Principal Investigator
Brian M. Sweis, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Departments of Psychiatry & Neuroscience
Director for Neuroeconomics
Centers for Computational Psychiatry & Affective Neuroscience
Assistant Training Director for Research
Psychiatry Residency Program
Friedman Brain Institute & Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Laboratory: Annenberg Building 22-76 (1468 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10029)
Office: Annenberg Building 22-24d (1468 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10029)
Biography
Brian completed a dual bachelors of science in biology with a minor in neuroscience and bachelors of arts in psychology with a minor in philosophy at Loyola University Chicago (2008-2012). He earned two separate senior honors theses in biology in the laboratory of Dr. Louis Lucas and in psychology in the laboratory of Dr. Robert Morrison studying behavioral neuroscience across species in rodents and humans.
Brian then completed his dual MD/PhD training at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in their Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP, 2012-2020). He earned his PhD in neuroscience co-mentored by Drs. Mark Thomas and David Redish studying complex decision-making processes by applying principles in neuroeconomics across species. Brian’s graduate work was funded by the MnDRIVE Neuromodulation Fellowship, an F30 NRSA from NIDA, as well as CTSI Fellowship to continue translating his graduate work into the clinic as a medical student. Brian received three separate best PhD awards including from the University of Minnesota, the National Council of Graduate Studies, and the Society for Neuroscience’s Donald B. Lindsley Prize in behavioral neuroscience, as well as being named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List in science.
Brian then completed his psychiatry residency training on the physician-scientist research track at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City (2020-2024) during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he also served as Chief Resident for research. Brian was mentored by Drs. Eric Nestler, Scott Russo, Denise Cai, and Helen Mayberg where he was able to engage in research concurrent with his clinical duties to build his own independent research platform. His work during residency received numerous grants and awards including NIMH Outstanding Resident Award, NIA Rising Star, NIH LRP, NIMH MD/PhD Supplement, Leon Levy Scholarship in Neuroscience from the New York Academy of Sciences, BBRF NARSAD, Paper of the Year by the Society for Neuroeconomics, and pilot grants from NIA, APA, and ASCP. Brian became the first in Mount Sinai’s history to receive the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists which allowed him to bypass traditional K-award training pathways and became the first resident in psychiatry to earn an R01 (NIMH BRAINS Award) prior to graduating.
In 2024, Brian became a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience where he is growing his lab in parallel with his clinical and teaching activities. Brian also stepped into the role of Director of Neuroeconomics in the Centers for Computational Psychiatry and Affective Neuroscience to promote cross-species translational research in decision neuroscience. He will also be serving as Assistant Training Director for Research in the Psychiatry Residency Program to help accelerate the path toward independence for physician-scientists.
Select Career Achievements & Awards
2025 Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF), NARSAD Young Investigator Award
2024 NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists R01 Award, R01MH136230
2024 Animal Models for the Social Dimensions of Health and Aging Research Network Award, R24AG065172
2024 Nina Schooler Early Career Research Award, American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology
2024 Paper of the Year, Society for Neuroeconomics, Durand-de Cuttoli…Sweis 2022 Science Advances
2024 NIMH LRP, L40MH127601-03
2023 Rising Star, National Institutes of Health, NIA & American Geriatric Society, R13 Bench To Bedside
2023 Career Award for Medical Scientists, Burroughs Wellcome Fund
2023 Leon Levy Scholarship in Neuroscience, New York Academy of Sciences
2023 Animal Models for the Social Dimensions of Health and Aging Research Network Award, R24AG065172
2023 American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology New Investigator Award
2023 American Psychiatric Association Research Award for Junior Psychiatrist Investigators
2023 Career Development Institute in Psychiatry Research Award, Class of 2023
2023 Alies Muskin Career Development Leadership Program Research Track Award from the ADAA
2023 NIMH LRP, L40MH127601-02
2022 NIMH Outstanding Resident Award Program in Psychiatry
2022 NIMH Supplement for MD/PhD Physician-Scientist Residents, 3R01MH051399-31S1
2022 Society of Biological Psychiatry (SOBP) Travel Award
2021 NIMH LRP, L40MH127601-01
2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science
2019 Best National Dissertation Award in the Biological and Life Sciences, Washington, D.C.
2019 SfN Donald B. Lindsley Prize for outstanding international dissertation in behavioral neuroscience
2019 Best Dissertation Award in the Biological and Life Sciences at the University of Minnesota
2019 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Travel Award
2019 Society for Neuroeconomics (SNE) Travel Award
2018 Clinical and Translational Science Institute Fellowship Award, NIH NCATS UL1TR002494
2017 NIDA F30 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, F30DA043326
2016 MnDRIVE Neuromodulation Fellowship Award
2016 Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS) Travel Award
2015 MnDRIVE Neuromodulation Fellowship Award
2015 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) Travel Award
2019 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Travel Award
2011 SfN Trainee Professional Development Travel Award
2010 Carbon Translational Research Fellowship Award