Over the past 15 years my research has focused on understanding the consequences moderate and severe traumatic brain injury taking perspectives from cognitive neuroscience and clinical rehabilitation. To examine the broad consequences of TBI on patient outcome, we use large databases to understand the factors that influence TBI outcome including behavioral (e.g., alcohol use) and demographic (e.g., gender, age) risk factors for TBI and outcome stratification. In addition, the work in my lab has used functional MRI and connectivity modeling to understand systems-level plasticity after moderate and severe traumatic brain injury.  Over the past decade the functional MRI literature has shifted to focus on examining connectivity in brain networks which now compliments the first generation of fMRI studies focused on the localized responses during perturbation (i.e., task). During this transition I have led collaborative efforts to employ these methods, pioneering the first TBI studies using brain connectivity measures and advanced statistical analyses (e.g., graph theory) and the few studies in the literature examining brain network changes longitudinally after TBI.  Since we published the first longitudinal graph theory study in 2009, we have continued these efforts examining early recovery windows using longitudinal methods including data collection at multiple hospital facilities. In addition our most recent work focuses on the commonly observed phenomenon of hyperconnectivity following injury and linking these effects over the life-span as possible predictors of neurodegeneration including recent collaborations to investigate these effects in mild cognitive impairment.

Liz Rebuck

I am the Research Coordinator in the Hillary Lab. I received my B.A. in Psychology from The University of New Hampshire in 2021. As as undergraduate, I found an interest in psychological research and through my roles as an interviewer and coordinator at Penn State, working with marginalized communities, I have found my true passion, prevention and intervention of violence against women and children. In the future, I plan to pursue a Masters in Public Health, where I will learn how to study and advocate for the reduction of violence in our communities. In my free time, I love going out to eat, laying in the sun, and playing with my cat Bruno.

Gloria Lan

I‘m a research assistant in the Hillary lab. I received dual B.S degree in Biology and Psychology here at Penn State in 2022. As an undergrad, I worked as a research assistant for 2 years in the Yingwei Mao Neurobiology Lab, focusing on examining how abnormal neural progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation may lead to psychiatric disorders through mouse models. Through this, I became increasingly interested in the cognitive and behavioral impact of neurogenesis. Currently, I aim to integrate my previous experience in neurobiology with clinical psychology, as well as learning new neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessment techniques. Eventually, I intend to pursue a PhD, so I may have an opportunity to further explore cross-disciplinary research in the field of clinical neuropsychology.

Spencer Chase

I graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in 2022 with a B.S. in Experimental Neuroscience. I have previous done behavioral and computational work looking at learning and memory in those diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. I have also analyzed the impact of cigarette smoking on the white matter and pial surfaces of the brain through various fMRI scanning protocols. I am currently working in both the Cognitive Aging and Neuroimaging Laboratory with Dr. Nancy Dennis, as well as the Clinical Neuropsychology Laboratory with Dr. Frank Hillary to further explore my interests in neuroimaging and statistical analysis. In my free time I like to run, play video games, learn about technology, and travel.

Jason Staph

Currently an independent collaborator in the Hillary Lab. After spending a little more than 20 years in various technology positions in several industries, I'm working to balance a full time career against a complete pivot back to my passion; neuropsychology. I'm particularly interested in applying my technology skillset to the more computational tasks in fMRI studies. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

Rida Hamid

I am a fourth-year Schreyer Scholar pursuing a BS in Biobehavioral Health with minors in Global Health and Biology. Through my time at the lab, I have found great interest in learning about the effects of traumatic brain injury on neural networking and mental health. I also wish to better explore access and equity within imaging research. Beyond my role as a research assistant, I also participate in Ethics in Science and Medicine, Days for Girls, and the Nittany AI Challenge. After graduation, I plan on attending medical school to further pursue my interests in healthcare.

Quinn Pritchard

I am a fourth-year Schreyer Honors scholar pursuing a BS in Biology with a minor in German. I am interested in how the anatomical damage caused by traumatic brain injuries can affect the physiological functioning of the brain and how these alterations in functioning can be compensated for by emerging therapies. Outside of being a research assistant, I am involved in Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional, co-ed business fraternity. After graduation, I plan on integrating my passions for science and business into a career in consulting or pharmacy.

Ishita Pesati

I am a second-year BS/MD student in the Penn State/Jefferson Accelerated 7-Year Program (PMM). In my time at the lab, I have found an interest in how TBI presents itself in intimate partner violence (IPV) cases. I am also exploring racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare following TBI. Outside of being a research assistant, I am also the THON Chair for PMM and a volunteer for clinics held by Remote Area Medical. After graduation from Penn State, I am attending medical school in Philadelphia to continue my path to becoming a practicing physician.

Hamna Ahmad

I am a third-year Schreyer Scholar majoring in Health Policy and Administration with a minor in Biology. I am particularly interested in how social determinants of health—such as race and income—affect cognitive outcomes and the quality of care for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Outside of the lab, I serve as the Vice President of the LifeLink volunteering organization and work as an EMT. After college, I plan to attend PA school with an interest in psychiatry.

Oren Eldor

I am a fourth-year Schreyer Honors Scholar pursuing a BS in Biology. During my time working as a Research Assistant, I have become interested in how traumatic brain injuries affect our psychological and neurological functioning, and in learning more about the complex effects of intimate partner violence (IPV). Aside from the lab, I love learning languages (I have been learning ASL for three years and am now learning Italian!), being Vice President of the Schreyer Medical Team, and swimming. After graduation, I am planning on attending medical school with the dream of becoming a pediatric oncologist and helping families during their battle with childhood cancer.

