People
Investigators
-
Read More about Roy H. Hamilton MD, MSRoy H. Hamilton MD, MS
LCNS Director, Director of Center for Brain Science, Translation, Innovation, & Modulation (brainSTIM), Professor and Vice Chair of Inclusion and Diversity in Neurology, Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Professor of Psychiatry
Publications
Roy H. Hamilton MD, MS
LCNS Director, Director of Center for Brain Science, Translation, Innovation, & Modulation (brainSTIM), Professor and Vice Chair of Inclusion and Diversity in Neurology, Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Professor of Psychiatry
Publications
Dr. Roy Hamilton is a Professor in the departments of Neurology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also directs the Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation (LCNS). He has been engaged in research in the field of brain stimulation since 1998, and has employed TMS and tDCS in a range of studies exploring a range of topics, including but not limited to cognitive control, visuospatial processing, language production, semantic memory, and creativity. He is a clinically trained behavioral neurologist and cognitive neuroscientist, and as such has dedicated his career to exploring the structure-function and network-function relationships that underpin complex human behaviors. Dr. Hamilton’s work has been supported by a variety of funding agencies, including the NIH, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Academy of Neurology, Society for Neuroscience, Association for Frontotemporal Dementia, and Templeton Foundation. Dr. Hamilton also serves as Director of the Penn Clinical Neurosciences Training Program, an Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion for the Perelman School of Medicine, and the Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion for the University of Pennsylvania Department of Neurology. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the American Academy of Neurology's Norman Geschwind Award for behavioral neurology research and Penn's Leonard Berwick Award for excellence in basic science and clinical education.
-
Read More about H. Branch Coslett, MDH. Branch Coslett, MD
CO-Primary Investigator LCNS, Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology
Publications
H. Branch Coslett, MD
CO-Primary Investigator LCNS, Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology
Publications
Dr. Coslett the William N. Kelley Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania and a Research Neurologist with the Moss Rehabilitation Hospital. He received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1977, completed residency in Neurology at the University of Virginia in 1981, and a fellowship in Behavioral Neurology at the University of Florida in 1983. Dr. Coslett's research interest is in the area of Behavioral/Cognitive Neurology, and more specifically in understanding the architecture and neural bases for human cognition through the study of human spatial cognition, reading, semantic memory, functional imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Download Curriculum Vitae
-
Read More about Sudha K. Kessler, MD, MSCESudha K. Kessler, MD, MSCE
CO-Primary Investigator LCNS, Associate Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Publications
Sudha K. Kessler, MD, MSCE
CO-Primary Investigator LCNS, Associate Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Publications
Dr. Kessler is an Assistant Professor of Neurology Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is board-certified in Neurology, Pediatrics and Child Neurology. She completed her medical training at The Baylor College of Medicine, a Neurology Residency at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, a Pediatric Residency at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University and Clinical Fellowship training in Epilepsy & EEG at Columbia University. Dr. Kessler is interested in the epileptic mechanisms of the human brain, specifically in children and the effect that transcranial magnetic stimulation has on those neural processes.
-
Read More about John D. Medaglia, PhDJohn D. Medaglia, PhD
CO-Primary Investigator LCNS, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Drexel University, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Publications
John D. Medaglia, PhD
CO-Primary Investigator LCNS, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Drexel University, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Publications
Dr. Medaglia is a Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Drexel University and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 2014, where he studied the effects of traumatic brain injury on cognition and network reconfigurations. He completed his doctoral internship at the Medical University of South Carolina and joined a T32 postdoctoral training program at Moss Rehabiliation Research Institute with mentors Danielle Bassett, Sharon Thompson-Schill, and Roy Hamilton to receive training in network science, cognitive control function, and brain stimulation. Dr. Medaglia is interested in network reconfigurations underlying the maintenance and transitions among cognitive functions, especially in the context of cognitive control. In particular, a major focus of his research is the use of network techniques to inform practical personalized approaches to leverage brain stimulation in experimental and clinical paradigms.
-
Read More about Kelly Sloane, MDKelly Sloane, MD
CO-Primary Investigator LCNS, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Division of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Department of Neurology
Publications
Kelly Sloane, MD
CO-Primary Investigator LCNS, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Division of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Department of Neurology
Publications
Dr. Kelly Sloane received her B.A. in Classics at University of Pennsylvania. She received her M.D. from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and went on to complete her residency in Neurology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. After residency, she earned fellowships in Vascular Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital as well as Neurorecovery at Mass General/Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
Dr. Sloane’s clinical and research interests focus on recovery of cognitive function after stroke as well as healthcare technology. She has led studies on motor-cognitive recovery after stroke and technology-based cognitive assessment tools, and she is the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications of her research.
Research Associate
-
Read More about Elizabetta AmbronElizabetta Ambron
Elizabetta Ambron
Elizabetta is a Research Associate in Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology from the University of Edinburgh. She is broadly interested in apraxia, attention, executive function, and motor control. At the LCNS, Elizabetta’s current research involves using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (i.e., TMS- transcranial magnetic stimulation) to investigate body representation and motor function in stroke patients.
