Christopher Rozell, Julian T. Hightower Chaired Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will serve as the inaugural executive director of Georgia Tech’s new Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS). 

INNS is one of two new Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRIs) launched at Georgia Tech on July 1. Dedicated to advancing neuroscience and neurotechnology, the institute aims to drive societal progress through discovery, innovation, and public engagement. By bridging disciplines across the sciences, engineering, computing, ethics, policy, and the humanities, INNS will serve as a collaborative hub for exploring the brain in all its complexity — from molecular mechanisms to behavior and cognition, and from foundational research to clinical and technological applications.  

“Our neuro-related research community has built such a strong transdisciplinary vision for an IRI that I remain fully committed to its growth, even as we face a period of extreme uncertainty about federal research funding,” said Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research Julia Kubanek. “In fact, under Chris’s leadership I expect INNS to make our faculty more competitive and successful, bringing Georgia Tech closer to patient communities living with neurological conditions so that our research increasingly impacts people’s lives. INNS will also connect artists, social scientists, neuroscientists and engineers with entrepreneurial opportunities and non-traditional funding pipelines.” 

The launch of INNS builds on more than a decade of groundwork laid by Georgia Tech’s neuroscience community. Rozell has played a key role in shaping the vision for INNS as a member of the Neuro Next Initiative’s executive committee, and before that, as a steering committee member as the initiative was developed. The executive committee included Simon Sponberg, Dunn Family Associate Professor in the School of Physics and the School of Biological Sciences; Jennifer Singh, associate professor in the School of History and Sociology; and Sarah Peterson, Neuro Next Initiative program manager. 

“I'm excited to serve the INNS community in this next phase to build on the momentum generated across campus over many years,” said Rozell. “The brain is one of the great remaining frontiers, where discovery and innovation can unlock the future of human health and flourishing. INNS is uniquely positioned to lead in the modern interdisciplinary research necessary to address this grand challenge.” 

Rozell brings a unique blend of technical expertise, interdisciplinary leadership, and public engagement to his role as the inaugural executive director of INNS. His work spans neuroscience, data and computer science, neuroengineering, and cognitive science, with a particular focus on developing scalable brain stimulation therapies for treatment-resistant depression. Rozell also serves on advisory boards for organizations at the forefront of neuroethics and scientific rigor, reflecting his commitment to responsible innovation. 

Interdisciplinary from the outset, Rozell’s training in neuroscience has been shaped by a unique educational path that bridges engineering, the arts, machine learning, neuroscience and translational research. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music alongside his engineering degrees and has developed multiple initiatives that incorporate the arts into neuroscience research and public engagement. 

Rozell’s research has been widely recognized, with over 130 peer-reviewed publications, multiple patents, and invitations to speak at high-profile venues, including a U.S. Congressional briefing celebrating the NIH BRAIN Initiative. A first-generation scholar, Rozell co-founded Neuromatch, a nonprofit dedicated to building an inclusive global neuroscience community. His contributions have earned him numerous honors, including the James S. McDonnell Foundation 21st Century Science Initiative Scholar Award, elected Fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and Georgia Tech’s top teaching accolades, underscoring his impact both in and beyond the lab.