1. What is your favorite part about neuromodulation work?
My work in neuromodulation is theoretical - I get to build dynamic models that describe the spread of focal stimulation. It's all in silico, but it informs practice by making testable predictions.
2. What is your favorite kind of neuromodulation technique and/or equipment and why?
As part of the theoretical work, I use "optimal control" - an engineering framework for finding the optimal input signals for a stimulation task given a set of constraints. It's exciting because shifting those constraints can yield wildly diverging optimal solutions, which (again) can be tested experimentally.
3. What kind of conditions do you treat with neuromodulation?
Most of my work would be considered "basic research", but lately I've been involved in several studies aiming to use neurostimulation to reduce depressive symptoms.
4. What is your favorite part of the brain and why?
As a network scientist, I'm obliged to say that I like the entire brain -- it's all connected and examinations of any one area necessarily mean considering structural and functional partners!
