Postdoctoral Associate in Epidemiology interested in measuring, promoting, and improving mobility in older adults. I’m particularly interested in how lab-based assessments reflect community-based activity and how various comorbidities both impact and respond to physical activity. I completed my DPT and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University. Currently, I’m studying how prefrontal cortical activation assessed by fNIRS relates to gait quality from accelerometry during dual task walking in older adults.

Jim Hengenius is a postdoctoral associate performing neuroimaging analysis on the MOVE-MYHAT study. He obtained his PhD in computational biology from Purdue University and previously trained as a postdoc with the Ermentrout group in the Pitt Department of Mathematics. Jim is interested in developing novel multimodal neuroimaging methods and using these methods to inform dynamical systems modeling. In his free time, he enjoys reading speculative fiction, playing the saxophone (poorly), and spending time with his two cats, Mae Borowski and Mehitabel.

Neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Alzheimer’s Disease

My research aims to elucidate why certain racial/ethnic groups and those with lower levels of socioeconomic status are a greater risk of experiencing accelerated neurocognitive decline, and how modifiable lifestyle factors, especially physical activity, may reduce risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

What have you discovered so far?
APOE ε4 carriers with overweight/obesity exhibit reduced fMRI brain activity during a working memory task.

What do you want to discover?
I want to discover the neurobiological and physiological pathways by which modifiable lifestyle factors contribute to resistance and resilience to Alzheimer’s disease pathology, and the extent to which factors implicated in resistance and resilience are similar or dissociable.

primary faculty mentor: Dr. Gianaros

I am a PhD student in the Epidemiology Department at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. My current research focuses on exploring energy in aging populations across the following domains: cognition, mood, physical function, and physical activity. I have a bachelors degree from Brandeis University and an MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In my spare time, I enjoy rock climbing (both indoor and outdoor).

Scientific Program Manager at the NIA’s Office of Clinical Research

Focus: exploring energy in aging populations across the following domains: cognition, mood, physical function, and physical activity. I have a bachelors degree from Brandeis University and an MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In my spare time, I enjoy rock climbing (both indoor and outdoor).

Primary Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosano

I am a graduate student pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology. In my doctoral work, I use medical neuroimaging methods (e.g. PET, MRI) to measure Alzheimer’s disease pathology in community-dwelling older adult African Americans. I am interested in identifying novel risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease pathology in this population. Outside of research, I enjoy puzzles and board games, Stephen King novels, and exercising.

What have you discovered so far?
Despite being disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease, African Americans do not show more severe underlying disease pathology relative to non-Hispanic whites, suggesting that disease may manifest differently between the two racialized groups.

What do you want to discover?
I want to identify risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease pathology among exposures that are more common in or specific to African Americans.

primary faculty mentor: Dr. Snitz

Current position: First-year graduate student in the Department of Biomedical Informatics, MD-PhD candidate at University of Pittsburgh Academic interest: Developing and applying clinical informatics techniques to study neurodegenerative disease. Fun fact: I love learning languages and speak 5 of them!

What have you discovered so far?
My recent work has focused on examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with multiple sclerosis, investigating how the social networks of people with multiple sclerosis and control participants changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and understanding how comprehensive assessment of environmental factors can predict neurological disability in people with multiple sclerosis.

What do you want to discover?
I’m excited to develop novel clinical informatics and analytical approaches that will enable us to derive important insights from the rapidly growing healthcare data sources with a focus on neurodegenerative diseases.

primary faculty mentor: Dr. Xia

My name is Wesley DeHaven and I am a current second year MPH student in the Department of Epidemiology here at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. I am interested in both environmental and neuro epidemiology, and am currently working on project under Dr. Andrea Rosso looking at the association of air pollution exposure with neurodegeneration biomarkers. Outside of school, I enjoy being outside and exploring Pittsburgh, watching my favorite tv shows, and swimming when I have the chance.

I am an MPH student in the Epidemiology program at the University of Pittsburgh. My main research interests include using data taken from neuroimaging and motion tracking devices to answer questions of healthy aging. In the past, I have also worked in data collection for the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center and MYHAT study. Outside of my work, I enjoy kayaking, exercising, or playing my guitars and drums.

I’m the Project Coordinator for the T32 Training Grant in Population Neuroscience of AD and Aging-related Dementias (PNA) and also work on other eBRAIN projects. During my years in the department of Epidemiology I’ve worked as a research dietitian on several grants including the Modification of Renal Disease, Women’s Health Initiative, HEALTHY Study, and was the lead interventionist for both the Group Lifestyle Balance Moves Study and Healthy Lifestyle Intervention Study. I enjoy staying active, working on home projects, and game nights with my family.

Hello, my name is Rafael Migoyo and I’m a staff member working with Dr. Andrea Rosso. My primary responsibilities include Data entry and data management. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Aging Sciences (Gerontology) and topics that interest me include mobility/accessibility in older adults, educating communities about aging issues, and socioeconomic factors in aging populations. A fun fact about myself is that one of my hobbies is collecting art.

Shala works directly with Dr. Caterina Rosano and Dr. Andrea Rosso to manage a number of research projects measuring brain and mobility in older adults. In her spare time, she enjoys coaching track, spending time with her family and working with children to be a positive influence in their lives.

I collaborate with the researchers to manage and analyze health care datasets, present results and prepare manuscripts for publication. I also provide statistical advice and support to the eBrain team. My research interests include high-dimensional inference, longitudinal analysis and clinical trials.