Faculty

Psychology

Gene Alexander, PhD, specializes in the study of brain-behavior relationships in the context of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. His research integrates univariate and multivariate network analysis techniques across various neuroimaging methods to explore the neural underpinnings of cognitive aging. Dr. Alexander also examines how neuropsychological function, health status, and genetic risk interact to shape cognitive outcomes over time. His work aims to advance our understanding of the complex factors that contribute to healthy and pathological brain aging.

Psychology

John Allen, PhD, focuses on the etiology and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, with a particular emphasis on identifying risk factors for depression through measures of central and autonomic nervous system function, including EEG, resting-state fMRI connectivity, and cardiac vagal control. His research explores innovative, neurally-informed treatments, such as Transcranial Ultrasound, EEG biofeedback, and Transcranial Direct and Alternating Current Stimulation. Dr.

Psychology

Director, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute

Director, BIO5 Institute

Director, Center for Innovation in Brain Science

Biostatistics

Neurology

Dr. Katalin Gothard is a professor in the Departments of Physiology and Neuroscience. Her research focuses on uncovering the neural basis of emotion and social behavior, using rhesus monkeys as a model due to their shared social behaviors and hierarchical societal structures with humans. Dr. Gothard's work emphasizes brain activity during natural or semi-natural behaviors, such as monitoring neural responses in the amygdala and somatosensory cortex during social grooming and non-social tactile interactions.

Psychology

Psychology

Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences

Aneta Kielar, PhD, is the director of the Language and Neuroimaging Research Laboratory. Her research focuses on the neural correlates of language processing, utilizing cognitive assessments along with structural and functional neuroimaging techniques, including fMRI, EEG/ERPs, and MEG. Dr. Kielar studies how stroke, neurodegenerative disorders, and aging impact neural dynamics and language function, with a particular focus on recovery and rehabilitation.

Psychiatry

Psychology

Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD, researches grief, loss, and social stress, utilizing methods such as psychoneuroimmunology, neuroimaging, autonomic physiology, and virtual reality. Her work explores how the brain and body respond to bereavement, with a focus on the health impacts of grief. Dr. O'Connor has a particular interest in collective grief within Black and Latinx communities, examining bereavement as a health disparity. Through her research, she aims to better understand the biological and social dimensions of grief and develop approaches to address its impact on well-being.

Medical Imaging

Optical Sciences

Travis Sawyer is an Assistant Professor of Optical Sciences and Health Sciences. His laboratory focuses on research to develop new imaging techniques and technologies for the early detection of cancers including ovarian, skin, esophageal, and stomach cancers. He also has extensive experience in image processing, having started an independent company prior to joining the faculty in Optical Sciences. Travis supports science outreach to encourage younger generations to pursue careers in STEM.