Our Team

Alexis received a bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from U.C. Berkeley in 2017. As an undergraduate she worked at U.C. San Francisco, conducting fMRI research examining self-regulation in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. After graduating, she moved to Boston to work in the Dystonia and Speech Motor Control Lab at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. There, Alexis conducted brain imaging studies investigating the pathophysiology of laryngeal dystonia, as well as research evaluating suicidal behavior in idiopathic dystonia. She then helped operate the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Clinical Service as a member of the Laboratory for Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is currently pursuing PhD in clinical psychology.

Ira graduated from New York University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry in May of 2020. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant at the Lab for the Developing Mind at NYU under Dr. Moira Dillon researching developmental spatial cognition. Outside of school, she volunteered her time in Greece working with organizations focused on feeding and educating homeless and refugee populations. Ira worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Laboratory for Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation, and treated patients in the TMS clinical service. Ira plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a psychiatrist. In her free time, she can be found roller skating or watching movies.

Dr. Khadka received his BE (2014) and PhD (2020) in Biomedical Engineering from the City University of New York. His research has concentrated on non-invasive and invasive modalities of electrical stimulation on both human and animal, primarily focusing on computational studies to explain the experiment. Dr. Khadka has 10+ years of experience in bench-top electrode and device testing, in vitro invasive brain stimulation studies (SCS and DBS), human and small animal tDCS experiments, and computational modeling of brain and spinal cord stimulation. Moreover, Dr. Khadka also reviews for >10 peer reviewed neuromodulation journals and serves as a guest editor for Frontiers in Neuroergonomics journal. Currently, Dr. Khadka is involved more into clinical studies with non-invasive electrical stimulation that involve analysis of EMG data acquired during TMS and development of E-field models of ECT and TMS for healthy and disease brain. In addition, Dr. Khadka is also collaborating with Dr. Marom Bikson (PhD advisor) on projects such as Adaptive ECT model, Radiofrequency ablation of peripheral nerve for pain management, High-density SCS, and Neurocapillary-modulation.

Katie is an undergraduate student at Harvard College, majoring in neuroscience, global health and health policy. As a former intern with the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation, she completed her senior thesis on the neural network effects of ECT and TMS. Katie intends to pursue medicine and is broadly interested in neurology, mental wellbeing, and patient-centered care.

Zoe Ongaro graduated in 2020 from the George Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and minor in Dance. She then became a Clinical Research Coordinator at the MGH Food Allergy Center, where she studied the impact of food allergy on nutrition, growth and development in infants and toddlers. Zoe then worked as a medical assistant at the MGH Ketamine Clinic and MGH Dermatologic Surgery department. Zoe then worked in the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at MGH, where she treated patients in the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Clinical Service. Additionally, Zoe worked as a Medical Assistant at the MGH Ketamine Clinic and MGH Dermatologic Surgery department. In her spare time, Zoe loves spending with her puppy, exploring restaurants in Boston, and bird watching.

Dr. Vieira is a Physical Therapist (PT) (2011), with a specialization (Latu Sensu) (2012) in Orthopaedic Traumatology Disorders. He attained a Master of Science (M.Sci.) (2014) in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering from the Department of Semiconductors, Instruments, and Photonics, at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (FEEC), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. Dr. Vieira received his Ph.D. (2020) in Functional and Molecular Biology at the Institute of Biology (UNICAMP) and at the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Étienne (EMSE), Department of Bioelectronics, Centre Microélectronique de Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte D’Azur, France. He is a member of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), the Special Interest Group on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG), and the Brazilian Society of Neurosciences and Behavior (SBNeC). Dr. Vieira is a guest editor for Frontiers in Pain Researchand for Photonics (MDPI), and a reviewer for >10 peer reviewed journals. He works mainly on the following topics: Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)/Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) and Transcranial Photobiomodulation (t-PBM); myonecrosis; gait biomechanics; spectroscopy of biomolecules (Raman and FT-IR); molecular biology; diabetic neuropathic pain; neurophysiology; mitochondrial metabolism; affective components of chronic pain; anxiety; and major depressive disorder (MDD).

