Engineering the future of mental health.

Jacob Robinson, PhD, is the co-founder and CEO of Motif Neurotech. He earned his PhD in Applied Physics from Cornell and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard, focusing on brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and bioelectronics. Prior to Motif, Jacob spent 12 years at Rice University leading a research group that published over 60 peer-reviewed articles in Nature, Science, and Nature Biomedical Engineering, and secured over $40M in federal funding. His work has earned recognition including the Charles Duncan Award, DARPA Young Faculty Award, and Materials Today Rising Star Award. He is a senior IEEE member, former co-chair of the IEEE Brain Initiative, and a current member of the EMBS Administrative Committee. Jacob is passionate about bridging cutting-edge science with real-world applications to improve mental health care. He retains a professorship at Rice University while leading Motif full-time.

Dr. Sameer Sheth is a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist specializing in movement disorders, epilepsy, brain tumors, trigeminal neuralgia, hydrocephalus, and certain psychiatric conditions. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Harvard with a degree in Physics and Astronomy and earned his MD and PhD through UCLA’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Dr. Sheth completed his neurosurgical residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He is known for his personalized approach, crafting tailored treatment plans in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. His expertise includes stereotactic neurosurgery, deep brain stimulation, awake brain mapping, electrode recordings, computer-guided navigation, and microsurgery. As a neuroscientist, his research focuses on advancing our understanding of brain function.

Sunil A. Sheth, MD, is a board-certified vascular neurologist specializing in endovascular treatments for cerebral and spinal vascular diseases. His expertise includes ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, fistulas, and vascular malformations of the face and spine. A Houston native, Dr. Sheth graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with an A.B. in chemistry and physics. He earned his MD from the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program, graduating magna cum laude and receiving a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Fellowship. Dr. Sheth completed his neurology residency at UCSF, serving as chief resident, and went on to fellowships in Vascular Neurology and Interventional Neuroradiology at UCLA.

Nick Halper is an experienced operator and entrepreneur in neurotechnology and medical devices. Before joining Motif, he served as CEO of Neuromatch, growing it into the world’s largest graduate-level neuroscience education program. He co-founded multiple neurotech startups, including Sella Therapies and Braingrade, where he led operational strategy, regulatory planning, and product development. At Blackrock Neurotech, Nick drove growth strategy, FDA and CE regulatory submissions, and expanded support teams into product management, regulatory affairs, and business development. He continues to advise emerging neurotechnology companies, bringing a unique mix of technical, operational, and strategic expertise. Nick holds a triple major in Neuroscience, Biology, and Chemistry from Westminster College.

Steve spent 26 years at Medtronic, holding leadership and engineering roles of increasing responsibility. As Vice President of Technology and Platform Innovation in Neuromodulation, he drove new therapeutic opportunities in bioelectronic medicine and shaped next-generation implantable device architectures. Earlier, as Senior Distinguished Engineer in Brain Modulation and Chief Engineer for Deep Brain Stimulation, Steve led innovations such as novel brain sensing devices and Medtronic’s directional lead stimulation design. His contributions span spinal cord stimulation, implantable drug pumps, and peripheral nerve stimulation therapies. A Bakken Fellow—Medtronic’s highest technical honor—Steve holds over 160 patents and has authored numerous publications.

Julie brings over 20 years of clinical research experience with a focus on neuromodulation and cardiac rhythm management. At Medtronic, she led clinical research teams managing large portfolios across movement disorders, pelvic health, pain, and psychiatric conditions, including OCD and depression. As lead clinical engineer, she played a pivotal role in a deep brain stimulation study for depression. Known for streamlining study execution and strengthening site and stakeholder relationships, Julie combines technical expertise with operational excellence. She holds a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Ameya began his career at Abbott, leading preclinical and clinical studies on neuromodulation for chronic pain. He has since designed nervous system interfaces to restore lost function and treat chronic conditions. At the University of Pittsburgh’s Rehab Neural Engineering Labs (RNEL), Ameya earned his PhD studying how spinal cord stimulation can evoke touch and proprioception, enabling closed-loop prosthetic devices. His work bridges cutting-edge science and patient-centered solutions.

Aradhana brings over a decade of medical device industry experience with expertise in quality management, improvement, and assurance. As a Subject Matter Expert for Neuro, ENT, and Spine products, she has provided critical support across multiple regions, anticipating and resolving quality issues from both technical and end-user perspectives. Her career includes managing design controls, conducting risk assessments, and overseeing supplier management, CAPA investigations, and document control. Aradhana is certified in Regulatory Affairs for medical devices by the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) and holds a degree in Biomedical Engineering and an MBA in Organizational Leadership. She combines technical expertise with strategic leadership to advance quality and regulatory excellence.

Brandon Thio, PhD, is a Senior Medical Scientist at Motif and a neural engineer passionate about using data and software to solve real-world problems. He brings deep expertise in algorithm development, neural signal processing, computational modeling, and optimization. During his doctoral work, Brandon developed computational tools to improve epilepsy treatment. This work led to co-founding eVizNeuro, a company focused on commercializing stereo-EEG planning and analysis software. His research has spanned multiple neuromodulation modalities, and he remains a strong advocate for crafting compelling, audience-focused stories from complex datasets. Outside the lab, Brandon enjoys woodworking and bringing creativity to his craft.

