Elnaz Alikarami

Research & Product Strategy Lead

Brave Eagle Software Technologies · 2026–Present

Work across research, product strategy, AI development, user experience, analytics, and commercialization for an AI-enabled commerce solution.

• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary product initiatives involving AI, engineering, UX, research, and business contributors.
• Translate customer and business problems into product requirements, user journeys, technical specifications, research questions, user stories, acceptance criteria, and measurable outcomes.
• Contribute to product strategy across AI-enabled capabilities including product tagging, smart recommendations, multimodal search, catalog enrichment, personalization, and retail intelligence.
• Design measurement and evaluation frameworks around conversion, average order value, search success, recommendation performance, catalog efficiency, and user engagement.
• Conduct customer discovery, prospect research, pilot planning, and evaluation design with prospective retail clients.
• Develop product documentation, presentations, user journeys, technical requirements, website messaging, commercial materials, and stakeholder resources.
• Coordinate sprint planning, prioritization, task ownership, testing, documentation, development workflows, and stakeholder communication.
• Identify workflow and delivery gaps and develop practical processes to improve project visibility, accountability, and execution.
• Help bridge AI and engineering work with user needs, product strategy, client requirements, and commercialization.
• Developed a proposed retail pilot with UCHUU Boutique, including needs discovery, solution positioning, pilot structure, implementation planning, and evaluation strategy.

Research Strategist & Project Manager

RAINLAB Quantum · 2025–2026

Led research and product-development activities at the intersection of neuroscience, physiology, behavioural science, wearables, AI, and digital health.

• Developed research and analytical frameworks involving HRV, EEG, sleep, wearable devices, behavioural data, and motion-sensor data.
• Designed data-acquisition workflows, participant journeys, measurement strategies, outcome definitions, feature frameworks, validation approaches, and evaluation plans.
• Developed digital-health concepts addressing sleep, recovery, biofeedback, smoking cessation, heat and cold exposure, cognitive performance, and behaviour change.
• Conducted literature reviews and evidence synthesis to guide physiological measurement choices, intervention design, product validation, and scientific strategy.
• Designed prospective pilot programs, research protocols, workshop concepts, educational programs, and evaluation frameworks.
• Translated neuroscience and physiological evidence into accessible partner-facing materials, one-pagers, presentations, educational resources, and product concepts.
• Conducted prospect research and direct outreach to wellness organizations, spas, fitness and yoga organizations, and other prospective program partners.
• Contributed to partnership strategy, customer discovery, product positioning, research planning, and commercialization.
• Developed research and product concepts for the Recovery Intelligence initiative, integrating wearable data, behavioural measures, and personalized recovery insights.
• Organized and contributed to scientific education initiatives, including “Sauna & Cold Therapy for Brain Longevity” — June 16, 2026.
• Designed workshop and pilot frameworks for prospective external partners; these programs reached the research and design stage but were not deployed before the engagement concluded.

Research Administrator & Lab Manager

The Neuro — Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University · 2024–2025

Managed research operations, scientific programming, administration, budgets, and research-data systems within a multidisciplinary systems-neuroscience laboratory.

• Coordinated daily research operations across investigators, trainees, institutional departments, research-software developers, vendors, and external collaborators.
• Redesigned laboratory research-data infrastructure across multiple storage arrays, increasing available storage capacity by approximately 40% while improving long-term organization and accessibility.
• Developed a modular BIDS-inspired directory and metadata architecture for organizing neuroscience research data.
• Developed Python-supported utilities and workflows for data migration, conversion, validation, documentation, and research-data organization.
• Implemented improved data governance, access permissions, backup, archival, documentation, and tracking practices across NAS and cloud environments.
• Supported FAIR, Open Science, reproducibility, and research-data-management principles through improved data organization and documentation.
• Managed budgets, purchasing, procurement, vendor coordination, reimbursements, scheduling, administrative processes, and research documentation.
• Developed operational tools, workflow documentation, and tracking systems supporting laboratory planning and project coordination.
• Coordinated the Systems Neuroscience Seminar Series, including speaker communication, logistics, scheduling, promotion, and event delivery.
• Coordinated a dedicated DataJoint seminar focused on research data infrastructure and scientific workflows.
• Helped organize Pre-COSYNE Brainhack 2025 at Mila — March 25–26, 2025, coordinating registration, participant communication, speakers, partner organizations, scheduling, logistics, documentation, procurement, and event operations.
• Served as a liaison among researchers, institutional services, external collaborators, and technical partners.

Communications & Outreach Manager

Réseau Sommeil / Quebec Sleep Research Network · 2024–2025

Led communications, scientific engagement, community development, and knowledge-translation activities for a multidisciplinary provincial sleep-research network.