Dr. Praschan is board-certified in psychiatry and trained at Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital where he was the chief resident (2021). He has also completed a fellowship in consultation-liaison psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (2022). He is most interested in disorders at the interface of neurology and psychiatry, including movement disorders and catatonia, neurodegenerative diseases, and functional neurological disorders.

Yasha is currently conducting research on brain activity and functional connectivity, focusing on analyzing different methods to create functional connectomes. His interests primarily lie in coding and the biosciences, and he hopes to study computer science in college.

Pau is an undergraduate medical student at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. Throughout his academic career, he has acquired a strong interest in neuropsychiatry and neurosurgery. He finds the capacities of the brain and how cutting-edge technology can be used to make a positive impact on society genuinely fascinating. 

In addition to his studies, Pau is an active member of the board of the Gimbernat Surgical Association, a surgical society aimed at approaching students from around Europe to practice the medical field. Through this society, Pau has been able to contribute to the development of future surgeons and help them stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the area. He also recognizes the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in the field of medicine and is committed to playing an active role in this effort.

He has gained valuable hands-on experience in the field of medicine by assisting in surgeries and consults at several hospitals in Spain, such as Hospital del Mar. This experience has allowed him to see firsthand the transformative power of medical intervention.

During his free time, Pau enjoys playing soccer, scuba diving, and painting. These hobbies allow him to take a break from his studies and express his creativity differently.

Chris graduated from Maastricht University (The Netherlands) with a B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience in 2021. As an undergraduate student, Chris conducted a research project relating to the fields of attention and neuromodulation. After graduating, Chris continued studying at Maastricht University, pursuing a master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience. As part of this research-oriented study program, Chris joined the Lab for Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation. Chris contributed to translational research that will help take insights into brain dynamics and disorders and use them to improve treatment for patients.

Anna received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Hamburg, Germany in 2011 and her Master’s degree in Social Cognition from University College London, UK in 2012. As an undergraduate she worked as a Research Assistant on intercultural differences of moral decision-making at University of Hamburg, and conducted behavioral and neuropsychological research (EEG) on the impact of social expectations on economic decision-making at University of Granada, Spain. For the past 7 years, she worked for different human rights organizations on land rights and indigenous rights in Brazil and Central America.

Jackson is an undergraduate student at Indiana University, double majoring in chemistry and neuroscience with a minor in mathematics. As an undergraduate, he holds radiographic licensure for imaging of the skull, paranasal sinuses, and the craniomaxillofacial regions. Currently, Jackson is a research assistant at the Indiana University Department of Speech, Hearing, and Language Sciences under Dr. Steven Lulich. He performs data and neuroimaging analysis using clinical measurements from magnetic resonance imaging and sonography. Jackson is also a research assistant at the Indiana University School of Dentistry, working with a mice model studying osteoclasts, osteoblasts, osteocytes, and kalirin under the direction of Dr. Angela Bruzzaniti.

Additionally, Jackson works as an oral and maxillofacial surgical assistant in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has research interests in dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Jackson desires to approach oral health from different perspectives to understand better the systematic processes and associated structures that lead to overall health, focusing on temporomandibular disorders and pain. Outside of academics and research, Jackson enjoys playing the saxophone, hiking, and spending time with his family and pets.

Sofia Huayamave graduated from Brown University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Public Health. She is a TMS Technician and research associate at Boston Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry. Her main work is focused on researching and identifying positive predictors and social determinants on TMS response in patients with major depressive disorder. She is part of the HEAL Initiative, which focuses on understanding and improving prevention and treatment for opioid misuse and addiction.

Dr. Correia completed his medical training at the University of Porto, Portugal. At the time, he was enrolled in the medical residency training program in psychiatry and pursuing an MSc in Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Porto. He also worked as a visiting clinical academic at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust/Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. His past research work has primarily focused on the study of neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly ADHD, in specific forensic populations and on the identification of predictors of criminal behavior. Dr. Correia is also particularly interested in treatment-resistant affective disorders and the role of non-invasive brain stimulation in this area.

