1. Could you briefly introduce yourself for those who may not know you yet?

My name is Fernando Gonzales Aste. I was born and raised in Peru and moved to Canada in 2016 to start an MSc in neuroscience at McGill University. I am currently a 4th-year psychiatry resident at McGill with a strong research interest related to the diagnosis and treatment of severe and persistent mental illnesses and transdiagnostic symptoms, such as sleep and circadian rhythm disruption, through the lens of personalized psychiatry. I’m passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration and bridging clinical practice with emerging neurobiological tools.

2. Could you explain your project in a few words?

One of my studies examined how sleep quality and circadian factors influence brain stimulation outcomes, and I recently published findings showing that sleep quality independently correlates with responses to intermittent theta burst stimulation. In parallel, I collaborate across engineering and neuroscience to develop novel circadian biosensors and use magnetoencephalography (MEG) to identify individualized biomarkers that may guide diagnosis and neuromodulation-based treatments. These efforts aim to bring precision, timing-based approaches into psychiatric care.

3. What is the exact name of the award you have received?
I received the Chairman’s Prize in Recognition of Academic Excellence and the Best Academic Award during the annual Psychiatry Departmental Awards Night, where residents and staff in the Department of Psychiatry are recognized for their efforts and achievements during the academic year.

4. What does this recognition mean to you, and what emotions did you feel when
you learned about it?

I felt deeply grateful, grateful for the mentors, colleagues, and our patients who inspire me to pursue my mission of creating new knowledge and innovating, and grateful to my family, whose support, patience, and encouragement make all of this possible. This recognition motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve in clinical neuroscience.

5. What are the next steps or goals you are planning to pursue now?

I am working toward a career as a clinician-scientist, with the goal of bridging research and clinical practice. My next steps include pursuing a fellowship to advance my expertise in brain stimulation, clinical trials, and translational neurotechnology, with the long-term aim of developing scalable, biologically informed interventions for psychiatric disorders.