• Developed and implemented communication and engagement strategies connecting researchers, clinicians, trainees, healthcare professionals, institutions, industry, and community partners.
• Produced bilingual scientific communications, newsletters, event materials, promotional resources, digital campaigns, and educational content.
• Translated complex sleep, neuroscience, and digital-health research into accessible resources for scientific, professional, and public audiences.
• Planned and coordinated workshops, retreats, networking activities, and research-community initiatives.
• Managed event promotion, registrations, participant communication, speaker coordination, scheduling, logistics, and stakeholder follow-up.
• Coordinated communications and engagement for the Mini-Retreat on Wearable Sleep Monitoring Technologies — November 13, 2024, which attracted approximately 130 registrations.
• Supported collaborations across universities, hospitals, research institutes, healthcare organizations, and industry partners.
• Tracked communication, engagement, and program indicators to inform outreach and planning decisions.

Doctoral Researcher — Clinical Neuroscience & Chronic Pain

Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University · 2020–2023

• Designed and led a human neuroimaging project investigating the trajectory, structural characteristics, and connectivity of the trigeminal nerves in individuals with and without chronic painful temporomandibular disorders.
• Developed the research question, study protocol, ethics documentation, recruitment procedures, clinical assessments, MRI workflows, and analysis plans in collaboration with clinical and neuroimaging researchers.
• Managed participant recruitment, screening, informed consent, clinical scheduling, MRI acquisition, behavioural data collection, study documentation, and quality assurance.
• Processed, validated, and analyzed diffusion MRI and behavioural data using FSL, MATLAB, Python, and R.
• Developed and refined diffusion MRI and tractography workflows for investigating trigeminal pathways.
• Integrated neuroimaging, clinical, behavioural, and methodological information to investigate chronic-pain mechanisms.
• Developed research protocols, analysis plans, literature reviews, evidence syntheses, presentations, and reproducible research documentation.
• Contributed to successful grant development and received competitive doctoral research funding.
• Presented the project at the Canadian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting, 2022.
• Collaborated across pain neuroscience, dentistry, neuroimaging, clinical research, statistics, and quantitative methods.

Graduate Researcher — Behavioural Neuroscience

Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge · 2018–2020

• Designed and conducted human behavioural research examining social influence, belief formation, metacognition, and decision-making.
• Developed experimental paradigms and participant protocols integrating cognitive psychology and behavioural neuroscience.
• Managed participant recruitment, experimental procedures, behavioural-data acquisition, quality control, and research documentation.
• Used Python and R to clean, structure, analyze, visualize, and interpret behavioural datasets.
• Applied quantitative and statistical methods to characterize social and individual influences on judgment.
• Interpreted findings in the context of cognitive and social-neuroscience theories.
• Prepared results for scientific presentations and manuscript development.

Research Assistant — Cognitive Neuroscience

Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran · 2008–2018

• Contributed to multidisciplinary human-neuroscience projects investigating sensory perception, decision-making, metacognition, Parkinson’s disease, and cognitive processes.
• Supported study design, participant recruitment, behavioural-data collection, neuropsychological assessment, and quantitative analysis.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary research teams and developed early training in experimental cognitive neuroscience.

Laboratory Trainee — Experimental Neuroscience

Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University · 2015–2016

• Received practical training in electrophysiological recording techniques, experimental neuroscience methods, and preclinical research procedures.
• Participated in laboratory training involving animal handling and experimental protocols.

Master of Science (M.Sc.) — Neuroscience

Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge · 2018–2020

Thesis: The Neuroscience of Social Influence in Believing False Information

• Investigated how social context and social information influence belief formation, judgment, and decision-making.
• Designed and conducted human behavioural experiments integrating experimental psychology, neuroscience, and quantitative analysis.
• Developed participant protocols and experimental paradigms and managed recruitment, data collection, quality control, and analysis.
• Used Python and R for statistical analysis, data visualization, and interpretation.
• Received approximately C$66,000 in Graduate Scholarship and Research Fellowship funding.

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

Tehran Azad University of Dentistry · 2009–2015

Thesis: Association Between Insurance Coverage, Socioeconomic Status, and Dental Caries Among Schoolchildren in Tehran

• Designed and conducted quantitative epidemiological research examining socioeconomic, insurance, and oral-health variables.
• Completed comprehensive clinical training in diagnosis, treatment planning, patient management, prevention, and evidence-based care.