Guillermo Gonzalez Garibay is a Research Fellow in the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He is currently pursuing his medical studies at Universidad Anahuac in Mexico City. As part of his medical training, Guillermo has successfully completed certified diplomas from the Mexican Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, specializing in Functional Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience, Maturation, Injury and Plasticity of the Nervous System, and Sleep Medicine. He is presently engaged in research in the field of photobiomodulation under the supervision of Dr. Cassano, with a keen interest in contributing to translational research aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of neuronal networks and the role of photobiomodulation in modifying the outcomes of patients with traumatic brain injury, stroke, and other neurological conditions.

Aria Chawla is an undergraduate student at Tufts University majoring in Cognitive and Brain Sciences and minoring in Finance. Her volunteering at special education schools and therapy centers for children sparked her interest in neurodiversity and developmental disorders. She is passionate about the intersection between medicine and technology, especially how emerging technologies can help democratize healthcare. She is currently an intern at the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at MGH.

Dr. Echeverria completed his medical education at CEU Cardenal Herrera University, Spain (2013-2019). He is currently enrolled in the Psychiatry Residency Program at Consorcio Hospitalario Provincial de Castellón (2020-2024) and in the Translational Medicine PhD program at CEU International School of Doctoral Studies (CEINDO) (2020-2023). As a Research Associate of TXP research group, he is involved in projects related to psychopathology of healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic, substance use disorders and dual disorders. Dr. Echeverria is a Research Fellow in the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at MGH.

Dr. Hurtado completed her medical training in Universidad del los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. She was then recruited to investigate the use of several Neuromodulation techniques, like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, to treat chronic pain at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School. She then looked to apply this experience to study novel applications of these techniques to the treatment and disentangle neuropsychiatric conditions. She is currently a post-doctoral research fellow in the Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and is a part of the Photobiomodulation team. She is researching novel applications of transcranial Near-Infrared Light, like the modulation of connectivity of patients with Major Depressive Disorder or with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Nate was a Clinical Research Coordination in the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation

Former Biography

Nate Roy is an undergraduate student and athlete at Cornell University, where he is completing an interdisciplinary major in neurochemistry. He plays for the Cornell varsity football team, and he has applied this passion to science through an independent research project on concussions which he is working on under Dr. Amy Kuceyeski as part of Weill Cornell’s computational connectomics laboratory. He became fascinated by neuropsychiatry after working as a care associate at an inpatient psychiatric unit, and he is thrilled to have the opportunity to learn in a clinical research setting as an intern then clinical research coordinator in the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation. Outside of academics and athletics, Nate loves to work with kids, and he has volunteered as a track and field coach, youth football coach, mentor, and tutor for middle and high school student athletes.

Lauren is an undergraduate student at Boston College studying Neuroscience and Medical Humanities. She is passionate about the intersection between neuropsychological and physical wellness, which has inspired her to pursue healthcare and research in a clinical setting. During her sophomore year, she worked in a lab to decipher the genotypes of a variety of mutated microorganisms. She is currently working as an intern in the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at MGH. Outside of this role, she enjoys photography, coaching tennis, playing piano, and reading.

Ryan is a Data Analyst in the Division of Neuropsychiatry at Neuromodulation at MGH. He received his undergraduate degree in physics and applied mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and his master’s degree in data science from the University of Virginia, where his research focused on deep learning techniques for anomaly detection in electrical signals. At MGH, Ryan’s is using machine learning techniques to identify biomarkers of psychiatric treatment response and to understand the relationship between bioenergetic markers of aging and mood disorders.

Dr. Hadimani an Associate Professor and the Director of the Biomagnetics Laboratory at the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering of Virginia Commonwealth University. He is currently on sabbatical as a Visiting Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Harvard University. He has founded the IEEE Joint Magnetics and Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society’s Richmond Chapter, and he is the current vice chair of the chapter. He is an Associate Editor of the journals, Frontiers of Neuroscience and American Institute of Physics (AIP) Advances.

