Division of Rehabilitation Sciences Postdoctoral Training Former Postdoctoral Fellows Former Postdoctoral Fellows Rehab Postdoctoral Students Martha Acosta, PhD, PT (2007) Research: Falls in Mexican American older adults Supervisor: B. Protas Academic Background: Physical Therapy Current Position: Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, UTHSC San Antonio Soham Al Snih, MD, PhD (2005-2007) Academic Background: Medicine, Rheumatology Research: Falls in Mexican American older adults Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Associate Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences, UTMB Michael Borack, PhD (2016) Academic Background: Kinesiology Research: Amino acid sensing in muscle: role of lysosome and effect of protein supplementation Supervisor: B. Rasmussen Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, US Army Institute of Surgical Research Pei-Fen Chang, PhD, OTR (2005-2007) Academic Background: Occupational Therapy Research: Satisfaction with rehabilitation outcomes Supervisor: G. Ostir Current Position: Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University Nai Wei Chen, PhD (2012-2013) Academic Background: Statistics Research: Generalized linear mixed models, large datasets Supervisor: A. Karmarkar / K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Biostatistician, UTMB Rachel Deer, PhD (2013-2014) Academic Background: Biomedical Sciences Research: Physiological factors that modulate vascular function Supervisor: E. Volpi Current Position: Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences, UTMB Carlos Diaz Venegas, PhD (2012-2015) Academic Background: Sociology/Demography Research: Marginalization and mortality rates Supervisor: R. Wong Current Position: Research Scientist, Max Planck Institute, Germany Jared Dickinson, PhD (2009-2012) Academic Background: Human Bioenergetics Research: Human skeletal muscle protein synthesis Current Position: Associate Professor, Exercise Science & Health Promotion, Arizona State University Hans Dreyer, PhD, PT (2004-2007) Academic Background: Physical Therapy Research: Satellite cell activation during anabolic therapies Supervisor: B. Rasmussen Current Position: Associate Professor, Human Physiology, University of Oregon Micah Drummond, PhD (2006-2008) Academic Background: Exercise Science Research: Muscular adaptations to resistance exercise Supervisor: B. Rasmussen Current Position: Associate Professor, Physical Therapy, University of Utah Steve Fisher, PhD, PT (2008) Academic Background: Rehabilitation Sciences Research: Functional assessments in elderly, post-discharge outcomes Supervisor: G. Ostir Current Position: Associate Professor, Physical Therapy, UTMB Elfego Galvan, PhD (2015-2017) Research: Creatine supplementation, body composition and exercise performance Supervisor: D. Paddon-Jones Academic Background: Exercise Physiology Vera Gonzales, PhD (1999-2003) Academic Background: Clinical Psychology Research: Rehabilitation outcomes Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Private practice, Sugarland, TX Erin Glynn, PhD (2010) Academic Background: Exercise Physiology Research: Physical activity & nutritional intake on skeletal muscle protein turnover Supervisor: B. Rasmussen Current Position: Sr. Scientist, Beachbody LLC, Santa Monica, CA Ted Graber, PhD (2015-2019) Academic Background: Rehabilitation Science Research: Age-related neuromuscular decline and resistance training Supervisor: B. Rasmussen Current Position: Assistant Professor, East Carolina University James Graham, PhD, DC (2006-2008) Academic Background: Rehabilitation Science, Chiropractic Research: Rehabilitation outcomes, functional assessment Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Professor & Director, Center for Community Partnerships, Colorado State University Lori Griffin, PhD (2002-2004) Academic Background: Biomechanics / motor control Research: Motor control and dynamic systems Supervisor: R. Cromwell Current Position: Consulting, Movement Sciences, Inc. Patricia Heyn, PhD (2003-2004) Academic Background: Psychology/ Education Research: Cognitive rehabilitation Supervisor: B. Abreu Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO Ickpyo Hong, PhD (2016-2017) Research: Comparing disability levels in adults with chronic conditions Creatine supplementation, body composition and exercise performance Supervisor: T. Reistetter Academic Background: Health & Rehabilitation Science Current Position: Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, UTMB Amol Karmarkar, PhD (2009-2010) Academic Background: Occupational Therapy Research: Rehabilitation outcomes Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Associate Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences, UTMB Shilpa Krishnan, PT, PhD (2014-2016) Academic Background: Rehabilitation Sciences Research: Patient-centered outcomes, Traumatic spinal cord injury Supervisor: T. Reistetter Current Position: Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University Amit