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) — Cellular & Molecular Biology

University of Tehran · 2008–2013

Honours thesis: A Meta-analysis of Molecular Triggers of Apoptosis as Therapeutic Targets in Cancer Treatment

• Conducted scientific literature synthesis and quantitative evidence evaluation.
• Developed foundational training in molecular biology, experimental research methods, statistics, and scientific reasoning.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge · 2018–2020

Courses: Principles of Neuroscience · Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience · Behavioural Neuroscience · Clinical Neuroscience. Supported undergraduate teaching, neuroscience instruction, student learning, academic assessment, and course activities.

Biology & Neuroscience Instructor

Farzanegan / National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents (NODET), Tehran · 2008–2014

• Designed and delivered advanced biology and introductory neuroscience instruction for gifted middle- and high-school students.
• Developed research-oriented teaching materials and neuroscience curricula later incorporated into NODET science education.
• Mentored students conducting independent scientific projects and prepared students for Biology Olympiad competitions.
• Collaborated with faculty on interdisciplinary science-education initiatives.

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

Department of Biology, University of Tehran · 2011

Course: Genetics Laboratory. Supported undergraduate laboratory teaching and experimental training.

Committee Member / Co-Chair

Neuromatch Academy · 2020–Present

• Serve in international leadership and volunteer roles supporting computational-neuroscience education and scientific community development.
• Co-Chair of Inclusivity, Diversity & Outreach initiatives focused on improving access to neuroscience education.
• Contributed across communications, social media, applicant review, educational-program planning, technical support, visual communication, marketing, and financial development.
• Supported international educational initiatives reaching 1,000+ participants across 60+ countries.
• Contributed as a co-author to Neuromatch Academy’s peer-reviewed publication in Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

Executive Committee Member

Quebec Network of Junior Pain Investigators (QNJPI) · 2023–2024

• Contributed to scientific community building, professional development, and networking initiatives for early-career pain researchers.
• Led sponsorship development and financial coordination for PAINtalks 2023, securing approximately C$50,000 in sponsorship and funding.
• Developed sponsorship materials and partnership packages and conducted outreach to prospective academic and industry supporters.
• Supported scientific communications, event planning, and professional networking activities.

Executive Board Member

High School Cognitive Neuroscience Competition, Iran · 2013–2018

• Co-developed and delivered educational workshops in neuroscience, electrophysiology, and psychophysics.
• Authored educational notes, tutorials, and laboratory instructions; mentored high-school students undertaking research projects.
• Participated in scientific judging, program evaluation, strategic planning, and organizational decision-making.
• Contributed to the development of a national neuroscience education initiative for secondary-school students.

Non-Resident Member

Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Program, Tehran University of Medical Sciences · 2008–2010

Contributed to scientific workshops, conferences, journal clubs, and interdisciplinary neuroscience activities.

General Dentist

Clinical Practice, Iran · 2015–2018

• Provided diagnosis, treatment planning, restorative care, preventive treatment, and patient education.
• Maintained detailed clinical records and integrated diagnostic information with medical and dental histories.
• Supported clinic operations, patient safety, infection control, and healthcare communication.

Staff Dentist

Iran Society of Protecting Children in Labor · 2013–2015

• Served as lead dentist in a community clinic providing care to underserved children and adolescents aged 3–18.
• Delivered preventive and restorative dental care, treatment planning, oral-health education, and follow-up.
• Supported families and children facing socioeconomic barriers to healthcare access.

Pre-COSYNE Brainhack 2025 — Mila

March 25–26, 2025 · Open Neuroscience · Research Software · Reproducibility

Coordinated logistics, registration, participants, speakers, research organizations, communications, documentation, procurement, and event delivery for a collaborative neuroscience hackathon held immediately before COSYNE.

Mini-Retreat on Wearable Sleep Monitoring Technologies

November 13, 2024 · Sleep Science · Digital Health · Wearable Technologies

Coordinated communications, registration, speakers, logistics, event materials, stakeholder engagement, and delivery for a multidisciplinary research event attracting approximately 130 registrations.

Systems Neuroscience Seminar Series & DataJoint Seminar — The Neuro

Scientific Programming · Speaker Coordination · Research Infrastructure

Coordinated seminars connecting researchers and trainees around current systems-neuroscience research, including a dedicated seminar on modern research-data workflows and infrastructure.

Sauna & Cold Therapy for Brain Longevity

June 16, 2026 · Digital Health · Physiology · Knowledge Translation

Developed and supported scientific educational programming translating research on heat, cold, physiology, and recovery into accessible content.

PAINtalks 2023

Scientific Conference · Sponsorship · Community Building

Led sponsorship and financial-development activities, contributing to approximately C$50,000 in secured sponsorship and funding.