Rethinking How the Brain Works: Dr James Pang’s Discovery at the Intersection of Physics and Neuroscience
In 2023, Dr James Pang, Research Fellow at Monash University received the Discovery Award sponsored by Griffith University, recognising his pioneering work reshaping how we understand human brain function.
Dr Pang’s research tackles one of the most fundamental questions in science: how patterns of brain activity give rise to thought and behaviour.
Traditionally, neuroscientists have focused on the brain’s complex network of connections to explain how activity is generated. Dr Pang’s work introduced a radically different perspective, showing that the geometry of the brain itself, including its contours and folds, plays a critical role in shaping brain activity.
Published in Nature in 2023, his research demonstrated that patterns of brain activity can be understood as “eigenmodes”, natural patterns of vibration shaped by brain structure, similar to how a musical instrument produces sound.
By analysing more than 10,000 brain imaging datasets, Dr Pang showed that these geometry-driven patterns have a stronger influence on brain activity than previously thought, challenging long-standing assumptions in neuroscience.
The discovery opens an entirely new way of understanding how the brain functions, and how it changes in disease.
A New Lens on Brain Health and Disease
Dr Pang’s work has significant implications for understanding a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and traumatic brain injury.
By linking brain structure directly to function, the research offers new ways to explore why cognitive decline occurs and how brain activity differs between individuals.
Importantly, the work also creates new opportunities for translation into clinical settings.
Because brain geometry can be measured using standard MRI scans, which are far easier to obtain than scans of brain activity, the approach could enable simpler, more accessible tools for studying brain function and identifying early signs of disease.
Beyond its clinical potential, the research has already had a strong impact within the scientific community and beyond.
Dr Pang also released open-source software alongside the research, enabling scientists around the world to apply this new framework to their own work. The tool has already been adopted in dozens of independent projects exploring areas such as ageing, psychosis and brain injury.
Building Momentum as an Emerging Research Leader
Since receiving the Research Australia Award, Dr Pang has continued to build on this work and expand his research program.
“Since receiving the award, my biggest milestone has been the receipt of an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Investigator Grant, which has allowed me to start my independent research and expand my own team,” he said.
The recognition has also helped strengthen his visibility and confidence as an emerging leader in the field.
“The Award has opened several opportunities that are valuable for my research and career, such as meeting stakeholders and increased academic visibility and credibility, and has helped develop my personal confidence.”
For Dr Pang, awards play an important role in supporting the next generation of researchers and accelerating innovation.
“The Discovery Award is incredibly important, especially for early-career researchers, as it provides an avenue to highlight the important work we do and also serves as a catalyst for further innovation and academic success.”
He also encourages others across the sector to recognise their peers.
“All health and medical researchers in the country are exceptional and deserve to be highlighted. Nomination is straightforward, but the impact it can have on someone’s career is far-reaching.”
2026 Research Australia Awards
Dr Pang’s work highlights how bold, interdisciplinary thinking can unlock entirely new ways of understanding the human brain, and create pathways for improving health outcomes.