Maya Schumer
NeuroscientistUnited States
Maya Schumer is a psychiatric neuroscientist and postdoctoral fellow at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School whose research focuses on the brain networks involved in bipolar disorder, particularly mania, hypomania, and mood-state transitions. She earned her PhD in neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2023. [2][3]
Career and work
Schumer earned her PhD in neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2023. During her doctoral research, she studied brain circuitry associated with bipolar disorder and led a large-scale meta-analysis of more than 200 functional neuroimaging studies examining patterns of brain activity and connectivity across the disorder. [2][3]
She is now a postdoctoral fellow in psychiatric neuroscience at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Her research uses functional MRI, connectomics, and network-based methods to study mania, hypomania, mood-state transitions, and potential neural markers of bipolar disorder risk and progression. [2]
What has been publicly discussed
- Schumer has described her bipolar disorder as changing over time. In the early years, she mainly experienced rapid cycling into depression; later, she developed mixed episodes with depressive and manic symptoms at the same time. In more recent years, she experienced full mania, sometimes with psychosis. [5]
- Before reaching greater stability, Schumer also experienced chronic suicidality, panic attacks, depression, mania, and significant difficulty concentrating despite years of treatment. [4][5]
- Over more than a decade, Schumer tried psychotherapy, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anticonvulsants. Her later treatment has included ketogenic therapy, low-dose lithium, IV ketamine, and accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation. [4][6][1]
- She has also described maintaining a strict sleep schedule and regular cardiovascular and strength exercise as part of managing her health. [6]
- Schumer has described reaching sustained stability and remission after more than a decade of persistent symptoms. She has emphasized that she does not consider herself “cured” and continues to identify as a person living with bipolar disorder. [7][6]
- She has reported major improvements in panic attacks, concentration, mood stability, and her ability to function day to day. [4][6]
- Schumer speaks openly about living with bipolar disorder and uses her experience to challenge stigma. She has also advocated for greater involvement of people with lived experience in bipolar-disorder research. [1]
- In particular, she supports coproduction and co-design, in which people who live with bipolar disorder help shape research questions and methods rather than participating only as research subjects. [1]
“I am stable and I have bipolar disorder.”
— Maya Schumer [8]
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
CREST.BD“World Bipolar Day ‘Ask Me Anything’ 2026” Schumer’s first-person biography identifying her as a psychiatric neuroscientist living with Bipolar I disorder and discussing treatment, advocacy, and lived-experience involvement in research.
One Mind“Maya Schumer, PhD” Professional biography covering Schumer’s doctoral training, postdoctoral fellowship, and research on bipolar disorder.
University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry“Prefrontal, Parietal, and Limbic Condition-Dependent Differences in Bipolar Disorder” Describes Schumer’s doctoral neuroimaging research and large-scale meta-analysis of bipolar disorder.
View all 8 sources
Boundless Body Radio“Lived Experience with Bipolar with Dr. Maya Schumer” Long-form interview about Schumer’s symptoms, treatment history, lived experience, and later improvement.
A Chat with Uma“Why Is My Brain Trying To Kill Me?” Schumer discusses the progression of her bipolar disorder, mixed episodes, mania, psychosis, and chronic suicidality.
THINK + SMART / Metabolic Mind“Maya Schumer” First-person account of Schumer’s treatment, routines, symptom improvement, and current management strategies.
Maya Schumer“A Psychiatric Neuroscience Researcher Finds Remission” First-person account in which Schumer discusses reaching remission and stability while continuing to identify as a person with bipolar disorder.
A Chat with Uma“Maya’s 10-year lithium journey…” Interview excerpt containing Schumer’s description of her diagnostic history, treatment, stability, and the quotation used in this profile.
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Maya Schumer and their experiences.
- “E32 — More Than a Mood: Stories and Science of Bipolar Disorder”brainSTEM
A two-part episode combining Schumer’s lived experience of Bipolar I disorder with a scientific discussion of bipolar-disorder neuroscience.
- “World Bipolar Day ‘Ask Me Anything’ 2024”talkBD / CREST.BD
Panel discussion featuring Schumer alongside researchers, clinicians, and other people with lived experience.