Current Trainees

  • Jacob Bumgarner

    Graduate Degree
    PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Randy Nelson

    Training Program

    Training Program
    Stroke and Its Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) (Current Trainee)
    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Randy Nelson

    Jacob is a first year Associate Scholar on the Stroke T32 grant. He is a second year Neuroscience PhD student and Swiger Fellow studying in Dr. Randy Nelson’s lab. As Dr. Nelson’s trainee, Jacob examines how exposure to light at night can affect circadian rhythms and their regulation of cerebrovasculature and pain.

    “Acceptance to the Stroke T32 program has been an exciting opportunity to improve my professional development, communication, and critical thinking skills. Within the program, I am fortunate to be exposed to novel research and ideas that directly impact the health of our community as well as improve my own research acumen.”
  • Briana Clary

  • Julie Griffith

    Graduate Degree
    PhD in Cellular and Integrative Physiology
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Tim Nurkiewicz
  • Nicole Mackenstein

  • Amber Mills

    Graduate Degree
    PhD in Cellular and Integrative Physiology
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Mark Olfert
  • Scott Saylor

  • Andrew Strutz

  • Current Associate Scholars

  • Alivia Frazier

    Graduate Degree
    PhD in Clinical Psychology
  • Kacie Hanna

    Headshot of Kacie Hanna
    Graduate Degree
    PhD in Biomedical Engineering (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Sergiy Yakovenko

    Training Program

    Training Program
    Stroke and Its Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) (Current Associate Scholar)
    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Sergiy Yakovenko
    Research Project or Topic
    Gait analytics in amputee populations treated with targeted muscle reinnervation or osseointegrated prosthetic technology
  • Rhiannon Macom

    Graduate Degree
    PhD in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Brown

    Training Program

    Training Program
    Stroke and Its Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) (Current Associate Scholar)
    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Brown
  • James Scripter

    Graduate Degree
    PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Martin Hruska

    Training Program

    Training Program
    Stroke and Its Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) (Current Associate Scholar)
    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Martin Hruska

    James is fourth year PhD student in the laboratory of Dr. Eric Tucker, in the Department of Neuroscience. He is currently an active member and trainee of the Cell and Molecular Biology and Biomedical Engineering Training Program. He studies the roles for c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) signaling in forebrain development. His current research focuses on the effects of JNK on thalamocortical axon (TCA) development and investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms guiding TCA projections. Understanding these mechanisms during thalamocortical axon extension, will help uncover potential causes of neurodevelopmental disorders, like autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.

    Being a trainee for this T32 opens the door for many opportunities for collaboration, skill workshops, hosting outside seminar speakers, workshops to explore the various core facilities available at the university, and also providing opportunities for student sabbaticals. Overall, I plan to use the skills and knowledge that I gain from the CBTP program to fully accomplish my research goals and help my progression through my graduate studies.
  • Rachel Taitano

  • Bailey Whitehead

    Graduate Degree
    PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Zachary Weil

    Training Program

    Training Program
    Stroke and Its Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) (Current Associate Scholar)
    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Zachary Weil

    Bailey is in his first year on the Stroke T32 training grant as an associate scholar. He is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Neuroscience program in the School of Medicine. His research in Dr. Zachary Weil's laboratory focuses on traumatic brain injury and the comorbidities that may exist between TBI and ischemic strokes, with a particular interest in both vascular responses and mitochondrial consequences to the paired injuries.

    "The opportunity to be a part of this training program is an exciting chance to expand my connections in the field of stroke research and grow a deeper appreciation and knowledge for the work that is being conducted in the field. Meeting and learning from experts and fellow researchers is a great opportunity that will aid me in developing more skills and understanding a great deal more to aid me in becoming a better scientist and researcher."

National Institute on Aging (T32 AG052375)