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Work Background
Webster UniversityAdjunct Assistant Professor in Neuroscience
Jan. 2020Greater St. Louis AreaInstructor for BIOL-3660: Brain and Behavior in the Extremes (Undergraduate) course. What happens to the human brain and behavior when we are exposed to isolated, confined, and extreme environments? Examples include spaceflight; high altitude flights or mountaineering; submersed or underwater activities; and polar, desert, or jungle exploration. This course covers the effects of extreme environmental exposures on major physiologic systems and the resulting neurophysiologic and neurobehavioral performance and (re)adaptation. These topics are augmented by contemporary findings from research studies conducted in operational environments and discussed in the context of history, experimental methods, and research paradigms used in extreme environmental physiology and translational neuroscience. Theoretical concepts and research findings are evaluated relative to their utility in developing functional countermeasures for extreme human habitation as well as methods for clinical treatment of related medical conditions in the general population. As such, this course may be particularly interesting to students pursuing careers in translational neuroscience, psychology, extreme physiology/medicine, and human performance in extreme environments. This course features expert guest lecturers (for example, NASA researchers and Antarctic physicians) and demonstrations of unique experimental methodologies and equipment used in isolated, confined, and extreme environments.
Harvard Extension SchoolIntructor in Psychology and Physiology
Sep. 2019Cambridge, MassachusettsInstructor for PSYC E-1620: Brain and Behavior in the Extremes (Graduate & Undergraduate) course. What happens to the human brain and behavior when we are exposed to isolated, confined, and extreme environments? Examples include spaceflight; high altitude flights or mountaineering; submersed or underwater activities; and polar, desert, or jungle exploration. This course covers the effects of extreme environmental exposures on major physiologic systems and the resulting neurophysiologic and neurobehavioral performance and (re)adaptation. These topics are augmented by contemporary findings from research studies conducted in operational environments and discussed in the context of history, experimental methods, and research paradigms used in extreme environmental physiology and translational neuroscience. Theoretical concepts and research findings are evaluated relative to their utility in developing functional countermeasures for extreme human habitation as well as methods for clinical treatment of related medical conditions in the general population. As such, this course may be particularly interesting to students pursuing careers in translational neuroscience, psychology, extreme physiology/medicine, and human performance in extreme environments. This course features expert guest lecturers (for example, NASA researchers and Antarctic physicians) and demonstrations of unique experimental methodologies and equipment used in isolated, confined, and extreme environments.
Harvard Extension SchoolIntructor in Psychology and Physiology
Sep. 2019Cambridge, MassachusettsInstructor for PSYC E-1620: Brain and Behavior in the Extremes (Graduate & Undergraduate) course. What happens to the human brain and behavior when we are exposed to isolated, confined, and extreme environments? Examples include spaceflight; high altitude flights or mountaineering; submersed or underwater activities; and polar, desert, or jungle exploration. This course covers the effects of extreme environmental exposures on major physiologic systems and the resulting neurophysiologic and neurobehavioral performance and (re)adaptation. These topics are augmented by contemporary findings from research studies conducted in operational environments and discussed in the context of history, experimental methods, and research paradigms used in extreme environmental physiology and translational neuroscience. Theoretical concepts and research findings are evaluated relative to their utility in developing functional countermeasures for extreme human habitation as well as methods for clinical treatment of related medical conditions in the general population. As such, this course may be particularly interesting to students pursuing careers in translational neuroscience, psychology, extreme physiology/medicine, and human performance in extreme environments. This course features expert guest lecturers (for example, NASA researchers and Antarctic physicians) and demonstrations of unique experimental methodologies and equipment used in isolated, confined, and extreme environments.
Boston CollegeInstructor in Neuroscience and Psychophysiology
Aug. 2019Boston, MassachusettsInstructor for PSYC-3329: Psychophysiology of Stress (Undergraduate) This course explores the concepts of stress and resilience in relation to the underlying psychophysiologic mechanisms that regulate them. Shaped by evolutionary forces, human psychophysiologic, emotional, behavioral, and social performance continuously adapt to intrinsic and extrinsic stressors with the aim of improving fitness. These core topics and processes are discussed in the broader context of (mental) health and understanding of the etiology of stress-related (psycho)pathologies. Contemporary findings from research studies conducted in laboratory (e.g. neuroimaging), occupational/extreme (e.g. spaceflight), and clinical (e.g. mental health clinic) environments are discussed in the context of history, systems, and research paradigms used to study psychophysiology of stress. Theoretical concepts and research findings are evaluated relative to their utility in developing prevention and mitigation strategies for stress-related (psycho)pathologies, and translational implementation in clinical treatments. This class may feature expert guest lecturers (e.g. NASA researchers, Antarctic physicians, etc.) and demonstrations of state-of-the-art experimental methodologies used in psychophysiologic research on stress.
