Craig McFarland | Neuroscience & Law

About Me

Bridging the science of mind
with the law that governs it

I'm an incoming JD/PhD (Neuroscience) student, and currently completing my MSc at the University of Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar and Harvard–UK Frank Knox Memorial Fellow. Before Oxford, I completed my A.B. in Neuroscience at Harvard College and served as a Postbaccalaureate Fellow at Mass General Hospital, where I focused on emerging neurotechnologies like brain stimulation and psychiatric genomics.

My research centers on the mechanisms underlying network dysfunction in psychiatric illness through multimodal human neuroimaging and brain stimulation. Alongside neuroscience, I'm deeply interested in moral philosophy and law.

I've served as a Neuroscience Policy Ambassador to the U.S. Congress, a Society for Neuroscience Fellow, and conduct research across labs at Oxford, Harvard, MGH, and abroad. I advocate for pathways into neuroscience through the Dana Foundation for Neuroscience & Society, and have presented first-authored research at 17 academic conferences across the US, UK, Italy, Canada, and Germany. Outside the lab, I love rowing, running, chess, 80s music, and finding the best coffee shop in every city.

Neuropsychiatric DisordersPrecision PsychiatryNeuroimaging Brain StimulationLawEthicsJurisprudence

Research

Research Focus

Characterizing the circuits underlying psychiatric illness through multimodal neuroimaging — then using brain stimulation to causally modulate them. Alongside this, I study the law and ethics that govern how neuroscience enters society: in courtrooms, clinical care, and policy.

Neuroanatomical Subtypes of Schizophrenia: Cross-Species Analysis

Investigating subtypes using structural MRI and machine learning–derived canonical brain maps, linking human brain phenotypes to genetic mouse models through cross-species spatial analysis.

Advisors: Rogier Mars & Robert McCutcheon

ML · Structural MRI · Schizophrenia

Hippocampal–Midbrain Mechanisms of Psychosis: A 7T Neuroimaging Study

Leading a project using multimodal 7T neuroimaging (fMRI, MRS, structural MRI) and psychometric measures in first-episode psychosis patients and controls.

PI: Helen Barron

7T fMRI · Psychosis · Circuits

Emerging Neurotechnologies & Youth Mental Health

Organized a multi-day research seminar at the Radcliffe Institute. First-authored a publication in NPP — Digital Psychiatry & Neuroscience on leveraging neurotechnologies for equitable youth mental health impact.

Advisors: Francis X. Shen, Benjamin Silverman & Donnella Comeau

Neurotechnology · Ethics

Psychiatric Polygenic Risk Scores in Clinical Care

First-author manuscript on integrating psychiatric polygenic risk scores into clinical care, in collaboration with Harvard Medical School, Mass General Hospital, and Baylor College of Medicine.

PIs: Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz & Amanda Merner

Genetics · Ethics

Brain Structure Morphology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

First-author manuscript in preparation. 120-page honors thesis investigating how brain structure predicts PTSD symptomatology, and how neuroanatomy–PTSD relationships differ across sex, SES, and race in the AURORA cohort. Received 11 research awards.

Advisor: Christy Denckla

MRI · PTSD · Epidemiology

Generalizability in Human Neuroimaging Studies

First-authored a needs assessment of hundreds of R1 neuroscience PIs on REACH for BRAIN, examining diversity gaps and barriers to generalizability in neuroimaging research across the U.S., U.K., and Germany.

PI: Francis X. Shen

Neuroimaging · Diversity

Neuroscience Evidence in the Courtroom

Assessed a pilot program educating 20 state judges on neuroscience. Conducted comparative legal research across the U.S., U.K., and Germany on how brain science is interpreted — and misread — in law.

PI: Francis X. Shen

Neurolaw · Policy

Psychopathologized Identities: A History of Neuroscience & Law

Radcliffe Institute-funded archival project tracing how neuroscience has been weaponized to pathologize marginalized identities across 18th–21st century law and medicine. Presented at the 25th Anniversary of the Radcliffe Institute.

