychiatric populations. Outside of research, she also has experience in commercialisation, as well as science communication in regional and rural Australian schools. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, running, and spending time outdoors.
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Graduate Students
SKYE NAPOLITANO - CLINICAL INTERNSHIP GRADUATE STUDENT
Skye is completing her doctoral internship at UNC School of Medicine on the Affective Science track. This internship is in fulfillment of her final year of training to earn her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Purdue University. Skye's program of research focuses on understanding how individuals manage their emotional experiences, with particular interest in why and how this management breaks down (e.g., emotion dysregulation) and how to best intervene on harmful processes that maintain impairment in mood, anxiety, and personality disorders using multimethod (e.g., laboratory, psychophysiological, and intensive longitudinal) data collection and analysis. As part of her work in the Frohlich Lab, she is conducting clinical assessments and brief psychotherapeutic interventions and training in neurostimulation techniques for anxiety and depressive disorders. Outside of internship responsibilities, she enjoys hiking, weightlifting, and reading.
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JARED REILING - NSF INTERNSHIP GRADUATE STUDENT
Jared Reiling is a graduate student intern in the Frohlich Lab for the summer of 2024. He is currently a first-year Ph.D. student at Michigan State University in the Department of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering and is Mengsen Zhang’s first graduate student, a former postdoctoral scholar in the Frohlich lab. Jared is excited to gain exposure to the preclinical experiments and non-invasive brain stimulation clinical trials in a holistic lab environment. Jared graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics and Piano Performance with a minor in Computer Science from Augustana College and enjoys hiking, playing the piano, and running in his free time.
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GRACE ROSS - GRADUATE STUDENT
Research Staff
VERINA GUIRGUIS - STUDY COORDINATOR
Verina is a senior at UNC pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. As a study coordinator, she is interested in exploring novel treatment approaches to psychiatric illnesses, as well as how existing therapies can be leveraged in new ways. Outside of the lab, she is interested in addressing issues related to healthcare access and loves listening to audiobooks and playing Spikeball in her free time!
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SANVI KORSAPATHY - STUDY COORDINATOR
Sanvi is a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill and is pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience with a minor in Advertising and Public Relations and a certificate in Health Communication. As a study coordinator, she is interested the relationship between neural oscillations and cognition, and with this research, she hopes to learn more about how modulating neural oscillations can treat those with psychiatric illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Along with conducting research, she is working to improve recruitment strategies for our human trials studies. Outside of the lab, Sanvi works on graphic design and publicity teams for various organizations at UNC and plays guitar in her free time!
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TIFFANY ONG - RESEARCH TECHNICIAN
Tiffany is a second year medical student at Wake Forest School of Medicine. As a research assistant, she is interested in delving more into the innovative treatments for psychiatric disorders, particularly for depression and generalized anxiety disorder. She hopes that participating in human trials studies will further excite her passion for psychiatry, a specialty she hopes to pursue for residency. Outside of lab, Tiffany enjoys playing tennis, traveling with her fiancé, and watching reality TV shows guilt-free.
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ZACHARY STEWART - CLINICAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST & LAB COORDINATOR
Zach received his BA in Psychology graduating summa cum laude from UNC Asheville and is the lab coordinator for Frohlich Lab. His research interests include substance use disorder, behavioral activation, the intersection of substance use disorder and PTSD and the exciting new possibilities of noninvasive brain stimulation for SUD. He also studies the role infection and inflammation play in neuropsychiatric illness as well as potential applications for noninvasive stimulation for the treatment of anxiety disorders. In his free time he enjoys film and digital photography, cooking, spending time with his spouse Christine and crushing Netflix.
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Undergraduate Research Assistants
MINA BAYRAKTAR - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Mina is a first-year student at UNC Chapel Hill. She is majoring in Neuroscience and is on the pre-med track. As a research assistant, Mina is part of the ABBA project which combines transcranial alternating current stimulation with behavioral activation therapy. In her free time, she enjoys cross-stitching, going for nature walks, and learning new languages.
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SHREYA HARIKRISHNAN - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Shreya Harikrishnan is a second-year undergraduate at UNC Chapel Hill pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in Medical Anthropology with a minor in Chemistry. As a research assistant, she is interested in the role neural networks play in relation to behavior and learning. She hopes to apply this knowledge to her additional research interest in neurodegenerative disorders. In her free time, Shreya likes to learn new musical instruments, travel, cook, and spend time with friends and family.
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