Dr. Hadimani’s research focuses on biomagnetic materials and devices for biomedical applications. He has developed a first-of-a-kind anatomically accurate brain phantom for validating neuromodulation procedures that are commercialized through the university spin-off company RAM Phantoms LLC. His lab has designed and fabricated a novel focal stimulation coil using ferromagnetic cores that can stimulate only a local region of the primary motor cortex of small animals. He is currently working to experimentally verify the results from coil design in rats. He is also working to establish an accurate mechanism underlying TMS by investigating the neuron’s firing patterns in several regions of the brain induced by cortical stimulation and by establishing the role of individual nuclei in affecting other nuclei of the motor circuitry. This will enable the future development of effective TMS protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of several neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Dr. Hadimani has received several international awards, including the UK Energy Innovation Award and the International Young Scientist Fellowship from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). He also received the Engineer of the Year award from the Richmond Joint Engineers’ Council in 2021. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed original research papers, more than 210 international conference papers, 12 current and pending patents, several invited trade magazine articles, a book, and 3 book chapters to date. Dr. Hadimani has a ‘first class’ honors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kuvempu University, India, an MS in Mechatronics from the University of Newcastle, UK, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Cardiff University, UK. He has served as a Project Scientist at the Institute of Materials Research and Innovation of the University of Bolton, UK. He was an Adjunct Assistant Professor and Associate Scientist at Iowa State University and was also an Associate at Ames Laboratory, US Dept. of Energy.

Dr. El Alayli is a clinical fellow in Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital. They received their MD from the American University of Beirut where they later completed their general psychiatry residency. During their training, they developed a particular interest in the psychopathological manifestations of neurodevelopmental disorders in adulthood. They are specifically interested in exploring the neurophysiological underpinnings of emotional dysregulation and psychosomatic symptoms. They hope that this would guide the development of psychotherapeutic interventions and treatments that are tailored to each individual neurotype.

Dr. Shahab is a Research Fellow in the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Shahab is both a clinician and a researcher and received his medical degree from King Edward Medical University, Pakistan. His past research work has been mainly focused on Child & Adolescent Psychiatry in underprivileged communities. He is now working to combine that passion with his interest in Neuropsychiatry. The main focus of his research is to translate low risk Neuromodulation techniques into prevention strategies for mental health pathologies in underprivileged youth. To that end, he has joined the Photobiomodulation Team which is grounded in addressing inequality in brain health.

Dr. Coelho is a Research Fellow in the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He pursued his medical training at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and received honors cum laude. As a medical student, David participated in a project testing patients with schizophrenia for toxoplasmosis and compared their cognition. After graduation, he completed the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research course at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health by Dr. Felipe Fregni and gained skills in statistical analyses. Planning to apply to psychiatry as a residency, David is currently working with Dr. Paolo Cassano in the field of photobiomodulation and has a strong interest in the treatment of mood disorders.

Dr. Lopez completed his medical training in the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain (2012-2018). He is currently enrolled in the medical residency programme in psychiatry at Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge (2019-2023) and in the PhD Program in Neuroscience at Universitat de Barcelona (2022-present).

He is mainly interested in mood and anxiety related disorders and its impact and dysfunctionality in the long term. In this sense, he is a member of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Unit and the Treatment-Resistant Depression Unit of his department, where he has been given the opportunity to deepen his understanding of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).

Dr.Lopez has joined the Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School as a Graduate Student Research Fellow learning about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in order to elucidate the possibilities and novel applications of these treatments in OCD and mood and anxiety disorders.

Sandra is an undergraduate student at Harvard University studying Biomedical Engineering. She is the founder of the Harvard Women’s Wrestling Club and volunteers at the Phillips Brooks House Association through the Pets as Therapy Program. During her gap years, Sandra worked as a medical assistant and scribe at a primary care clinic and went backpacking in Latin America. Her past research has encompassed health policy in North Korea and innovative treatments for glioblastoma. Sandra joined the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation as an intern. She is interested in improving existing treatments for major depressive disorder and suicidality, as well as medical law and ethics. In her free time, Sandra enjoyed exercising, shopping, and painting.

