Student Research Opportunities
Research at Sargent College covers the full range of biological and behavioral exploration related to human health, disease, and disorders – including autism, language disorders, stroke, neuroscience, physiology, nutritional epidemiology, sports-related injuries, and many more. Our students have the opportunity to get involved in research early, working alongside faculty on a daily basis to build the foundations for evidence-based practices in the health and rehabilitation sciences.
Thesis for Distinction
Interested students may also consider completing a Senior Thesis for Distinction. This is an opportunity for undergraduate Sargent College seniors to complete an in-depth research experience within your major or minor field of study. Under the supervision of a faculty mentor, you’ll have the opportunity to develop and execute a personalized research project while also collaborating in your mentor’s lab or research group. Learn more.
Research Specialties
What areas of research interest you? Take a look at the list below which features a variety of research topics and faculty expertise here at the College. We encourage you to review faculty’s research and lab websites and to reach out to professors directly to ask about research opportunities. You can send them a professional email expressing your interest, and it can also be a good idea to share any previous research experience (including coursework), practical or clinical work with a population or age group, and send a copy of your resume.
Aphasia
Aphasia Research Lab
Director: Professor Swathi Kiran, PhD, CCC-SLP
website
Arthritis
Movement & Applied Imaging Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Deepak Kumar, PT, PhD
website
Autism & Developmental Disabilities
Communication & Neurodevelopment Laboratory
Director: Assistant Professor Jennifer Zuk, PhD, CCC-SLP
website
Development, Experience, and Motor Recovery Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Claudio Ferre, PhD
website
Families & Autism Research Lab
Director: Professor Gael Orsmond, PhD
website
Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory
Director: Associate Professor Vasileios Zikopoulos, PhD
website
Infant Communication Lab
Director: Professor Jana Iverson, PhD
website
Motor Development Lab
Director: Associate Professor Simone Gill, PhD, OT, OTR, FAOTA
website
Neural Systems Laboratory
Director: Professor Helen Barbas, PhD
website
Violence Prevention Lab
Director: Professor Emily Rothman, ScD
website
Brain & Musculoskeletal Imaging
Aphasia Research Lab
Director: Professor Swathi Kiran, PhD, CCC-SLP
website
Communication & Neurodevelopment Laboratory
Director: Assistant Professor Jennifer Zuk, PhD, CCC-SLP
website
Communication Neuroscience Research Laboratory
Director: Associate Professor Tyler Perrachione, PhD
website
Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory
Director: Associate Professor Vasileios Zikopoulos, PhD
website
Movement & Applied Imaging Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Deepak Kumar, PT, PhD
website
Speech Neuroscience Lab
Director: Professor Frank Guenther, PhD, MS
website
Children and Youth
Communication & Neurodevelopment Laboratory
Director: Assistant Professor Jennifer Zuk, PhD, CCC-SLP
website
Development, Experience, and Motor Recovery Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Claudio Ferre, PhD
website
Families & Autism Research Lab
Director: Professor Gael Orsmond, PhD
website
Infant Communication Lab
Director: Professor Jana Iverson, PhD
website
Motor Development Lab
Director: Associate Professor Simone Gill, PhD, OT, OTR, FAOTA
website
Violence Prevention Lab
Director: Professor Emily Rothman, ScD
website
Tatiana Pontes, Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy
faculty profile
Global Health
Global Health Nutrition Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Lindsey Locks, MPH, ScD
website
Human Physiology
Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory
Director: Associate Professor Vasileios Zikopoulos, PhD
website
Neural Systems Laboratory
Director: Professor Helen Barbas, PhD
website
Skeletal Muscle Physiology Lab
Director: Professor LaDora Thompson, PhD, BS, PT
website
Vascular Biology Lab
Director: Professor Kathleen Morgan, PhD
website
Hearing Sciences
Communication Neuroscience Research Laboratory