Harvard Medical SchoolInstructor in Psychiatry
Oct. 2018BostonStudying the effects of extreme environments--e.g. spaceflight and terrestrial analogs, operational firefighting, physical and psychological trauma--on neurophysiologic and neurobehavioral function, and operational performance. Further developing ambulatory brain imaging and physiologic monitoring technology for clinical and extreme environments including neuroICUs, psychiatric clinics, NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA), International Space Station (ISS), parabolic flight, head down tilt, impact-sports, operational firefighting, etc. These studies have implications for understanding and managing neurophysiologic/neurobehavioral disorders, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cardiovascular disorders, etc. Practical applications of my research are aimed for extreme, emergency medical, and clinical environments. Current research activity: 2018-2025: Co-Investigator – Characterizing the baselines of sleep quality, cognitive / operational performance, immune function, and intracranial fluids for deep space expeditions - NASA/HMS/MGH.
Brigham and Women's HospitalClinical Outcomes Research Fellow
May. 2014 - Aug. 2015Boston, MassachusettsAssessment of clinical care quality based on post-treatment outcomes enables iterative improvements of care delivery. Under mentorship of Dr. Lawrence H. Cohn, I conducted quantitative analyses of cardiovascular, neurophysiological, and neuropsychiatric predictors of clinical outcomes in cardiothoracic surgical patient cohorts. Quantitative analyses were based on custom-developed code (Matlab, Python) for sorting, arbitration, mining, and statistical analyses of patient data obtained from local and national databases and were aimed to provide comprehensive data for for procedural and perioperative care improvements. 2014-2015: Co-Investigator – Management of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm During Aortic Valve Replacement – Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA) 2014-2015: Co-Investigator – A Review of Subjects Undergoing Cardiac Surgery for Pulmonary Embolism – Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA)
Harvard Medical SchoolResearch Fellow in Psychiatry
Jan. 2013Boston, MassachusettsFunctional and structural neuroimaging in spaceflight, terrestrial extreme/isolated environments, and clinical settings.
Massachusetts General HospitalInstructor in Psychiatry
Jan. 2013Boston, MassachusettsFunctional and structural neuroimaging in spaceflight, terrestrial extreme/isolated environments, and clinical settings. 2018-2025: Co-Investigator – Characterizing the baselines of sleep quality, cognitive / operational performance, immune function, and intracranial fluids for deep space expeditions - NASA/HMS/MGH. My postdoctoral work with Dr. Gary E. Strangman included validation of a series of ambulatory near-infrared neuromonitoring (NINscan 4a, NINscan-M) devices developed in our lab. These studies were performed in parabolic flight, head down tilt, during on-field football practices, and operational firefighting activities. They generated some of the first data on cerebral hemodynamic changes in microgravity, effects of mechanical countermeasures on cephalad fluid shifts, brain displacement within the skull after head impacts, as well as neurophysiologic effects of exposures to operational firefighting activities. 2013-2014: Co-Investigator & Flight Team Co-Lead – Testing Near-Infrared Neuromonitoring Devices for Detecting Cerebral Hemodynamic Changes in Parabolic Flight – National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2015-2016: Co-investigator – Preventing Injuries in Football: On-Field Brain Movement and Activity Monitoring / Harvard Football Players Health Study – National Football League Players' Association (NFLPA) 2015-2017: Co-investigator – Sleep Electroencephalography and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Measurements for Spaceflight and Analogs – NSBRI 2015-2017: Co-investigator – Testing Mechanical Countermeasures for Cephalad Fluid Shifts – NSBRI 2015-2018: Co-Investigator – Standardized Behavioral Measures for Detecting Behavioral Health Risks during Exploration Missions – NASA 2016–2019: Co-Investigator – Quantifying and Predicting Operationally-Relevant Performance in a Long-Duration Spaceflight Analog – NASA
University of Houston / Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics ResearchResearch Assistant / Doctoral Student
Aug. 2007 - Oct. 2012Houston, Texas AreaNeurocognitive aspects of motor control (terrestrial & spaceflight), sensorimotor integration and augmentation, neurorehabilitation, spaceflight neurophysiology, neuro imaging. My goal during doctoral studies was to integrate ambulatory brain imaging with wearable neurorehabilitation technology. I conducted a pilot study (funded by Hitachi Corp.) using the then state-of-the-art non-ambulatory NIRS system (Hitachi ETG-4000) to assess cortical hemodynamic activity during induced postural perturbations with and without secondary cognitive tasks. The results indicated greater prefrontal activation with decrements in postural stability in dual task conditions, and were among the first to demonstrate cortical hemodynamic changes during functional postural tasks. In the follow-up doctoral dissertation project I developed and investigated a wearable vibrotactile sensory augmentation system for cueing gait in PD patients. The results of this study remain among the first