Research Team

Julius Fridriksson is a professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and a SmartState Endowed Chair of Memory and Brain Functioning. He graduated from the Sudurnes Community College (Iceland) with a university preparatory degree (studentsprof) and later completed his M.A. in speech pathology at the University of Central Florida. He then received a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in Speech and Hearing Sciences in 2001. Following completion of Ph.D. study, Dr. Fridriksson joined the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of South Carolina.  In 2016, he received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop the Center for the Study of Aphasia Recovery (C-STAR).  He is currently serving as the Vice President of Research at the University of South Carolina.

Leonardo Bonilha, M.D.-Ph.D., a physician scientist and professor of neurology, is the Director for the University of South Carolina Brain Health Program and Senior Associate Dean for Research at the USC School of Medicine in Columbia. Bonilha’s areas of expertise include brain health, aphasia, epilepsy, seizures and language. His research focuses on understanding structural and functional network adaptations to brain injury, particularly regarding language impairments after stroke. Additionally, his studies include neuronal networks associated with epilepsy and their response to treatment. He has participated in four clinical trials within the past 15 years and his research has been featured in more than 300 peer reviewed articles.

Sarah Newman-Norlund is the Associate Research Director and leads the Aging Brain Cohort (ABC) which is a research team dedicated to understanding the factors influencing brain health across the adult lifespan. She graduated from Mary Washington College (VA) with a B.A. in Psychology (2001) and earned her Master’s in Psychological and Brain Sciences (2003) from Dartmouth College.  Sarah moved to Columbia, SC with her husband Roger in 2009 from the Netherlands where she worked on an international research project looking at communicative intentions and the brain. She has dedicated her career to research in multiple domains including cancer research, communication, cognition, neuroscience, and pediatric medicine.  Everything is better with teamwork, and she loves being a part of ABC and C-STAR.  Sarah also enjoys spending time with her three children, hiking, baking, making jewelry, and walking her dog, Bella.

Roger Newman-Norlund is a cognitive neuroscientist interested in how the brain supports language production and comprehension. As a graduate student at Dartmouth College he mapped brain changes accompanying sound and gesture-based second language acquisition. As part of the Aphasia Lab at the University of South Carolina he uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to understand how the brain changes as people get older, as well as how the brain adapts following traumatic events. He has over a decade of experience in the application of computer technology-based training interventions designed to develop communication skills in clinical populations including stroke, traumatic brain injury and autism.

Chris Rorden holds the Endowed Chair in Neuroimaging at the University of South Carolina’s Department of Psychology. He co-directs the McCausland Center for Brain Imaging. Chris began his training as an undergraduate at the University of California in San Diego before completing a PhD in Experimental Psychology at the University of Cambridge in England. He then worked as a post-doctoral scientist at Birkbeck College, the British Medical Research Council’s Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit and at University College London. He has previously served as a tenured faculty member at the University of Nottingham and Georgia Institute of Technology. He currently holds adjunct positions at Favaloro University and University of Tübingen. A hallmark of his work is a close collaboration with clinicians, using recent advances in brain imaging and brain stimulation to understand medically significant questions. He has developed some of the most popular tools in his field for visualizing and analyzing these data (for example MRIcroGL, Surf Ice and dcm2nii). These tools are all made freely available, allowing other teams to exploit these methods.

Ben Fisher is the Program and Data Resource Manager for the Aging Brain Cohort. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University in African Studies and Journalism and completed graduate coursework in Gender Studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario with a focus on LGBT rights discourses in sub-Saharan Africa. His experience working in public health programs, research programs and advocacy organizations inspired his passion for data quality. He is currently working on a Graduate Certificate in Information Security and Cyber Leadership from the College of Information and Communications at the University of South Carolina.

Kelli Powell is the Administrative Assistant for the Aging Brain Cohort. She has a B.S. in Business Administration & Management Science from the Darla Moore School of Business at USC. Although originally from southwest Florida, Kelli has called Columbia, SC home since obtaining her degree. In her free time, she loves to travel with her family but can usually be found at a baseball game or Gamecock sporting event.

