Dr. Xiaoqian Chai

Biography

Xiaoqian Chai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University and a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. Chai received a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Stanford University. He completed his postdoctoral training at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His long-term research goal is to understand the relationship between brain organization and cognitive development. His work examines large-scale brain networks that support learning, memory, and language. Chai is particularly interested in the neural developmental processes underlying cognitive functions in children and adults, and how experiences and diseases alter brain organization. His research employs a mix of behavioral assessments and brain imaging techniques such as fMRI, resting-state fMRI, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), alongside computational approaches. His research is funded by Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL).

Research Interests

Experience