Director: Associate Professor Tyler Perrachione, PhD
website
Psychoacoustics Lab
Director: Professor Gerald Kidd, PhD
website
Language
Aphasia Research Lab
Director: Professor Swathi Kiran, PhD, CCC-SLP
website
Communication & Neurodevelopment Laboratory
Director: Assistant Professor Jennifer Zuk, PhD, CCC-SLP
website
Communication Neuroscience Research Laboratory
Director: Associate Professor Tyler Perrachione, PhD
website
Infant Communication Lab
Director: Professor Jana Iverson, PhD
website
Sensorimotor Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Director: Professor Cara Stepp, PhD
website
Speech Neuroscience Lab
Director: Professor Frank Guenther, PhD, MS
website
Mental Health
Approach Motivation & Participation Lab
Director: Associate Professor Daniel Fulford, PhD
website
Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Director: Professor Susan McGurk, PhD and Professor Kim Mueser, PhD
website
Violence Prevention Lab
Director: Professor Emily Rothman, ScD
website
Mobile Health & Technology in Rehabilitation
Aphasia Research Lab
Director: Professor Swathi Kiran, PhD, CCC-SLP
website
Approach Motivation & Participation Lab
Director: Associate Professor Daniel Fulford, PhD
website
Center for Neurorehabilitation
Director: Associate Professor Terry Ellis, PhD, PT, NCS
website
Movement & Applied Imaging Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Deepak Kumar, PT, PhD
website
Neuromotor Recovery Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Louis Awad, PT, DPT, PhD
website
Sensorimotor Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Director: Professor Cara Stepp, PhD
website
Karen Jacobs, Clinical Professor and Associate Dean for Digital Learning & Innovation
faculty profile
Movement Science
Center for Neurorehabilitation
Director: Associate Professor Terry Ellis, PhD, PT, NCS
website
Development, Experience, and Motor Recovery Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Claudio Ferre, PhD
website
Human Adaptation Laboratory
Director: Associate Professor Cara Lewis, PT, PhD
website
Infant Communication Lab
Director: Professor Jana Iverson, PhD
website
Motor Development Lab
Director: Associate Professor Simone Gill, PhD, OT, OTR, FAOTA
website
Movement & Applied Imaging Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Deepak Kumar, PT, PhD
website
Neuromotor Recovery Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Louis Awad, PT, DPT, PhD
website
Skeletal Muscle Physiology Lab
Director: Professor LaDora Thompson, PhD, BS, PT
website
Muscle Physiology
Skeletal Muscle Physiology Lab
Director: Professor LaDora Thompson, PhD, BS, PT
website
Nutrition
Eating Patterns & Metabolism Lab
Director: Research Associate Professor Megan McCrory, PhD, Department of Health Sciences
website
Global Health Nutrition Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Lindsey Locks, MPH, ScD
website
Nutritional Epidemiology Lab
Director: Associate Professor Paula Quatromoni, DSc, RD
website
Social Justice in Health Care Professions Lab
Director: Clinical Associate Professor Shelly Debiasse
website
Maura Walker, Assistant Professor of Nutrition
faculty profile
Parkinson's Disease
Center for Neurorehabilitation
Director: Associate Professor Terry Ellis, PhD, PT, NCS
website
Sensorimotor Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Director: Professor Cara Stepp, PhD
website
Speech Neuroscience Lab
Director: Professor Frank Guenther, PhD, MS
website
Pain
Human Adaptation Laboratory
Director: Associate Professor Cara Lewis, PT, PhD
website
Movement & Applied Imaging Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Deepak Kumar, PT, PhD
website
Speech
Aphasia Research Lab
Communication & Neurodevelopment Laboratory
Director: Assistant Professor Jennifer Zuk, PhD, CCC-SLP
website
Communication Neuroscience Research Laboratory
Director: Associate Professor Tyler Perrachione, PhD
website
website
Infant Communication Lab
Director: Professor Jana Iverson, PhD
website
Sensorimotor Rehabilitation Engineering Lab
Director: Professor Cara Stepp, PhD
website
Speech Neuroscience Lab
Director: Professor Frank Guenther, PhD, MS
Stroke
Aphasia Research Lab
Director: Professor Swathi Kiran, PhD, CCC-SLP
website
Center for Neurorehabilitation
Director: Associate Professor Terry Ellis, PhD, PT, NCS
website
Neuromotor Recovery Lab
Director: Assistant Professor Louis Awad, PT, DPT, PhD
website