Makayla Gibson is a postdoctoral fellow with the Aging Brain Cohort. A South Carolina native, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health in 2018 and her Ph.D. in Cognitive and Neural Sciences in 2025 at the University of South Carolina. Makayla’s research focuses on investigating factors that impact brain health and stroke outcomes, particularly as seen on MRI. By combining her background in public health with her passion for neuroscience, she hopes to contribute to a better understanding of how lifestyle choices and environmental factors influence our brain’s resilience and recovery from injury. In her spare time, Makayla enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it’s fishing or combing the beach for shark teeth.

Natalie (Busby) Hetherington, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow from the UK where she earned both her B.S. in Psychology and Biology and M.Res. in Neuroscience from Newcastle University. She graduated with her doctoral degree from the Neuroscience and Aphasia Unit at the University of Manchester at the end of last year before moving to SC. Her research interests include using neuroimaging, in particular structural connectivity, to investigate language recovery post-stroke. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys travelling and photography.

Nicholas Riccardi, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow with the Aging Brain Cohort. Nick graduated with a B.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina. He then completed his Ph.D. in 2023 at the University of South Carolina, where he used neuroimaging and neurostimulation to study how language is organized in the brain. Nick also uses neuroimaging to understand the neural correlates of language impairments post-stroke. He now works primarily with the Aging Brain Cohort, where his focus is on investigating brain health and cognition across the lifespan. He continues to collaborate with the Aphasia Lab and is part of an ongoing effort to establish a South Carolina Alzeihmer’s Disease Research Center.

Alexis Callen is a Psychology PhD student in the Cognitive and Neural Sciences program at the University of South Carolina. Originally from Foxborough, MA, she graduated from Boston College with a B.S. in Neuroscience in 2023. She later worked for two years at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, conducting neuroimaging research focused on multiple sclerosis pathology and how it relates to disability. Alexis’ research interests include using neuroimaging techniques to assess functional activity and structural changes in an effort to predict recovery in stroke patients.

Nadra Salman is a Ph.D. candidate in Linguistics at the University of South Carolina, specializing in psycholinguistics. Her research examines how language processing interacts with theory of mind and cognitive mechanisms such as attention and memory across tasks and populations. Within the Aging Brain Cohort, she contribute to interdisciplinary efforts to understand how language and cognition relate to brain health and function. Outside of ABC, she enjoys exploring interests in artificial intelligence applications for language modeling, spending time outdoors, and relaxing with loved ones and her cat. 

Kalil Warren is a Ph.D. student in Cognitive and Neural Sciences at the University of South Carolina, specializing in psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics. He earned his B.S. in Psychology (2022) and M.A. in Linguistics (2024), also from the University of South Carolina. His research investigates how linguistic reference tracking and processing, particularly during discourse comprehension, interacts with spatial cognition, drawing on classical cognitive psychological methods and informed by cognitive neuroscience. Kalil is especially interested in how attentional and spatial mechanisms support language comprehension across modalities. He enjoys collaborating with researchers across departments and disciplines. Outside the lab, he is often in the classroom, teaching and mentoring students in psychology, linguistics, and neuroscience.

Cheng Xiao is a Ph.D. candidate in Linguistics at the University of South Carolina, specializing in bilingualism, psycholinguistics, and neurolinguistics. Her dissertation research examines how native and non-native speakers process semantics (what is said) and emotional prosody (how it is said) in spoken language. She also uses fMRI and HD-tDCS to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying linguistic knowledge and how these mechanisms change with aging.

Emily Archibald is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from High Point, North Carolina and completed her undergraduate degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology with a minor in Child and Family Studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (go Vols!). In her free time, she loves spending time with her friends and family, going on walks, exploring new places, and reading. She is excited to work as a graduate assistant in the Aging Brain Cohort and can’t wait to experience all Columbia and USC have to offer!

Peyton Earl is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from the Orlando, Florida area and graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Public Health and minor in Psychology. In her free time, she loves to travel and spend time with friends and family. She is excited for the opportunity to grow and learn within the Aging Brain Cohort/Aphasia Lab and experience all USC has to offer!

Meg Goebel is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at the University of South Carolina. She is from Huntsville, AL, and graduated from the University of Mississippi (Hotty Toddy!) with a degree in Exercise Science. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her cat, tend to her plants, read, and stay active. She is excited to experience Columbia and everything the university has to offer!

