Caitlin Bowman, PhD (Assist. Professor, Psychology)
Focuses on two important facets of memory and how they change with advanced age: 1) the ability to remember specific past events and 2) the ability to link across related experiences to form new knowledge. To better understand these human memory functions, we use a combination of behavioral tasks, computational modeling, and brain imaging techniques that include model-based fMRI and multivariate pattern analyses.
Michael Carvan, PhD (Professor, Freshwater Sciences)
My laboratory has recently become very interested in the effects that environmental chemical exposure at different developmental stages has on the aging process. I have primarily used zebrafish as an experimental system to explore biomedical toxicology topics, mostly (epi)genome-environment-disease/dysfunction interactions and identifying pathways that influence sensitivity and resistance to environmental chemicals, especially those associated with neurodevelopment. To help answer new questions in the lab, we will soon add to our toolkit the African Turquoise Killifish—a new and exciting experimental system for aging as it has the shortest lifespan of any known vertebrate.
Noelle Chesley, PhD, MPA (Assoc. Professor, Sociology).
Studies the sociology of aging and issues related to health disparities, technology, and family life, with a focus on how aging affects these topics.
Stephen Cobb, PhD, ATC (Assoc. Professor, Kinesiology).
Interested in how aging affects foot function, and how pain/injury affect foot and lower extremity function in middle-age and older adults. Also interested in interventions to improve foot and lower extremity function in older adults with ankle/foot pain/injury.
Mahsa Dabagh, PhD (Assist. Professor, Biomedical Engineering).
Investigates how the human vascular system changes with aging, including hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Janis Eells, PhD (Professor, Biomedical Sciences).
Studies mitochondrial signaling pathways that regulate cellular aging and degeneration with the goal of protecting cells and tissues against degenerative processes.
Karyn Frick, PhD (Distinguished Professor, Psychology).
The primary focus of our research is to understand how sex-steroid hormones, aging, and environmental factors affect hippocampal function and hippocampal-dependent memory. This work is motivated by the rapidly expanding elderly population worldwide, which will greatly increase the prevalence of age-related cognitive decline and dementia.
Colleen Galambos, PhD (Professor and Endowed Chair, Applied Gerontology) PhD, FGSA, FAASWSW, ACSW, LCSW.
My research interests include care transitions, advance care planning/end-of-life decision making, aging in place, health and long–term care systems quality improvement, gerontechnology, older adults and mental health, caregiving, abuse in later life, and competency-based gerontological education. Research findings on completed projects have influenced policies and practices on nursing home care, the development of sensor technology, responses to social isolation, caregiver supports, and the development of competency-based education. I serve on several national and local boards and initiatives to advance the well-being of older adults and persons with disabilities.
Deborah Hannula, PhD (Assoc. Professor, Psychology).
Studies neurobiological mechanisms and cognitive processes that support long-term memory and memory-attention interactions in young and older adults.
Sabine Heuer, PhD, CCC-SLP (Assoc. Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders).
Investigates cognitive-linguistic disorders associated with aging, including aphasia and stroke. Also studies assessment of communication and life participation needs of people with dementia.
Penninah Kako, PhD (Professor, Nursing).
Dr. Kako is dedicated to improving healthcare access for underserved populations locally and internationally, reducing HIV among women in sub-Saharan Africa, improving chronic disease self-management, and reducing women’s experiences of gender-based violence.
Melinda Kavanaugh, PhD, LCSW (Assoc. Professor, Social Work).
Primary focus on the role that youth play as caregivers to parents and grandparents with illness, including Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Current work is with Latino and African American families living with and providing care for older adults with Alzheimer’s, focusing on cultural aspects of care. I am also working with the Medical College of Wisconsin to assess discharge plans and follow-up with older adults at Froedtert hospital in Milwaukee.
Yura Lee, PhD (Assoc. Professor, Social Work)
Dr. Lee’s research is dedicated to examining the experiences of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), along with their caregivers. Her work centers on two primary areas: (a) identifying the risk and protective factors associated with ADRD, and (b) understanding the unique needs and challenges faced by caregivers of individuals with dementia.
Elizabeth Liedhegner, PhD (Faculty Assoc., Biomedical Sciences).
Projects focus on changes in key mitochondrial enzymes with age in a mouse model and how these changes may be altered with 670nm light treatment of mice during the aging process.
Adriene Markiewicz, PhD (Assist. Professor, Nursing).
Dr. Markiewicz is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing. She is the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track Coordinator and she also teaches in the graduate nursing programs. Her areas of scholarly interest include curricular integration of simulation-based learning experiences, competency-based education and role transition to advanced practice.
Marcellus Merritt, PhD (Assoc. Professor, Psychology).
Studies how sustained active and effortful coping responses to everyday psychosocial demands are linked with increased stress among middle-aged African American female dementia family caregivers with more challenging care recipients.
James Moyer, PhD (Assoc. Professor, Psychology).
Studies age-related changes in cognitive flexibility, with a focus on neurobiological mechanisms that explain why middle-aged and aged rats exhibit impaired extinction.
Gabriela Nagy, PhD (Assist. Professor, Psychology).
The overarching focus of my research is on reducing mental health care inequities experienced by minoritized communities. I have worked most extensively with immigrants and refugees from Latin America, utilizing community-engaged research methods, mixed-methods, and human-centered design approaches.
Priya Nambisa, PhD (Assoc. Professor, Digital Technologies for the Aging)
Focuses on the use of digital technologies to enhance the physical, mental, and social well-being of the aging with Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCC). Her main work in this area has been on the design, development and testing of a Web-based wellness platform called Comprehensive Digital Self-care Support System (CDSSS), with user-friendly name myHESTIA (my Healing Ecosystem for Self-care and Therapeutic Integration for the Aging). The Web-based platform is a tool for daily data collection for dairy studies or Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) studies, but it also aims to provide users with support for self-health management, social support, and healing.
Priyatha Premnath, PhD (Assist. Professor, Biomedical Engineering).
Investigates bone healing in aged populations tests drugs to regulate aged mesenchymal stem cells to improve bone healing outcomes.
Bhagwant Sindhu, PhD, OTR/L (Assoc. Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology).
I am interested in how aging affects shoulder function as well as recovery after surgical repair of rotator cuff muscles. I am also interested in understanding how mindfulness practice improves pain, sleep and stress after rotator cuff surgery among older adults. Furthermore, I am interested in developing wellness programs for Paramedics and Emergency Medicine Technicians, post-retirement from a Fire Department.
Andrew Steward, MSW, PhD (Assist. Professor Social Work).
Dr. Steward’s research explores gaps in understanding and responding to ageism through two primary aims: 1) to test programs and interventions that may reduce internalized ageism and enhance psychosocial health for older adults, and 2) to explore the intersectionality of ageism with other social justice issues.
Scott Strath, PhD (Professor, Kinesiology).
The Physical Activity and Health Research Laboratory examines glucose and metabolic regulation, obesity, physical activity promotional strategies, mediators and moderators of physical activity behavior, and methodological improvements in assessing physical activity and obesity. Our laboratory’s integrated approach to scientific study covers multiple populations, including older adults from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Murad Taani, PhD, MPH, RN (Assist. Professor, Nursing).
Interests focus on older adult health and illness care including physical activity, sarcopenia, self-management and community health.
Inga Wang, PhD, OTR/L (Assoc. Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology).
The overarching focus of my research is on aging changes influencing health across the lifespan, diseases and disabilities in older persons, and health disparities using secondary data analysis and electronic data from health organizations.