-
Read More about Denise Y. HarveyDenise Y. Harvey
Denise Y. Harvey
Denise is a Research Associate in Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. A graduate of Rice university with a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience, her research focuses on how language is organized, and the neuroplastic mechanisms that enable the reorganization of language function following neural injury. Utilizing a variety of methodological approaches to investigate the neural substrates of language, including neuromodulation (i.e., TMS and tDCS), voxel-based lesion symptom mapping (VLSM), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and task-based and resting-state fMRI, Denise's work aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the retrieval of concepts and words for language. Her research program is geared towards providing a framework to understand varying clinical presentations of aphasia, and in turn inform the efficacy of both behavioral and neuromodulation treatment protocols.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
-
Read More about Tifani BiroTifani Biro
Tifani Biro
Dr. Tifani Biro is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania (LCNS) and Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute through the NIH T32 fellowship program in translational neuroscience and neurorehabilitation research. Tif received her Ph.D. in Communication Sciences & Disorders and Language Science from Pennsylvania State University in 2021. Her research program involves applying theory and techniques developed from basic research inquiries, such as how the mental lexicon is accessed and organized, to the treatment and understanding of communication differences and disorders. Tif’s research at the LCNS involves taking a psycholinguistic approach towards understanding how neurodegeneration and neurostimulation (i.e., TMS and tDCS) influences phonological paraphasias among individuals with primary progressive aphasia (i.e., PPA).
-
Read More about Amy LebkuecherAmy Lebkuecher
Amy Lebkuecher
Dr. Amy Lebkuecher is a post-doctoral research fellow at the LCNS and Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute through the NIH T32 fellowship program in translational neuroscience and neurorehabilitation research. Amy received her PhD in Psychology and Language Science from The Pennsylvania State University. Her research investigates the relationship between language and nonlinguistic cognitive abilities such as action planning and attention. Amy’s research at the LCNS investigates conflict monitoring in language and action production in individuals with apraxia and aphasia following left-hemisphere stroke.
Research Staff
-
Read More about Olufunsho K. FaseyitanOlufunsho K. Faseyitan
Research Operations Project Manager
Olufunsho K. Faseyitan
Research Operations Project Manager
Olu is senior researcher and research operations project manager for the LCNS'. He provides technical support for TMS and tDCS projects in the lab. He is also responsible for data collection and data analysis of functional neuroimaging studies in the lab. Olu received a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University and a Masters of Science from Villanova. His research interests are in the cognitive processes that support attention, language, and memory. Olu is particularly interested in the use of neural stimulation techniques (i.e. TMS & tDCS) and neuroimaging techniques (i.e. fMRI & VLSM) to investigate the neural correlates of language, attention, and spatial cognition in both health young adults and patient population.
-
Read More about Daniela SacchettiDaniela Sacchetti
Clinical Coordinators
Daniela Sacchetti
Clinical Coordinators
Daniela earned a Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology at Seton Hall University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Rider University. Her graduate school training focused on behavioral neuroscience and her thesis work addressed the anatomical and behavioral correlates of spatial neglect, a post-stroke disorder which effects attention. Daniela’s research interests include neurorehabilitation and neurodegenerative disorders of aging; she is also interested in executive functions specifically attention and processing speed. At the LCNS, Daniela is responsible for the regulatory documentation and correspondence for all study protocols under the direction of Dr. Hamilton. She is also involved in studies which explore the use of tDCS and TMS in patients suffering from Aphasia.
-
Read More about Leslie Vnenchak, MA, CCC-SLPLeslie Vnenchak, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Leslie Vnenchak, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Leslie earned her bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders at Penn State University followed by her Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology at The College of New Jersey. She joined the University of Pennsylvania Health System in 2006. She has extensive experience as a therapist working with patients with post-stroke aphasia and has is highly experienced in the administration of therapies relevant to ongoing patient-related projects in the LCNS.
-
Read More about Kayla AlznauerKayla Alznauer
Research Specialist
Kayla Alznauer
Research Specialist
Kayla graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with minors in Cognitive Science and Political Science. Her previous work includes research on individual differences in learning complex tasks, working memory, and optimal feedback. At the LCNS, she investigates the use of transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) and language therapy for individuals diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia. Her current interests include the cognitive mechanisms of attention, executive function, working memory, emotion, and their subsequent interactions. She is also interested in the neural correlates for language, specifically language acquisition.
-
Read More about Suravi SarkarSuravi Sarkar
Suravi Sarkar
Suravi graduated from Rice University with a BA in Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, and Psychology. Her previous research project under the mentorship of Dr. Randi Martin investigated the white matter correlates of language-related working memory after acute stroke aphasia. Her current project under Dr. Hamilton examines the use of tDCS in conjunction with speech language therapy to treat patients with primary progressive aphasia. Her current interests are researching the neural correlates of emotion and language.