Funding: Carol K. Pforzheimer Fellowship, Radcliffe Institute

Neuroethics · History of Science

Talks & Presentations

Invited Talks & Symposia

Invited Talk — Lucca, Italy 2026

Should AI Serve as Surrogates for Patient Decision-Making? AI-Driven Psychotherapy as a Case Study

International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting 2026 · with Pace JM

Invited Talk — Lucca, Italy 2026

Advancing Neurotech Justice in Youth Digital Mental Health: Insights from an Interdisciplinary Workshop

International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting 2026

Invited Talk — Munich, Germany 2025

All in My Head? Brain Morphology, Social Determinants of Health, and Neuroethics in Adult PTSD

International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting 2025

Invited Talk — Boston, MA 2024

Investigating the Impact of Socioeconomic Status and Demographic Determinants on Trauma Recovery and Neural Functioning

MGH Center for Law, Brain & Behavior Law & Neuroscience Workshop · with Garrison-Desany HM, Denckla CA

Invited Talk — Cambridge, MA 2024

Psychopathologized Identities: The Weaponization of Neuroscience in Law and Ethics

25th Anniversary of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study

Symposium — Boston, MA 2024

Beyond the Biology of Trauma: Genetic, Epigenetic, and Neurological Risks and Their Interactions with the Real-World Environment

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 2024 · with Garrison-Desany HM, Webb EK

Select Posters

Poster — San Diego, CA 2025

New Strategies for Promoting Equitable, Ethical, and Responsible Deployment of Neurotechnology in Society

SfN Neuroscience 2025 · with Lázaro-Muñoz G, Shen FX, Williamson T

Poster — Munich, Germany 2025

Defining and Advancing Neurotech Justice

International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting 2025 · with Rodríguez E et al.

Poster — Chicago, IL 2024

Brain Region Volumes and Socioenvironmental Factors in Symptom Severity of Adult PTSD in the AURORA Cohort

SfN Neuroscience 2024 · with Garrison-Desany HM, Denckla CA

Poster — Montréal, Canada 2024

The Role of Brain Morphology and Socioenvironmental Factors in the Pathophysiology and Symptom Severity of Adult PTSD

Society for Research in Psychopathology 2024 · with Garrison-Desany HM, Webb EK

Poster — Baltimore, MD 2023

Neuroethics and the Limits of Legal Evidence: How Courts Misread Brain Science

International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting 2023

Select Awards & Honors

2026 · Oxford

Qualifying Exam Prize (Top Performance)

Oxford Board of Examiners — top performance on the MSc Neuroscience qualifying examination.

3× · International Neuroethics Society

Top Abstract Award (3×)

Three-time recipient at the International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting, across Lucca, Munich, and Baltimore.

2025 · Stanford

Knight-Hennessy Scholarship

Offered full graduate funding at Stanford University.

2025 · Oxford

Clarendon Scholarship

“When selecting Clarendon scholars, the University has only one goal in mind: to choose the best students worldwide, as decided by experts in each student’s field.” Ranked 1st of 427 candidates by the Oxford Neuroscience Department; offered full funding and living stipend.

2025 · Harvard

Harvard–UK Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship

“Awarded annually to one outstanding Harvard senior for one year of fully-funded study and living costs at any university in the British Commonwealth.”

2025 · Harvard

Highest Honors in Neuroscience

Awarded by the Harvard Neuroscience Department for the senior honors thesis on brain morphology and PTSD.

2025 · International Neuroethics Society

Top Abstract Award

International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting 2025, Munich.

2025 · International Neuroethics Society

Travel Award

International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting 2025.

2025 · Harvard

Banga Social Innovation Thesis Award

Harvard University award for thesis work with exceptional social innovation impact.

2025 · Harvard

Mary G. Roberts Mind, Brain and Behavior Thesis Award

Harvard University thesis award for outstanding work at the intersection of mind, brain, and behavior.

2024 · Broad Institute

Biology of Trauma Early Career Research Award

Recognized as the most promising early-career research scholar in psychiatry at the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies 2024. Award presented by The Broad Institute Biology of Trauma Initiative.

2024 · Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience

Travel Award

One of 18 undergraduates worldwide selected for outstanding research and aptitude in the neurosciences, providing funding to attend SfN 2024.

2024 · Society for Research in Psychopathology

Conference Award

“This award recognizes an exceptional young scholar in the field of psychopathology, who has shown considerable promise and productivity in the formative years of their career.”

