About Zhi

Dr. Deng is the Director of the Computational Neurostimulation Research Program within the Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit at the National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program. He earned the SB degree in physics, SB and MEng in electrical engineering and computer science, with a minor in economics, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed PhD and MPhil in electrical engineering, with a graduate concentration in neuroscience, at Columbia University. He completed postdoctoral training at Duke University, followed by a research fellowship at NIMH.

Dr. Deng's research focuses on three principal areas: 1) understanding the physics and biophysics of neurostimulation, 2) optimizing therapeutic dosing and individualization, and 3) advancing noninvasive brain stimulation technology development via model-driven design. His pivotal work in electric field modeling for transcranial magnetic stimulation is widely cited and provided evidence that informed regulatory clearance of TMS therapeutic systems. He has received the NIMH Director's Award for scientific innovation at the interface of computationa and psychiatry, as well as career development award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and NARSAD Young Investigator Award, which supported his pioneering efforts in developing next-generation seizure therapy. Dr. Deng is a Senior Member of the IEEE. His vision is to transform psychiatry through engineering innovation.

He has an Erdős number of 4 (who doesn't?). When not working at one of his three jobs, he's performing magic or hanging out with his pets—who, by the way, have their own Instagram page. Feel free to follow for updates. Or, you could do something productive with your life... but that's not recommended.