Kumar, PhD (2016) Academic Background: Physical Therapy Research: Comorbidity Measures for Predicting Post-Acute Rehabilitation Outcomes Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Assistant Professor, Northern Arizona State Brad Lambert, PhD (2013-2015) Academic Background: Kinesiology Research: Physiology responses to endurance and resistance exercise Supervisor: B. Rasmussen Current Position: Research Scientist, Texas A & M and Methodist Research Institute Emily Lantz, PhD (2012-2015) Academic Background: Nutrition Science Research: Muscle metabolism and intestinal function Supervisor: D. Paddon-Jones Current Position: Research Scientist, Nutrition and Metabolism, UTMB Chih-Ying (Cynthia) Li, PhD (2014-2017) Research: Health Services Research, Functional Outcome Measurement, Post-Acute Care Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Academic Background: Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, UTMB Melodee Mancuso, PhD (2001-2002) Academic Background: Counseling Psychology Research: Rehabilitation outcomes Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Academic & Career Development Consultant Taylor Marcel, PhD (1999-2001) Academic Background: Exercise Science / Motor Control Research: Muscle metabolism, exercise Supervisor: R. Urban Meredith Masel, PhD (2007-2009) Academic Background: Sociomedical Sciences Research: Cognitive function, health behavior among older Mexican Americans Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Program Manager, Center to Eliminate Health Disparities, UTMB Joni Mettler, PhD (2010-2012) Academic Background: Kinesiology Research: Muscle metabolism and nutrition Supervisor: D. Paddon-Jones Current Position: Associate Professor, Health & Human Performance, Texas State University J. Addie Middleton, PhD (2015-2016) Academic Background: Exercise Science / Rehabilitation Science Research: Outcomes measures in older adults Supervisor: J. Graham Current Position: Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, Medical University of South Carolina Annalisa Na, PT, PhD, DPT, OCS (2017-2020) Academic Background: Biomechanics and Movement Sciences Research: Biomechanical influences on physical function in knee osteoarthritis Current Position: Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Drexel University Craig Porter, PhD (2012-2013) Academic Background: Skeletal Muscle Physiology Research: Muscle biology and burns Supervisor: L. Sidossis Current Position: Associate Professor, Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Paul Reidy, PhD (2015) Academic Background: Exercise Physiology Research: Protein Blend Supplementation following Resistance Exercise on Skeletal Muscle Growth and Strength Supervisor: B. Rasmussen Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow, University of Utah Rafael Samper-Ternent, MD (2007-2013) Academic Background: Medicine Research: Frailty, cognitive decline Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine, UTMB Archana Sangole, PhD (2003-2005) Academic Background: Engineering / Biomechanics Research: Biomedical modeling, Biomechanics Supervisor: B. Abreu and R. Patterson Current Position: Mechanical Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, Canada Diane Stoebner-May, PhD (2001-2003) Academic Background: Psychology Research: Health related quality of life among older Mexican Americans Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Assistant Professor, Psychology, Sam Houston State University Maria Swartz, PhD, MPH, RD, LD (2014-2017) Academic Background: Behavioral Sciences Research: Health-related quality of life in childhood cancer survivors Supervisor: L. Lyons Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Metabolism, UTMB T. Brock Symons, PhD (2004-2007) Academic Background: Exercise Science Physiology Research: Eccentric exercise in older adults Supervisor: B. Protas and D. Paddon-Jones Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Louisville Srinivas Tepalla, MD, MPH (2013-2015) Academic Background: Health Services Research / Public Health Research: Large database research, Biomarkers for risk of cardiovascular disease Supervisor: K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Epidemiologist, The Hopkins Centre, Griffith University, Australia Dillon Walker, PhD (2010-2012) Academic Background: Animal Growth and Nutrition Research: Human muscle biology utilizing cell culture and microscopy Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, Health and Kinesiology, Texas A & M University Christina Yfanti, PhD (2011-2012) Academy Background: Health Sciences Research: Muscle and tissue metabolism related to nutrition and physical activity Supervisor: L. Sidosis Current Position: Study Startup Associate, ICON Clinical Research Ling Zhang, MD (1999-2002) Academic Background: Medicine Research: Rehabilitation outcomes Supervisor: B. Abreu and K. Ottenbacher Current Position: Lab Manager, Hsieh Laboratory, UT Southwestern More InformationPostdoctoral Program Admission Requirements Former Fellows