Computational Neuroscience

Flavio Frohlich, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry, Cell Biology and Physiology, Biomedical Engineering, Neurology

Core Faculty
Phone: 919-966-4584 | Office: 4109F Neurosciences Research Bldg.
Email: flavio_frohlich@med.unc.edu | Website: http://www.frohlichlab.org

Research Areas: Computational Biophysics
Research Interests: Our goal is to revolutionize the treatment of psychiatric and neurological illness by developing novel brain stimulation paradigms. We identify and target network dynamics of physiological and pathological brain function. We combine computational modeling, optogenetics, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology in animal models and humans, control engineering, and clinical trials. We strive to make our laboratory a productive, collaborative, and happy workplace.

Erin Heinzen, PhD

Associate Professor of Genetics; Pharmacotherapy & Experimental Therapeutics

Resource Faculty
Phone: (919) 843-5981 | Office: Kerr Hall
Email: erin-h@ad.unc.edu | Website: https://pharmacy.unc.edu/research/faculty-labs/erin-heinzen/

Research Areas: Computational Genomics
Research Interests: The Heinzen Lab focuses on the genetic and genomic basis of epilepsy disorders, including analyses of the role of germline mutations, somatic mutations, and how regulation of the cellular transcriptome influences the risk and presentation of seizures.

Jason Stein, PhD

Associate Professor of Genetics

Core Faculty
Phone: (919) 843-5541 | Office: 7202A Mary Ellen Jones Building
Email: jason_stein@med.unc.edu | Website: http://www.steinlab.org/

Research Areas: Bioinformatics, Computational Genomics, Computational Systems Biology
Research Interests: The focus of our research is finding and modeling genetic variants influencing human brain structure and function.

Hyejung Won, PhD

Assistant Professor of Department of Genetics

Core Faculty
Phone: (919) 966-4069 | Office: 7202B Mary Ellen Jones Building, 116 Manning Dr.
Email: hyejung_won@med.unc.edu | Website: http://www.wonlab.org/

Research Areas: Bioinformatics, Statistical and Population Genetics
Research Interests: We try to bridge the gap between genetic risk factors for psychiatric illnesses and neurobiological mechanisms by decoding the regulatory relationships in human brain. In particular, we implement Hi-C, a genome-wide chromosome conformation capture technique, to identify the folding principle of the genome in human brain. We then leverage this information to identify the functional impacts of the common variants associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.

Pew-Thian Yap, PhD

Professor of Radiology

Core Faculty
Phone: (919) 843-8712 | Office: 3117 Bioinformatics Building
Email: ptyap@med.unc.edu | Website: https://www.yaplab.io/

Research Areas: Image Analysis, Bioinformatics, Computational Biophysics, Computational Systems Biology
Research Interests: Image acquisition, reconstruction, quality control, harmonization, processing, and analysis with application to neuroscience.

Anthony Zannas, MD, MSc, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Genetics

Core Faculty
Phone: 919-962-4918 | Office: 438 Taylor Hall
Email: anthony_zannas@med.unc.edu | Website: http://www.zannaslab.org/

Research Areas: Bioinformatics, Computational Genomics, Computation Systems Biology.
Research Interests: Our lab seeks to uncover the epigenetic mechanisms linking psychosocial stress with disease risk.

Mark Zylka, PhD

Professor of UNC Neuroscience Center, Dept. of Cell Biology & Physiology

Resource Faculty
Phone: 919-966-2540 | Office: 5109 D Neuroscience Research Building
Email: zylka@med.unc.edu | Website: https://www.med.unc.edu/cellbiophysio/faculty/zylka

Research Areas: Bioinformatics, Computational Genomics, Computational Systems Biology, Image Analysis
Research Interests: Use of genome-wide approaches to study transcriptional regulators linked to autism; Use of RNA-seq and targeted sequencing to identify chemical risk factors for brain disorders (autism, brain aging, neurodegeneration, ADHD); Transcriptional mechanisms associated with long genes