Dr Athena Stein is breaking new ground at the University of North Carolina’s Department of Psychiatry, thanks to a scholarship from the American Australian Association. Athena is part of the Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, a world-class team developing next-generation non-invasive brain stimulation treatments, which could reshape psychiatric care globally.
“The team here is really at the top of the game for non-invasive brain stimulation, developing treatments specifically in psychiatry. I wanted to work with them because they are pioneering novel, personalized, next-generation treatments,” she said, reflecting on why the Carolina Center was her top choice for postdoctoral research.
Advancing Psychiatric Treatment
Athena’s research focuses on closed-loop transcranial alternating current stimulation, a groundbreaking technique still in its infancy in Australia. By joining the Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, Athena has access to cutting-edge resources and expertise that would have been impossible to find back home.
“This center has been at the forefront of brain stimulation for decades, far ahead of the research in Australia,” she explained. “We’re conducting human clinical trials using closed-loop brain stimulation. It’s the next step in brain stimulation, and the engineering expertise here is unmatched.”
In addition to benefiting from the team’s expertise, Athena’s involvement extends to developing innovative non-invasive brain stimulation treatments using a patented closed-loop stimulation device—a unique opportunity made possible through the connections and resources available at UNC.
Career-Changing Opportunities
Beyond the lab, Athena is actively engaging with industry partners, an experience that has enriched her career. She’s already been invited to speak at events and collaborate with industry leaders in a way that wasn’t possible in Australia.
“I’ve been invited to speak at a conference in LA next week. My day-to-day consists of interfacing with industry, running clinical trials, writing grants, and discussing novel ideas with leaders in my field,” she shared. “These are opportunities I didn’t have in Australia because the number of researchers in non-invasive brain stimulation is much smaller.”
Athena credits the scholarship with allowing her to be at the center of this innovation. Without the support, she wouldn’t have had access to the talent, technology, and research opportunities that are accelerating her work today.
A Personal Learning Journey
For Athena, the most rewarding aspect of her journey has been finding a community that aligns with her personal and professional values.
“The people in my research team are so passionate about this work, and they’ve become a community I didn’t expect to find. That’s been incredibly rewarding,” she said.
In terms of professional growth, Athena noted that working directly with industry partners has been a significant learning experience. She has honed her ability to translate between the different ‘languages’ of clinicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs—skills that will be invaluable in her future endeavors.
“I’ve learned how to negotiate between parties in clinical trials, a skill I first started developing in my PhD,” she said. “Being able to communicate differently to a clinician, an engineer, or an entrepreneur has been really critical.”
Athena Stein’s groundbreaking work in non-invasive brain stimulation at UNC has the potential to transform psychiatric treatment. Thanks to the American Australian Association scholarship, she’s at the forefront of innovation, gaining access to resources and opportunities that are positioning her to make significant contributions to her field.