Saatvik Kambhampati

I am a sophomore in the Pre-Medical Medical 7-year BS/MD Program matriculating to SKMC. I am interested in neurology and how traumatic brain injury affects neurological function over time. Aside from my time as a research assistant, I am part of the Penn State Twaekondo club and an EMT. After graduation from Penn State, I plan on attending Medical School to pursue my goal of practicing medicine.

Einat is currently a neuropsychology postdoctoral fellow at UC San Diego. She completed her clinical internship at the UCSD/VA San Diego training program. She earned her B.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Brown University in Providence, RI in 2015. During her undergraduate years, she spent 3 years working as a research assistant in the Advanced Baby Imaging lab and one year working in the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital in Providence, RI. For her Master's thesis, she examined dynamic resting-state connectivity changes in individuals with MCI and healthy older adults. Another project she led involved examining changes in resting state connectivity following behavioral intervention in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Her dissertation investigated the relationship between connectivity, cognitive reserve, and behavior in individuals with TBI and MCI.

Umi graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Johns Hopkins University. He later earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Pennsylvania State University in 2017. His doctoral work in the Hillary Lab focused on functional connectivity and cognition in chronic moderate-to-severe TBI (msTBI), and his master's thesis provided some of the first data on resting-state connectivity alterations after msTBI. Clinically, he developed expertise in the evaluation of TBI, neuropsychiatric disorders, and neurodegenerative dementias. Umi completed a pre-doctoral internship in clinical neuropsychology at Brown University and a postdoctoral fellowship within the VA Boston Healthcare System before joining Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute (Philadelphia, PA) in 2019. As Director of the Brain Trauma Behavior Laboratory (https://mrri.org/brain-trauma-and-behavior-laboratory-bratbehavior-lab/), Umi continues his work in the neuropsychology/imaging of msTBI, with special interests in pre- and post-injury biopsychosocial factors contributing to long-term health.

Arnab Roy was a post-doctoral student in Dr. Frank Hillary’s lab. He has a B.E. in Electronics and Telecommunications from Mumbai University, Maharashtra, India, M.S. in Computer Science, and Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Binghamton University, NY, U.S.A. His current research involves developing computational techniques for discovering regional-pairs in the resting-brain that show aberrant functional connectivity after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and understanding the manner in which the connectivity strength between these regions evolve during the recovery period. He is also interested in studying the non-stationary patterns of functional connectivity associated with TBI.

John Medaglia graduated from Drexel University in 2008 with a B.S. in Psychology. He completed his post-doctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania, and after winning the NIH Director's Early Independence Award, continued on at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Psychology as a Research Assistant Professor. John's primary interest is the contribution of the cerebellum to working memory processing in distributed neural systems. His Master’s thesis investigated cerebellar relationships with forebrain regions and performance during working memory. His dissertation incorporates person-specific techniques for examining changes in neurocognitive processes following traumatic brain injury. He applies graph theory and effective connectivity approaches to fMRI time series to examine network changes and contributions to performance. Other interests include conceptual issues in the generalizability of aggregated statistical findings, neural network simulations, and dynamic systems approaches to brain functioning and cognition. In his remaining few hours, John enjoys sports, martial arts, strategy games and music. 

Deepa Ramanathan graduated from the University of Vermont in 2005 with a B.S. in biobehavioral psychology and minor in chemistry. Deepa is interested in long-term cognitive, psychiatric, and functional consequences of TBI. Her master's thesis examined the relationship between dispositional optimism and long-term outcomes following TBI.  For her dissertation, she used data from the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation to describe the epidemiology of TBI in Pennsylvania, with a focus on examining short-term TBI outcomes in the elderly and in urban and rural locations.  Deepa completed her clinical internship in neuropsychology at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa, FL.  She completed her Postdoctoral Residency in Rehabilitation Neuropsychology at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. Deepa is now working as the inpatient rehab neuropsychologist for the TBI/stroke unit at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. She also has an appointment as an Assistant Professor at Hopkins, teaching didactics to the rehab psychology and neuropsychology residents.

Kathy Chiou graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2004 with a major in psychology and a minor in education.  Kathy has interests in examining metacognitive processes and factors that contribute to performance differences in this domain following moderate to severe TBI using neuropsychological assessment and neuroimaging methodologies.  She completed a master's thesis examining the relationship between executive functioning and metacognitive performance after moderate to severe TBI.  She expanded upon this work in her dissertation by using VBM and DTI methodologies to investigate the contribution of structural integrity to metacognitive performance following injury.  Kathy completed her clinical internship in neuropsychology at the University of Florida Health Science Center in Gainesville, Florida.  She completed her post-doctoral fellowship at Kessler Research Foundation in West Orange, NJ, and then took a tenure-track faculty position where she is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Undergraduate Student Alumni

• Monica Benson

• Rianne Addler

• Laura Boyden

• Jerry French, Jr.

• Bobby Mullin

• Danielle Feger

• Ashley Todd

• Abby Renko

• Suraj Mital

• Emily Bryer

• Sohayla Rostami

•  Isabella Castro Colmenares

Research Coordinator Alumni

• Neal M. Fitzpatrick

• Tia Bochnakova

• Britney Wardecker

• Julia Slocomb

• Tyler Snider

• Rich Garcia

• Mariah Hallman

• Diana Priestley