to demonstrate efficacy of wearable vibrotactile cueing for improving motor-cognitive integration and functional gait in PD patients. Advisor: William Paloski Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Science Space Life Sciences Doctoral Curriculum 2012: Doctoral dissertation: "Effects of Tactile Cueing on Functional Movement Modulation in Parkinson's Disease" - Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research / University of Houston & The Methodist Neurological Institute 2009: "Investigation of Neurophysiological Balance Control Mechanisms in Posture and Gait at the Cortical Level: a Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study" – Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research / University of Houston 2009: "Assessment of Amputee Function: Reachable Workspace" – Health Resources and Services Administration (HSRA) / U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services (Houston, TX, USA) 2008: "The Influence of Parkinson’s Disease on Neuromuscular Complexity" – University of Houston (Houston, TX, USA)
International Space UniversityGraduate Student / Principal Investigator
May. 2006 - Oct. 2006My MSc project focused on neurophysiological and cognitive deconditioning due to exposure to the extreme environment of spaceflight. Under mentorship of Dr. William Paloski (Neurosciences Laboratory at NASA Johnson Space Center [JSC]), Dr. Sheryl Bishop (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Texas Medical Branch [UTMB]), and Dr. Chiaki Mukai (International Space University and Japanese Space Exploration Agency [JAXA]), I investigated the efficacy of vibrotactile sensory augmentation as a counter-measure for spaceflight vestibular deconditioning. The findings of this work were included in recommendations to NASA for developing neurosensory augmentation countermeasures for long duration spaceflight. In addition, I also served as a PI on a parabolic flight study investigating optimal emergency medical evacuation protocols for the International Space Station within French Space Agency’s (CNES) 59th Parabolic Flight Campaign. Advisor: Chiaki Mukai 2006: Master of Space Studies thesis: "Electrotactile Stimulation of the Tongue: Vestibular Sensory Substitution for Postural Control" - NASA Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX) & International Space University (Strasbourg, France) 2006: “International Space University Medical Evacuation Suite (ISU-ME-Suite)” – Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) / Novespace, Parabolic Flight Campaign #59, Airbus A-300 “Zero-G” aircraft (Bordeaux-Mérignac, France) Co-investigators: Piere-Yves Cousteau, Anna Grinberg, Matthew Killick, Trond Krovel
NASA Johnson Space Center / UTMBResearch Intern / Graduate Student
May. 2006 - Aug. 2006Advisors: Katharine Forth, William Paloski Neurosciences Laboratory, NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX, USA) & Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston, TX, USA) 2nd Annual Summer Science Institute – Human Adaptation and Countermeasures Division, NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX, USA)
Institute for Anthropological ResearchResearch Assistant / Fellow
Dec. 2000 - Jul. 2007My predoctoral work focused on genetic association studies between polymorphisms of serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 and psychometric indicators of psychological distress. It was conducted in a genetically isolated Croatian island population in collaboration with Dr. Ian J. Deary of the Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology and Medical Research Council-Human Genetics Unit (Edinburgh, UK). The results indicated significant additive genetic contributions to variation in neuroticism, extraversion, and psychological distress, wherein psychological distress had a very high genetic correlation with neuroticism, and a moderate genetic correlation with extraversion. These findings were among the earliest suggesting strong genetic contribution to psychometric predictors of psychological distress. Advisor: Veljko Jovanovic 2005: Master of Science thesis: "Bioanthropocybernetic Analysis of the Influence of SLC6A4 Gene Polymorphisms on the Psychological Characteristics of the Population of the Island of Vis and the City of Zagreb" - Faculty of Science / University of Zagreb & Institute for Anthropological Research (Zagreb, Croatia) 2003-2006: Joint Research Program of Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit (Edinburgh, UK) and Institute for Anthropological Research (Zagreb, Croatia) 2002-2007: “Population Structure of Croatia – Anthropocybernetic Models” research project #0196003 funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Croatia, Institute for Anthropological Research (Zagreb, Croatia) 2000-2002: “Stochastic and Deterministic Models” scientific research theme #01960103, within “Anthropological Investigations of the Population Structure of the Republic of Croatia” research project funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Croatia, Institute for Anthropological Research (Zagreb, Croatia)
University of Vienna / Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Urban EthologyResearch Intern in Cognition and Behavior
Apr. 1998 - Dec. 1999Vienna, AustriaAdvisor: Karl Grammer Project: “Body Movement, Indoctrination and Personality”
Webster UniversityStudent
Jan. 1997 - Jan. 1999Vienna, Austria
XV Gimnazina, IB ProgramStudent
Jan. 1994 - Jan. 1996
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