2024 · International Neuroethics Society

Best Undergraduate Academic Paper

International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting 2024.

2024 · U.S. Congress

Early Career Policy Ambassador to U.S. Congress

One of 10 neuroscientists nationally — and the only undergraduate — selected to lead solo advocacy sessions with Members of Congress.

2024 · International Neuroethics Society

Outstanding Poster Award

International Neuroethics Society Annual Meeting 2024.

2024 · Radcliffe Institute

Carol K. Pforzheimer Fellow

Independent archival fellowship on the weaponization of neuroscience in 18th–21st century law.

2024 · Harvard

Lester Kissel Grant in Practical Ethics

Harvard University grant supporting original research in practical ethics.

2024 · Harvard

Cordeiro Research Fellow

Harvard Department of Global Health & Health Policy.

2024 · Harvard

Harvard College Research Program Award

Harvard University award supporting undergraduate research.

2024 · Harvard

Harvard College Conference Awards

Harvard University funding for presentation of research at academic conferences.

2024 · The Hastings Center

Summer Bioethics Scholar

Residential summer bioethics scholarship at The Hastings Center.

2023 · Pedro Zamora Foundation

Pedro Zamora Young Leaders & Social Justice Award

Recognizing young leaders advancing social justice through advocacy and scholarship.

2023 · Harvard

Harvard Center for Public Service & Engaged Scholarship Fellow

Harvard University fellowship for public service and engaged scholarship.

2023 · Harvard

John Harvard Scholar

Awarded for academic excellence across multiple years at Harvard College.

2023 · Harvard

Detur Book Prize

Oldest award at Harvard College, recognizing academic excellence. First awarded in 1643.

Mentorship & Community

Grateful for incredible mentors — and happy to pay it forward!

I've been far too lucky with the people I've gotten to learn from. Francis Shen, Christy Denckla, Caroline Montojo, Josh Greene, Steve Hyman — and countless others — have been far kinder and more generous with their time than I deserved. Their mentorship has shaped everything about how I think and work.

I led a first-author publication on mentoring in neuroscience and society careers, drawing on lessons from the Dana Foundation Career Network — because I think pathways into this field should be clearer and more equitable for everyone.

Supported by the Dana Foundation (who inspired this site's colors!), I also helped to build neuroXcareers, a free platform connecting students and early-career researchers with mentors, resources, and opportunities across neuroscience and neurolaw. It grew to reach over 15,000 people across 29 countries and 306 institutions — stop by!

Happy to help!

If you're navigating the JD/PhD path, applying to graduate school, thinking about neuroscience careers, or just want to talk about research — please reach out. I mean it!

Whether it's reviewing application materials, talking through research directions, or just having a conversation, I'm genuinely glad to connect.

Get in touch →
Visit neuroXcareers →

CraigW.McFarland

Bridging the science of mind
with the law that governs it

Neuroanatomical Subtypes of Schizophrenia: Cross-Species Analysis

Hippocampal–Midbrain Mechanisms of Psychosis: A 7T Neuroimaging Study

Emerging Neurotechnologies & Youth Mental Health

Psychiatric Polygenic Risk Scores in Clinical Care

Brain Structure Morphology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Generalizability in Human Neuroimaging Studies

Neuroscience Evidence in the Courtroom

Psychopathologized Identities: A History of Neuroscience & Law

Grateful for incredible mentors — and happy to pay it forward!

Happy to help!

Reach out!

CraigW.McFarland

Bridging the science of mindwith the law that governs it

Neuroanatomical Subtypes of Schizophrenia: Cross-Species Analysis

Hippocampal–Midbrain Mechanisms of Psychosis: A 7T Neuroimaging Study

Emerging Neurotechnologies & Youth Mental Health

Psychiatric Polygenic Risk Scores in Clinical Care

Brain Structure Morphology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Generalizability in Human Neuroimaging Studies

Neuroscience Evidence in the Courtroom

Psychopathologized Identities: A History of Neuroscience & Law

Grateful for incredible mentors — and happy to pay it forward!

Happy to help!

Reach out!

Bridging the science of mind
with the law that governs it