Emily Johnson is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from San Antonio, TX and graduated from Baylor University with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. In her free time, she loves going on walks, traveling, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to be a graduate assistant in the Aphasia lab and explore more of Columbia!

Grace LeFever is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at the University of South Carolina. She is originally from High Point, North Carolina and graduated from High Point University with a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Special Education. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with my friends and family, travelling, reading, and staying active by playing pickleball and rock climbing! She is excited to work as a graduate assistant in the Aging Brain Cohort, make new friends, and explore Columbia!

Rayna Teague is a graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She is from North Carolina and graduated from Western Carolina University with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Special Education. In her free time, she enjoys reading, bullet journaling, and spending time with my friends and family. She is interested in working with adults with neurogenetic communication disorders, so she is very excited to gain valuable knowledge from the Aging Brain Cohort and my graduate studies!

John Arnold is an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology on a premed track. He is from Greenville, South Carolina, and is currently working in the Aphasia Lab. After graduation in May of 2028, he plans to pursue a career in medicine and attend medical school. John enjoys woodworking, going to the gym, working out, and spending time with friends in his free time.

Connor Boyle is a sophomore undergraduate student from Myrtle Beach with a major in Neuroscience and a concentration in cellular and molecular neuroscience. He is on a pre-med track and hopes to expand his knowledge of cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging analysis, and the research process with the ABC lab. Outside of his work in ABC, he also works as a Resident Assistant at UofSC. In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and trying new food.

Kendall Brown is an undergraduate student studying Biological Sciences & Medical Humanities and Culture at the University of South Carolina. She is a sophomore from Charlotte, NC and hopes to attend medical school after graduation! Kendall enjoys pilates, true-crime, painting, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She is incredibly excited for this opportunity and hopes to learn more about research and dive into neuroscience!

Maeve Carlson is an undergraduate student in the University of South Carolina Honors College. She is a junior from Madison, WI, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. Maeve has an interest in neurological diseases and cognitive functions of an aging brain. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Master of Public Health. Outside of the lab, Maeve enjoys traveling, drawing, listening to music, and hanging out with her friends.

Alexander Downs is a senior undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina Honors College from Irmo, South Carolina. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health with minors in Business Administration and Biological Sciences. After graduation, he plans to attend business school, then dental school. He enjoys going to the gym, spending time with friends, and watching sports.

Maja Jerzmanowska is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina Honors College from Clemson, SC. She is pursuing degrees in Neuroscience and Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design and Illustration. She is very interested in brain health and aging, and she is passionate about exploring the intersections of science, art, and well-being. Outside of her studies, she enjoys drawing, painting, reading, swimming, and traveling.

Ansley Martin is a freshman undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior on the pre-medical track. She is looking to study functional connectivity, cognitive, and lifestyle correlations to migraine within ABC’s data. Outside of ABC, Ansley does neuroimaging research on Parkinson’s disease and In her free time she likes to work out and paint with friends!

Sebastian Mendoza is a pre-med undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina majoring in Psychology from Greenville, South Carolina. He is interested in brain functions, cognitive processes, and brain imaging techniques. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and pursue psychiatry. He enjoys spending his free time going to the gym, listening to music, and hiking.

Neekan Nasiri is an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina majoring in Neuroscience on a premed track. He is from Daytona Beach and is currently working with the ABC vowel study in the Aphasia Lab; using programs such as Pratt to separate formants in vowel production along with data collection. After graduation in May of 2027, he plans to continue pursuing a career in neuroscience and attend medical school. Neekan enjoys swimming and hanging out with his friends in his free time.

Sriya Pallapothu is a sophomore undergraduate student at the South Carolina Honors College. She is pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Medical Humanities & Culture. After college, she hopes to attend medical school and become a physician. In her free time, Sriya likes to draw, paint, listen to music, and binge watch TV shows.

Ava Stienes is an undergraduate student in the South Carolina Honors College. She is from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish. Ava is very interested in neurologic diseases related to aging. In the future, she hopes to attend medical school and possibly pursue a career in Neurology. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, listening to music, going to concerts, and spending time with friends and family.