Trainees in the Interdisciplinary Training Program in Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration T32 Program

Trainee Eligibility

The Interdisciplinary Training Program in Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration T32 Program supports 6 trainees for 2 years each. Prospective Fellows must be in their second year of graduate training in one of the following PhD programs:

Successful applicants will have strong academic credentials, research interests in movement disorders, commitment to a research career, and a strong letter of support from the chair of your dissertation committee. Trainees without some or all of these qualifications, or those who are not US citizens or permanent residents, may be welcomed to join the program as adjunct trainees.

Current T32 Fellows

Clinical & Health Psychology

Francesca Lopez

Francesca joined the NINDS T32 in August 2019. Mentored by Dr. Dawn Bowers, Francesca studies novel interventions for cognitive & motor symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease

Francesca Lopez

Biobehavioral Science

Sidney Baudendistel

Sidney joined the NINDS T32 in January 2020. Mentored by Dr. Chris Hass, Sidney studies the biomechanical mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease that affect gait

Sidney Baudendistel

Neuroscience

Adithya Gopinath

Adithya joined the NINDS T32 in August 2020.

Adithya Gopinath

Neuroscience

Douglas Miller

Douglas joined the NINDS T32 in August 2020.

Douglas Miller

Specific Training Requirements

  • Develop an Individual Development Plan (IDP)
  • Structure your dissertation committee to include at least one mentor from your secondary training theme
  • Enroll in 3 Required Classes: PET 5936 (Movement Disorders), CLP 7934 (Clinical & Research Practicum in Clinical/Translational Research), GMS7003 (Responsible Conduct of Biomedical Research)
  • Attend Required Trainee Meetings: Monthly meetings with the MPIs, T32-sponsored talks & “Meet the Speaker” luncheons, and at least 1 Center-sponsored Think Tank
  • Present your research productivity at the annual T32 conference
  • Develop your scientific portfolio

Compensation & Support

  • NIH predoctoral stipend
  • Tuition
  • Health benefits
  • $500 travel award
  • $1,000 in annual research expenses

Former T32 Fellows

Biobehavioral Science

Kathleen Hupfeld

Kathleen recently won an NIH F99 award titled “Cortical Inhibition and Mobility in Older Adults.” Her research will be supported from 2020-2022.

Kathleen Hupfeld

Biomedical Engineering

Stephanie Cernera

Stephanie recently won an NIH F31 award titled “Wearable-Sensor Driven Responsive Deep Brain Stimulation for the Improved Treatment of Essential Tremor.” Her research will be supported from 2020-2022.

Stephanie Cernera

Biomedical Engineering

Winston Chu

Winston Chu is continuing his PhD studies under the mentorship of Dr. David Vaillancourt & Dr. Mingzhou Ding, and plans to graduate in 2021.

Winston Chu

Clinical & Health Psychology

Samuel Crowley

Sam Crowley is continuing his PhD studies under the mentorship of Dr. Catherine Price, and plans to graduate in 2020.

Samuel Crowley

Neuroscience

Joseph Lebowitz

Dr. Lebowitz graduated in December 2019 under the mentorship of Dr. Habibeh Khoshbouie. Dr. Lebowitz joined the laboratory of John T. Williams at the Oregon Health & Science University as a Postdoctoral Fellow.

Joseph Lebowitz

Neuroscience

Jess-Karan Dhillon

Dr. Dhillon graduated in May 2019 under the mentorship of Dr. Benoit Giasson. He is now a Research Project Manager at Discovery Life Sciences, a diagnostic & biopharma company.

Jess-Karan Dhillon

Neuroscience

Michael Pace

Dr. Pace graduated in 2018 under the mentorship of Dr. David Borchelt and now works at IQVIA Biotech, a publicly traded company that facilitates clinical research & health information technology. Dr. Pace is involved with IQVIA’s vetting process of research endeavors.

Michael Pace

Neuroscience

Sruti Rayaprolu

Dr. Rayaprolu graduated in 2018 under the mentorship of Dr. Jada Lewis. Now a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University, Dr. Rayaprolu researches the proteomic alterations associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Sruti Rayaprolu

Clinical & Health Psychology

Jacob Lafo

Dr. Lafo graduated in 2018 under the mentorship of Dr. Dawn Bowers. Now he is a postdoctoral fellow in Neuropsychology at Brown University.

Jacob Lafo

Neuroscience

Barbara Perez

Dr. Perez graduated in 2017 under the mentorship of Dr. Ranum, and continued on at UF as a Postdoctoral Fellow on another T32 program with Dr. Barry Byrne.

Barbara Perez

Biomedical Engineering

Jonathan Shute

Dr. Shute graduated in 2016 under the mentorship of Dr. Aysegul Gunduz.

Jonathan Shute