Starting her journey Boston Scientific, Desiree made significant contributions to the Endoscopy and Electrophysiology businesses. She played a pivotal role in the integration and commercialization of the Rhythmia Medical, Inc. HDx cardiac mapping system. Desiree then brought her talents to Houston, focusing on implantable technology for treatment of epilepsy, sleep apnea, and treatment resistant depression at LivaNova. In her most recent role at Bright Insight, Desiree led professional service teams, delivering cutting-edge digital health solutions for medical device and Pharma customers.

Igor has over two decades of experience in firmware and digital signal processing across multiple industries. He brings neuromodulation-specific expertise from his work at LivaNova and Velentium, where he helped develop a multichannel deep brain stimulation-sensing implantable device. Originally from Ukraine, Igor has lived and worked in several countries, including Canada, and now calls Houston home—bringing both technical excellence and a wealth of worldly stories to the Motif team.

With over 15 years of experience in developing, manufacturing, and commercializing Class III implantable medical devices, Jake brings deep expertise in neuromodulation and operations integration to Motif. He spent more than a decade at Boston Scientific in engineering and management roles supporting cardiac rhythm management and neuromodulation portfolios, as well as contributing to acquisitions in structural heart and peripheral intervention. Most recently, Jake led engineering teams at Saluda Medical to launch a first-of-its-kind spinal cord stimulation technology and scale its manufacturing operations. Originally from Minnesota and a University of Minnesota graduate, Jake now calls Southeast Texas home and is passionate about building technologies that improve lives.

Jay brings a unique blend of research and engineering experience, developing neural activity sensing technologies and performing R&D for medical devices. His expertise includes creating and implementing innovative tools such as tetrode (DBS sensing), ECoG, and calcium imaging devices, as well as designing, prototyping, and testing cardiocirculatory support systems. Passionate about advancing healthcare, Jay uses his skills to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes.

Before joining Motif, Joslyn spent the past five years in venture capital supporting early-stage deep tech portfolios. Most recently at Prime Movers Lab, she provided support across all portfolio support functions including executive operations, investor relations, fundraising, event curation, and ecosystem development. Joslyn received her venture education supporting the investment and communications teams at TrueBridge Capital Partners. Before joining the VC ecosystem, she served a long tenure in the legal industry at Batten Lee, PLLC as an office administrator. Prior to that Joslyn had an entrepreneurial career in the fashion industry, designing her own clothing and blogging at Fashion Week in New York City.

LaTicia is a dynamic and results-driven Operations Manager with over 15 years of experience in optimizing operational efficiency, enhancing productivity, and driving business growth. With an MBA and a robust background in operational strategy, process improvement, and team leadership, LaTicia has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead successful projects and streamline operations. Her expertise in supply chain management, budgeting, and cost control has been instrumental in achieving significant cost savings and operational excellence. Throughout LaTicia’s career, she has been recognized for her analytical and problem-solving skills where she optimized processes, reduced costs, and improved performance metrics. Throughout LaTicia’s career, she has been recognized for her analytical and problem-solving skills where she optimized processes, reduced costs, and improved performance metrics.

Landan leverages his decade plus of involvement in the neurotech field to help facilitate the development of DOT XCS. Landan's efforts contribute to the design & development, scientific, clinical, and marketing domains within Motif. He is committed to bringing lived experience into the design of Motif's products, having launched a lived-experience community advisory board to incorporate patient perspectives into Motif's product development. Outside of work, Landan enjoys skiing, mountain biking, reading science fiction, and videogames.

Laya brings 20 years of experience in medical device software development, with 13 years focused on neuromodulation across the full product lifecycle. She has held key roles at industry leaders including Siemens, Boston Scientific, and LivaNova. A Seattle native, Laya now calls Houston home and is passionate about advancing technologies that improve patient lives.

Mikenson Laplante is a Computer Science Engineer with extensive experience in manufacturing and operational technology in the pharmaceutical industry. He specializes in automating production processes, integrating data systems, and optimizing operations to enhance efficiency and product quality. With hands-on expertise in troubleshooting and maintaining complex equipment and software, Mikenson ensures compliance with industry regulations and drives successful project outcomes. Known for his collaborative approach and attention to detail, he brings a strong foundation in process optimization to his work. Now transitioning into the medical device field, Mikenson is excited to apply his skills to support the development and manufacturing of innovative technologies that improve patient care.

Phil has over a decade of experience in the development of implantable medical devices, from his tenure at Boston Scientific, where he worked on pacemakers and ICDs, to his role at Medtronic developing Neuromodulation devices and focusing on both implantable stimulators and external patient care devices, including wireless power transfer and communication. Transitioning to Nike, Phil took on the challenge of developing low-power wearable products in the consumer sportswear space. As the electrical design lead for the Nike Adapt line of auto-lacing shoes, inspired by the iconic self-lacing shoes in Back to the Future II, Phil played a key role in bringing futuristic technology to everyday footwear.