Katarina graduated from Elon University in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minors in business administration and interreligious studies. As an undergraduate, she conducted research by reviewing literature and utilizing relevant information to synthesize hypotheses to develop a study that explores the conceptual linkages among spirituality, accessibility, authenticity, and diversity within yoga, particularly in terms of the mental health benefits of yoga practices. She currently serves as a Mental Health Specialist in the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at the Massachusetts General Hospital where she treats patients using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Katarina enjoys traveling, reading, and teaching yoga in her free time. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.

Eva Cortés Velasco is a predoctoral Research Fellow in the division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Eva graduated in Psychology at the Universidad de Granada, where she had her first experiences working in experimental psychology laboratories both in non-human animal models and with children in developmental stages. She is also certified with a Master in Research in Behavior and Cognition from the Universitat de Barcelona. In 2022 she enrolled in the PhD program in Clinical and Health Psychology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in a project on social prediction and perception. She is currently working with human models and her project aims to learn more about the possible differences in social perception in different clinical population groups, in order to open doors towards a better understanding of this process and new therapeutic strategies.

Stephanie graduated cum laude from the University of Vermont in May of 2022, earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychological Science. In addition, she was designated as an Honors College Scholar after having completed an Honors Senior Thesis on the topic of workplace discrimination towards individuals with psychological disorders. For her thesis, she conducted independent research, reviewing the existing literature and utilizing relevant information to synthesize and original model for determining the likelihood of discrimination occurring in the workplace. Based on this new model, Stephanie proposed potential strategies for reducing discrimination and improving workplace conditions for individuals with psychological disorders.

Currently, Stephanie is working as a Clinical Research Coordination for the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In this role, Stephanie is involved in both clinical and research work. On the clinical side, she treats patients using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). On the research side, she will be involved in various research projects exploring the application of TMS and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS).

Nicole graduated from Ohio State University in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minors in neuroscience and communications. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant studying adolescent girls with ADHD, social motivation and how this impacts mental health, and mental health stigma and suicide completion reduction within three different experiences. She currently serves as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation at Massachusetts General Hospital. There, she treats patients in the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Clinical Service and serves as a research coordinator of a research study in the lab.

Julianne graduated from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) in 2021 with a B.S. in premedical health studies and a minor in health psychology. She then went on to complete her master’s degree in clinical research also from MCPHS in 2022. During her graduate studies Julianne worked as a nursing assistant on a hematology/oncology impatient floor and then moved into research by joining the Precision Neuroscience and Neuromodulation Program. Currently, Julianne is a Clinical Research Coordinator II primarily responsible for research studies investigating transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients.

Lianna Suero is a rising junior at Boston Latin School. Since a young age, she has been very interested in biomedical engineering and oncology. She aspires to have a profession working with children and adolescents with a specialty in neuro-oncology. Leanna’s interest in Biomedical Engineering has grown after completing the Harvard Med Science Moonshot program. During this experience, she enhanced her critical thinking skills and worked with a team to develop a model to dissect type 1A tumor from the peripheral of the lung. This opportunity accentuated Leanna’s passion for exploring the intersection of medicine and engineering as it provided insight into the immense capabilities that technology can have within oncology and healthcare at large. At school, Lianna can be found in student leadership in the nurse’s office or her school’s chemistry olympiad club. In her free time, Lianna will be found using her telescope, volunteering with elementary school students, or at a pottery wheel.

Jonah is a rising junior at Haverford College in Pennsylvania studying applied mathematics and computer science. He is particularly interested in using his data science and machine learning skills to advance research on new medical technology, like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Jonah is excited to be starting his first data analytics role at MGH, where he will contribute to research on the seasonal effectiveness of TMS by analyzing new datasets to verify previous findings.

Katerina is an undergraduate student at Harvard University, majoring in Neuroscience and Global Health and Health Policy. In the past, she has conducted computational research on the construction of metabolic network models for macrophages, as well as wet lab research on the mechanisms responsible for the repeat instability in Huntington’s Disease. Her courses in neuroscience and psychology sparked her interest in neuropsychiatry and led her to pursue clinical research. She is an intern in the Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation. Katerina is originally from Greece and enjoys playing volleyball, reading, and spending time with friends.