Faculty
FLAVIO FROHLICH, PH.D. – PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
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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. - ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
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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
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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. |
ZACHARY FELDMAN, M.D. - SENIOR RESEARCH CLINICIAN
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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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MELANNI NANNI-ZEPEDA, PH.D - POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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GRACE ROSS - GRADUATE STUDENT
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Grace graduated from Oregon State University with an Honors B.S in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where she was apart of a healthy aging research lab. Grace left Oregon for North Carolina, to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience from UNC-Chapel Hill. Grace came to Chapel Hill interested in understanding how neural circuitry and brain organization can explain human behavior in the context of human disease. She is now thrilled for the opportunity to study the brain through the lens of neural oscillations with the ultimate goal of developing effective therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Research Staff
VERINA GUIRGUIS - STUDY COORDINATOR
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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
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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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ZACHARY STEWART - CLINICAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST & LAB COORDINATOR
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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
AVA ASTILLA - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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Ava is a second-year student at UNC Chapel Hill. She is majoring in Biology with minors in Economics and Chemistry. As a research assistant, she is interested in learning about the physiology of the nervous system and is excited to gain hands-on experience with brain stimulation. In her free time, she enjoys going on walks, trying new restaurants, and going to the beach.
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MINA BAYRAKTAR - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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Mina is a junior at UNC Chapel Hill. She is majoring in Neuroscience, on the pre-med track. As a research assistant, Mina is part of the Hyperscanning Study, studying interbrain synchronization in the therapist-client dyad during psychotherapy. In her free time, she enjoys cross-stitching, going for nature walks, and learning new languages.
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KATE KILLIAN - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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Kate is second-year undergraduate at UNC Chapel Hill. She is majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. As a research assistant, she is interested in the role that neural networks play in psychiatric disorders and hopes to be a part of furthering psychiatric treatments. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying new foods, cooking, and traveling.
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ADITYA KRISHNAN - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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Aditya is a first-year undergraduate student at UNC Chapel Hill who is majoring in Neuroscience. As a research assistant, Aditya is part of the Hyperscanning Study, which deals mainly with electroencephalography being conducted to learn more about interpersonal synchronization between therapists and clients with mild to moderate depression. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to national parks and visiting new places.
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ALEX MONTANO - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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Alex is a second year student at UNC-Chapel Hill studying Neuroscience and Spanish for the medical professions on a pre-health track. He is interested in understanding and learning about the neural bases that drive behavior and feelings, and is currently working on the Hyperscanning project investigating interbrain synchrony between therapist and client! In his free time he likse to stay active by lifting and running frequently, playing golf, and spending time with friends outside of class.
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MADELINE REAMES - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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Madeline is a second-year undergraduate student at UNC Chapel hill. She is double majoring in Biology and Neuroscience with a minor in English. As a research assistant, Madeline is part of the preclinical animal research in ferrets and is excited by the possibility of using noninvasive stimulation as an alternative treatment for previously treatment-resistant psychiatric disorder. In her free time she enjoys crocheting, playing clarinet with the Marching Tar Heels, cheering on UNC and Washington D.C. sports teams, and spending time with friends.
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AKSHADA SUBRAMANIYAN - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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Akshada is a first-year undergraduate student at UNC majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track. She is passionate about neurostimulation and its potential to transform clinical treatments for neurological disorders through non-invasive solutions. She will be involved in the transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) clinical trials and is excited to explore the potential of these treatments. In her free time, Akshada enjoys dancing, reading, and going out with friends!
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MARCELLIA TYLER - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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Marcellia is a third-year undergraduate student at UNC Chapel Hill. She is majoring in Psychology with minors in Health & Society as well as Neuroscience. She is currently pursuing her B.S. in Psychology and plans to attend the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology upon graduation. As a research assistant, she is interested in learning about the effects of media on language learning and development within neural networks. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising, cleaning, cooking, and spending time with others!
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ZIHENG WANG - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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Ziheng is a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill studying computer science. He is interested in understanding the brain in general, particularly by studying memory and learning. He is currently working on the closed loop tACs attention control project. In his free time he likes to walk, travel, and read books.
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