Alana M. Campbell

Translational Neuroscientist

Decoding emotion and cognition to deliver precision mental health.

I work at the intersection of emotion and cognition in health, wellness, and mental health — identifying the neural mechanisms that shape them, and building novel hardware, software, and AI technologies to improve outcomes and deliver precision medicine.

Explore my researchWork with me
Abstract illustration of flowing EEG brainwave signals forming a human profile
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UNC Chapel HillDirector, UNC IDDRC Developmental EEG & Eye Tracking Core
Publications
30+
Students mentored, undergrad through postdoc
100+
Fellow, 2025
UNC AI

01 / Expertise

Areas of expertise

From the neuroscience of emotion and cognition to the hardware, software, and AI that make it measurable.

  • 01

    Emotion & Affective Processing

    Mapping the neural mechanisms of affective states and dysregulation across development, wellness, and mental health.

    • EEG / ERPs
    • Emotion regulation
    • Stress & anxiety
  • 02

    Cognition & Brain-State Modeling

    Computational, dynamic EEG network models of cognitive flexibility and executive function for resilience and optimized performance.

    • Executive function
    • Theta/alpha networks
    • Digital twins
  • 03

    Signal Processing & Biometrics

    Time-series analysis of multimodal biometric data — EEG, HRV, vocal features, eye-tracking, and physiology — in lab and remote settings.

    • MATLAB
    • Python
    • HRV & eye-tracking
  • 04

    AI & Generative Technology

    Deep learning architectures and modern genAI workflows, built inside secure cloud infrastructure for clinical and research use.

    • LSTMs & GANs
    • Fine-tuned genAI
    • Microsoft Azure
  • 05

    Hardware Development

    Designing and prototyping neurotechnology hardware that makes high-quality EEG faster and more accessible to collect.

    • EEG electrode design
    • Prototyping
    • Provisional patent
  • 06

    Software Development

    Building assessment platforms, ML pipelines, chatbot tooling, and remote VR protocols that turn signals into actionable insight.

    • ML pipelines
    • Chatbot & agent tooling
    • Rapid prototyping
  • 07

    Translational & Trial Design

    Rigorous, high-fidelity data collection for multi-site and longitudinal studies, bridging computational tools to neurofeedback and closed-loop care.

    • Multi-site protocols
    • Neurofeedback
    • Methods standards
  • 08

    Leadership, Teaming & Strategy

    Former organizational consultant who builds high-performing cross-functional teams and sets strategy across data science, engineering, medicine, and education, and who has mentored more than 100 students from undergrad through postdoc.

    • Teaming
    • Strategy
    • Mentored 100+ students

02 / Research

Current & past research

Mapping how brain networks develop, how they become dysregulated, and how to nudge them back on track — across emotion, cognition, and development.

  1. Emotion & rewardOngoing

    OSMU — Adolescent brain dynamics & social media

    The first EEG study to characterize real-time brain activity and neural reward processes in adolescents while they actively engage with social media, mapping these signatures to anxiety and depression.

    EEG · Reward processing · Teen mental health

  2. CognitionOngoing

    eXe — Where executive function meets emotion

    Novel computational models and dynamic network frameworks for EEG that show how theta and alpha networks interact, identifying the best neural predictors of emotional and executive brain states.

    Network neuroscience · Computational modeling

  3. Precision medicineOngoing

    Digital twins of emotional states

    Cloud-hosted digital twin frameworks in Microsoft Azure that test treatments virtually before patient administration — for example, using EEG markers to predict SSRI efficacy.

    Digital twins · AI · UNC AI Fellowship

  4. Precision medicineOngoing

    Neurofeedback & ADHD brain-based subtypes

    Modeling neural predictors of ADHD subtypes across a dataset of 9,500 participants to classify subtypes by brain state rather than DSM criteria alone, and to predict intervention success.

    Machine learning · Neurofeedback · N = 9,500

  5. Emotion & cognitionOngoing

    HEAD — Rapid signatures of emotion

    In collaboration with an engineering team, developing modal brain states that quickly assess different signatures of emotion, with extensions to outcomes after traumatic brain injury.

    Brain states · Engineering collaboration · TBI

  6. DevelopmentOngoing

    ADEMO — Mother–child neural synchrony

    Investigating emotional processing and neural synchrony within mother–child dyads to map early developmental markers of emotional reactivity and their relationship to anxiety.

    Dyadic EEG · Development · Foundation of Hope

  7. DevelopmentOngoing

    Autism & neurodevelopment

    Technical lead and key collaborator on core UNC autism initiatives including IBIS EEG and EMERGE, and methodological infrastructure for IDDRC projects and developmental clinical trials.

    IBIS Network · IDDRC · Infant EEG

  8. WellnessCompleted

    Neurofeedback for clinician burnout

    Pilot neurofeedback interventions that reduced workload and burnout and improved wellbeing among surgical residents, radiation therapists, and oncology physicians.

    Neurofeedback · Clinician wellbeing

03 / Technology

Novel technologies I build

Hardware and software designed to move mental health care from subjective observation to objective, personalized measurement.

  • Software · AIFounder & Scientific Lead

    SONDER

    GenAI for decoding emotional states.

    Eshelman Innovation Program · Clinical validation next

  • HardwareInventor

    TELO

    A telescoping EEG electrode housing designed to make high-quality EEG setup faster and more reliable. Currently prototyping and establishing partners.

    Provisional patent

  • Hardware · SoftwareLead

    NRVR

    Concurrent EEG in virtual reality to understand how emotion is processed in immersive environments, with protocols for delivering multimodal VR assessments remotely.

    Remote VR protocols

04 / Work with me

Consulting & advisory

I partner with health-tech companies, research teams, and clinical organizations that need rigorous neuroscience, trustworthy biometric data, and a clear path from signal to outcome.

Who I work with

  • Health-tech & neurotech startups
  • Pharma & clinical research
  • Academic & multi-site teams
  • Wellness & performance programs
  • 01

    Study & trial design

    Designing studies and multi-site protocols that capture high-fidelity EEG, eye-tracking, and physiological data, including endpoints and analysis plans.

  • 02

    Emotion & cognition measurement

    Choosing, validating, and interpreting neural and biometric markers of emotion, stress, and executive function for your product or population.

  • 03

    AI & precision-medicine strategy

    Scoping ML, genAI, and digital-twin approaches that turn multimodal signals into personalized predictions while staying scientifically defensible.

  • 04

    Neurotech product development

    Advising on hardware and software for neurotechnology, from prototype and signal quality to validation and partnerships.

  • 05

    Team building & scientific leadership

    Building and coaching cross-functional teams across data science, engineering, and medicine, and setting research strategy that delivers.

  • 06

    Advisory & speaking

    Scientific advisory board roles, workshops, and talks on emotion science, neurofeedback, brain-based subtypes, and AI in mental health.

Have a project in mind?

Tell me about your goals, timeline, and data. I typically reply within a few days.

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05 / Publications

Selected publications

A sample of 30+ peer-reviewed papers spanning emotion, stress, neurodevelopment, psychosis, and neurofeedback.