Jon is a tireless advocate and lived-experience expert in mental health. After battling serious mental illness and depressive disorder for decades, his life was transformed by a deep brain stimulation clinical trial in 2022. With 20+ years in biopharmaceutical communications, Jon has since dedicated himself to breaking stigma and saving lives through open dialogue and understanding. He also serves as a strategic advisor for nonprofits like One Mind and Mental Health Collaborative and has shared his perspective at national forums, including the NIH congressional briefing on the BRAIN Initiative.

Amy brings decades of experience as a neuroscientist, operator, and government program manager to identify transformational companies tackling major challenges in mental and brain health. As head of Satori Neuro, she helps portfolio companies navigate scientific and implementation hurdles, with a focus on deploying complex technologies in real-world settings. Previously, Amy was a General Partner at Prime Movers Lab, leading investments in human augmentation and longevity.

Anthony has over 25 years experience in the development of successful, high-tech medical devices. Anthony was the CEO and a board member for SetPoint Medical where he grew the company from a three-person start-up to the leading clinical-stage bioelectronic medicine company. Prior to SetPoint he served as VP of Marketing for Boston Scientific and was Director of Marketing at Medtronic. Anthony serves as advisor and board member for numerous early-stage device companies.

Tom draws upon his extensive experience as a physician and healthcare executive to identify medical device and health IT companies that improve patient outcomes and decrease costs. He currently serves as a board director for Avation Medical, Boomerang Medical, Fifth Eye, Motif Neurotech, SonarMD and Virtual Incision and led Arboretum’s investment in nVision Medical, which was acquired by Boston Scientific in 2018. At ArborMetrix, an Arboretum portfolio company, he led the development of the clinical strategy as Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Christopher J. Rozell is a leader in computational neuroengineering, blending neuroscience, neuroengineering, feedback control, and machine learning to advance brain science and intervention design. With 25 years of research experience, his work spans novel neuromodulation therapies for psychiatric disorders like treatment-resistant depression and next-generation computing approaches inspired by biological neural networks.

Kaiyuan is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University, where he leads the Secure and Intelligent Micro-Systems (SIMS) lab. His research advances low-power, miniaturized bioelectronics—both implants and wearables—and secure, intelligent ubiquitous sensors. He has received numerous honors, including the NSF CAREER Award, IEEE SSCS Predoctoral Achievement Award, and best paper awards from top conferences such as ACM MobiCom, IEEE CICC, IEEE S&P, and IEEE ISCAS. His work has been highlighted in Communications of the ACM, ACM GetMobile, the cover of Nature BME, and IEEE Top Picks in Hardware and Embedded Security.

Linda L. Carpenter, MD, is a Professor of Psychiatry at Brown University’s Alpert Medical School and Chief of the Mood Disorders Program at Butler Hospital. She earned her MD from the University of Pennsylvania and completed her psychiatry residency and clinical neuroscience research fellowship at Yale. Dr. Carpenter is internationally recognized for her research on the neurobiology of mood and anxiety disorders and for advancing novel treatments for major depression. She has led numerous NIH- and industry-sponsored clinical trials investigating innovative therapies, including Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). As Director of Butler’s TMS Clinic and Neuromodulation Research Facility and Deputy Director of the COBRE Center for Neuromodulation, she collaborates widely to integrate noninvasive brain stimulation techniques into clinical research.

Noah S. Philip, MD, is a Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University’s Alpert Medical School. He is the founding Section Chief of Psychiatric Neuromodulation at VA Providence and Lead for Mental Health Research at the VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology. Dr. Philip’s research takes a precision medicine approach to novel technologies aimed at understanding and treating posttraumatic stress disorder, major depression, and suicidality. He earned his BSc from McGill University and his MD from Albany Medical College, graduating AOA with a distinction in Biomedical Ethics.

Dr. Patricio Riva-Posse is a neurologist and psychiatrist specializing in treatments for severe depression resistant to conventional therapies. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he earned his MD from the Universidad de Buenos Aires and completed residencies in both Neurology and Psychiatry, serving as chief resident in both programs. At Emory University, under the mentorship of Helen Mayberg—a pioneer in deep brain stimulation (DBS) for depression—he developed expertise in managing patients receiving this innovative treatment. As Director of the Interventional Psychiatry Service, Dr. Riva-Posse coordinates non-invasive neuromodulation therapies and leads clinical research on deep brain and vagus nerve stimulation for treatment-resistant depression.

Sanjay J. Mathew, MD, is Vice Chair for Research and Professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. He also serves as a staff psychiatrist at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Mathew completed psychiatry training and an NIH-funded research fellowship at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Previously, he co-founded and directed the Mood & Anxiety Disorders Program at Mount Sinai. At Baylor, his research focuses on developing novel therapies for treatment-resistant mood and anxiety disorders and PTSD, with an emphasis on rapid-acting glutamate-modulating agents. He is a member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and serves on the board of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology.