From Clinic to Couch: Innovating Neuropsychiatric and Neurological Disorder Treatment at Pulvinar Neuro – with Sydney Mudd

Hi! My name is Sydney Mudd, and I’m a senior at UNC Chapel Hill from Raleigh, North Carolina. I’m majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Food Science, and this semester, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to intern at Pulvinar Neuro through the Karen M. Gil Internship in Psychology and Neuroscience. 

My academic and research journey has been driven by one central question: How does the brain shape our experience of health and well-being? From studying brain injury and autonomic dysfunction to examining the effects of chronic stress on brain function, I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of neuroscience and real-world health outcomes. At Pulvinar Neuro, I’ve had the chance to explore that intersection in a whole new way: through the lens of clinical innovation and neurotechnology. 

Pulvinar Neuro is a neuroscience company focused on developing noninvasive brain stimulation technology to treat neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Their core mission is to translate cutting-edge brain science into tools that improve lives. You can learn more about their work at pulvinarneuro.com. When I joined Pulvinar Neuro, I became part of a small, passionate team working on an ambitious project: transforming a clinic-based brain stimulation device for depression into a user-friendly take-home version. This technology has the potential to reach individuals who may not have access to traditional clinical care, and that possibility is what makes this internship so meaningful to me. 

My role this semester has centered around the early development and user-needs assessment for this future at-home device. I’ve contributed to brainstorming sessions with neuroscientists, engineers, and clinicians to map out what features are essential for making this technology both effective and accessible outside of a clinical setting. From ensuring patient safety and usability to considering how individuals will be trained and supported, our team is thinking deeply about the real-world challenges of medical innovation. In addition to these strategic meetings, I’ve reviewed relevant literature to inform our next steps. I’ve learned how regulatory pathways, human factors, and user-centered design play a critical role in taking a therapeutic device from lab prototype to a tool that can truly change lives. 

One of the most exciting aspects of this internship has been the chance to engage with translational neuroscience—that is, bridging the gap between theory and therapy. I’ve always been passionate about research, but this experience has shown me how powerful it can be to apply that research directly to patient care. This internship has strengthened my desire to pursue a career in medicine, with a continued focus on neurology. It’s also made me more aware of how important it is to design healthcare solutions that are accessible, equitable, and grounded in science. Working at Pulvinar Neuro has given me a unique perspective on what it means to innovate responsibly, and I’m so grateful for the mentorship and support I’ve received throughout this experience. 

I’d like to thank the team at Pulvinar Neuro for welcoming me into such an inspiring environment and the Gil Internship Program for creating this bridge between academic training and real-world impact. I’m especially thankful for the guidance and encouragement of my mentors, Dr. James McCall and Dr. Leah Townsend, whose insights have deeply shaped my academic and professional journey. I’d also like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Steven G. Buzinski and Emily Dolegowski, the directors of the Gil Internship Program, for their unwavering support and for making this incredible experience possible. Being part of this program has been one of the most formative experiences of my time at UNC. 

Whether in the lab, the clinic, or the startup world, I’m excited to keep chasing my curiosity about the brain and working to turn that curiosity into care.