Burcin Ikiz, PhD

I am a neuroscientist with over 20 years of research and consulting experience in brain disorders and mental health. My work explores how climate change and environmental factors impact brain health and ways to transform these insights into tangible global health advancements.

In 2023, I launched EcoNeuro, a research initiative dedicated to exploring the intersection of neuroscience and the environment. In 2024, I founded the International Neuro Climate Working Group, where I lead a network of over 100 scientists, clinicians, policymakers, and public health experts in spearheading global research, advocacy, policy, and community efforts to address the effects of climate change on brain health.

I advise the Council on Foreign Relations on climate change adaptation and U.S. foreign policy on global health. I also serve on the scientific advisory boards of several international organizations, including the Climate Cares Centre in the UK and the Climate Clinic in Turkey.

Recognized as a leading expert in brain health, I frequently provide insights and participate in interviews across various international media outlets, including The Guardian and Bloomberg, as well as Australia's and Canada’s leading radio stations. My speaking engagements have taken me to platforms such as TEDx, the United Nations General Assembly, and COP29. I also regularly contribute to Psychology Today as a writer and have published in Undark Magazine, Think Global Health, and numerous scientific articles in peer-reviewed academic journals. 

My previous roles include managing the metabolic psychiatry program at Baszucki Group, developing research tools as a data scientist at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and leading the motor neuron disease research program at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. These positions have given me diverse experiences in interdisciplinary, patient-driven research.

I earned my B.Sc. in Biomedical Computation from Stanford University and my Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Columbia University. I hold two patents from my postdoctoral work and was awarded the Brunie Prize for my doctoral project. I have also participated in Columbia University’s Narrative Medicine and On Deck’s Writer Fellowship programs.

I am passionate about advocating for health equity and social justice, promoting open science and community partnerships, and fostering interdisciplinary and international collaboration. I believe that through collective effort, evidence-based action, and informed policy, science can drive positive change and build sustainable futures for everyone.

Outside my professional pursuits, I enjoy running, photography, and spending time in nature with my family. In 2019, I completed a six-month artist residency at Ten Women Gallery in Santa Monica. I live in Los Angeles with my husband, three children, and a puppy.