July 2025
ABHIJIT CHINCHANI
IMH Marshall Fellow
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Meet Dr. Abhijit Chinchani, an IMH Marshall Fellow bridging electrical engineering with neuroscience! His research explores how non-invasive brain stimulation can improve mental health. Both inside and outside the lab, Dr. Chinchani enjoys connecting ideas across disciplines to spark new ways of thinking.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I am trained as an electrical engineer, but my interest in the brain led me to neuroscience. I completed my PhD in Bioinformatics with Dr. Todd Woodward, where I focused on using computational models to understand psychiatric symptoms at the individual item level and on finding optimal ways to modulate brain oscillations through non-invasive brain stimulation. Currently, I work as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at UBC.
Can you describe what kind of research you are involved in?
I work at the crossroads of engineering, neuroscience, and mental health. My goal is to develop novel interventions that target brain functions linked to behaviour and the improvement of mental health symptoms. One of the main techniques I study is transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which involves applying low-intensity electrical currents to the scalp to modulate brain oscillations. More specifically, my research involves understanding the underlying mechanisms of how tACS works. Ultimately, I aim to use these insights to design more effective and personalized neuromodulation strategies for treating psychiatric conditions.
Can you tell us about an interesting project you are working on?
One exciting project I’ve been working on involves understanding the links between visual exploration and delusions in schizophrenia spectrum disorder. We aim to track eye movements and brain activity while applying tACS to see if brain stimulation can help improve visual exploration and delusions. This is part of a larger effort to figure out how non-invasive brain stimulation techniques can lead to meaningful improvements in mental health.
What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy combining engineering tools, such as signal processing and machine learning, with big neuroscience questions. I love the puzzle-solving aspect of research. Each dataset feels like a mystery waiting to be solved. It is rewarding when these efforts lead to tangible solutions to mental health problems.
What are your interests and hobbies outside of work?
Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking and exploring the natural beauty of British Columbia. I’m also an amateur nature and astrophotographer. When I’m not researching the brain, I enjoy reading and learning about a wide range of topics. I’m fascinated by philosophy, astronomy, economics, history, and just about everything. I enjoy connecting ideas across disciplines and seeing how different ways of thinking can inform one another.
If you are an IMH member and would like to share more about yourself and your research with the community, please contact Megan Rollerson, Manager, Communications and Partnerships at megan.rollerson@ubc.ca.