Dr Alexander Shaw – Neurocomputational Consulting

Bridging Neuroscience, Psychiatry & AI through Mechanistic Modelling

I help organisations interpret neural data, design neuro-inspired intelligent systems, and translate complex science into actionable decisions.

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Dr Alexander D. Shaw

About

Alex is a neuroscientist & AGI researcher at the University of Exeter, where he leads the Computational Psychiatry & Neuropharmacological Systems (CPNS) Lab and serves as Director of Business Engagement & Innovation for Psychology.

His work combines dynamical systems modelling with Variational Bayes/Laplace inference to explain brain function, neuropharmacology, cognition and disease. He develops open-source tools used internationally for Dynamic Causal Modelling, active inference, predictive coding, and optimisation-driven modelling.

Core Services

Four service lines that convert complex neuroscience into value: from rigorous model fitting and biomarkers to neuro-inspired AI and strategy.

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Strategic & Translational Advisory

Scientific rigour for investment, research translation, and product strategy.

  • Mechanistic biomarkers & experimental design (CNS)
  • Translational neuroscience & cross-species modelling
  • Technical due diligence for neuro/AI start-ups
  • IP evaluation & R&D road-mapping

Neuro-AI & Predictive Systems Consulting

Biologically-plausible algorithms and architectures for adaptive, data-efficient intelligence.

  • Active inference & predictive coding algorithms
  • Generative model architectures for agents
  • Free-energy minimisation & Bayesian RL
  • Neuro-inspired frameworks for AGI research
  • Code review

Neurocomputational Modelling & Analysis

Translating EEG/MEG/fMRI into mechanistic understanding and computational endpoints.

  • State-space & dynamical systems models
  • Dynamic Causal Modelling & Dynamic Expectation Maximisation
  • Variational Bayesian methods & pipelines
  • Optimisation, model selection & ablation studies
  • Biomarker discovery & mechanism-of-action inference

Applied Assays & Analytics

Turning neuroscience into measurable outcomes across R&D and product teams.

  • Functional drinks neuro-assays: EEG/behavioural endpoints
  • Clinical imaging analyses: EEG/MEG/fMRI pipelines → biomarkers
  • Marketing & product testing: neurocognitive metrics & A/B neuro-analytics
  • Wearables & real-world sensing for longitudinal insight

Example Projects

Representative projects that illustrate how mechanistic modelling and neuro-AI unlock value in R&D and product development.

AI Systems

Active inference for adaptive AI systems

Predictive coding architectures and free-energy-based control for intelligent agents operating under uncertainty.

Clinical Neurophysiology

EEG biomarkers across psychiatric disorders

Mechanistic modelling of sleep and task EEG to identify computational biomarkers for diagnosis, stratification, and treatment response.

Neuropharmacology

Modelling GABAergic modulation in human EEG

Inferring receptor-level dynamics and oscillatory changes from pharmacological manipulation to guide development and safety.

Consumer Neuro / Marketing

Neuro-informed product & creative testing

Lightweight EEG/behaviour protocols and model-based metrics for attention, engagement, and decision-making.

Engagement & Pricing

Clear tiers for rapid advisory, scoped projects, or ongoing partnership. University-routed contracts available at 130% FEC.

Advisory

High-leverage strategy or technical consults.

£250–£600 per session

  • 1–2 hr video call
  • Written summary report
  • Reading list / next steps
Book a call

Project-Based

Bespoke analysis or modelling with deliverables.

£2,000–£10,000 per project

  • Defined scope, milestones & success criteria
  • Data audit & preprocessing plan
  • Reproducible analyses, code & figures (version-controlled)
  • VB/Laplace model fitting & comparison
  • Mechanistic interpretation & briefing
  • Technical report & documentation
Request a proposal

Retainer

Ongoing collaboration and technical advisory.

£1,500–£3,000 per month

  • Guaranteed availability
  • Pipeline design & oversight
  • Monthly reporting
Start a partnership

Day-rate option: £800–£1,200/day depending on scope and IP terms.

Contact

For enquiries, proposals, or collaborations, email or book an intro call. A short discovery session helps align scope, timelines, and outcomes.

a.d.shaw@exeter.ac.uk cpnslab.com LinkedIn