-
Read More about Peter TwiggPeter Twigg
Peter Twigg
Peter graduated from Eastern University with Bachelor's degrees in Psychology (BS) and Music Composition (BA), and later earned a Master's in Neuroscience from Temple University studying under Dr. Jamie Reilly. His research interests and prior work include EEG, ERPs, TMS, tACS, conceptual understanding, communication, attention & distraction, music, and language. He currently works on several projects exploring clinical applications of TMS and tDCS to treat communication disorders and investigate cognitive processes.
-
Read More about Jeffry AlfaroJeffry Alfaro
Jeffry Alfaro
Jeffry graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry. At the LCNS, his research focuses using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with speech language therapy to treat patients with primary progressive aphasia (PPA). His previous research investigated subphonemic error patterns of patients with different PPA variants. Outside of his research interests, Jeffry is dedicated to spreading awareness about aphasia, stroke risk, and post-stroke care to neighboring communities.
-
Read More about Zung D. PhamZung D. Pham
Zung D. Pham
Zung graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a MSc in Behavioral and Decision Sciences and a Certificate in Social, Cognitive and Affective Cognitive Neuroscience. Her previous research under the guidance of Dr. Kathryn Cullen at the University of Minnesota Medical School explored the neural changes underlying response to antidepressant medications in adolescents. Another line of research under the mentorship of Prof. Jaine Strauss at Macalester College investigated the cognitive and affective mechanisms of a gratitude journal intervention to reduce subclinical depression in young adults. Her current projects under Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Harvey examine the use of tDCS in tandem with constraint-induced language therapy to treat patients with primary progressive aphasia and the use of tACS on improving working memory among healthy adults.
-
Read More about Sebleh AlfaSebleh Alfa
Sebleh Alfa
Sebleh graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. Her previous research project under the mentorship of Dr. Emma Rhodes investigated cognitive and motor reserve in ALS. Her current project under Dr. Hamilton examines the use of tDCS in conjunction with speech language therapy to treat patients with primary progressive aphasia. Her current interests surround the neural correlates of language, neurorehabilitation, as well as risk and protective factors in brain aging.
-
Read More about Benjamin MurdochBenjamin Murdoch
Benjamin Murdoch
Ben received a Bachelor of Arts degree in linguistics from Rice University with minors in German and Spanish. While at Rice, Ben studied the relationship between working memory and language ability in post-stroke aphasia as a research assistant in the Fischer-Baum Laboratory. His current work at the LCNS investigates the clinical use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in conjunction with constraint-induced language therapy (CILT) in patients with primary progressive aphasia. Ben’s research interests include psycholinguistic models of speech production and comprehension in both healthy and aphasic populations, the diagnosis and classification of post-stroke and primary progressive aphasia, and the non-linguistic cognitive functions implicated in language.
-
Read More about Megan HoffmanMegan Hoffman
Megan Hoffman
Megan graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Criminal Justice. Her previous work includes research on transcranial alternating current stimulation as a treatment for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. At the LCNS, Megan is responsible for starting up a new multisite trial investigating transcranial direct current stimulation and language therapy for individuals diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia. She is interested in the role of neuroscience in the law and criminology and plans on attending law school.
Graduate and Medical Student Researchers
-
Read More about Shreya ParchureShreya Parchure
Shreya Parchure
Shreya is an MD-PhD student in the Perelman School of Medicine and Department of Bioengineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, under the mentorship of Dr. Roy Hamilton. Her research focus includes tailoring neuromodulation approaches to better understand and treat cognitive and neuro-psychiatric disorders, especially in the language system. She is interested in applying neuroimaging, network neuroscience, and novel computational methods towards this aim. Prior to joining the MSTP, she completed an MSE and BSE in Bioengineering with concentrations in Neuroengineering and Biomedical devices, from the University of Pennsylvania. Shreya is a former recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship. She is an avid painter, swimmer, community volunteer for glaucoma screenings, and is involved in the health-tech innovation space. She intends to integrate her interests through future career as a physician-scientist.
-
Read More about Taylor PhillipsTaylor Phillips
Taylor Phillips
Taylor graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. At the LCNS, she investigates the use of transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) and language therapy for individuals diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia. Her current interests lie in exploring the neural correlates of language as well as the impact of environmental factors on disease.
Alumni
- Elizabetta Ambron, PhD
- Jacques Beauvais MD
- Jennifer Benson, PhD
- Samuel Cason
- Menvekeh Daramay
- Laura DeLoretta
- Danial Drebing
- Haley Dresang, PhD
- Leah Friedman
- Gabriella Garcia
- Felix Gervits
- Jay Gill
- Cindy Gooch, PhD
- Christopher Haslam
- Dasha Kliot
- Eric McConathey
- Jared Medina, PhD
- Nicole Nissim, PhD
- Catherine Norise
- Jullian Purcell
- Dorian Pustina, PhD
- Linda Sanders, MD
- Vanja Saric
- Jill Sorcher
- Priyanka P. Shah, PhD
- Peter Turkeltaub, MD, PhD
- Yuchao Wang
- Quan Wan
- Elaine Wencil, PhD
- Nicole White
- Martin Wiener, PhD
- Rachel Wurzman, PhD
- Jared Zimmerman