MEET
OUR TEAM
From physical therapy to neuroscience, our team brings together diverse expertise and perspectives to advance our shared mission.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Longhurst leads the Neuroimaging and Behavior Lab which studies the interaction of gait and postural control and cognition and particularly their effect in the context of neurodegenerative disease, with a focus on Parkinson’s disease.
TRAINEES & STUDENTS
Sarah Conklin, PT, DPT
PhD Student
Lab Coordinator
Research Interests: Behavioral aspects of Parkinson's disease affect on movement, participation in physical activity, and quality of life.
Elizabeth Barkley
Graduate Research Assistant
Student in Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, 3rd year
Research Interests: Brain activity during dual tasks and how brain activity changes through disease progression. “Prefrontal Cortex Activity during a Cognitive Motor Dual Task Is Associated with PD Motor Severity”
Serena Schein
Graduate Research Assistant
SLU School of Medicine M.D. Candidate 2026
Research Interests: Neural patterns of reactive balance in those with Parkinson disease, neuroscience, reactive balance, and movement disorders
Melissa Pool
Graduate Research Assistant
Student in Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, 2nd year
Research Interests: Impact of dual task complexity on gait performance and cortical activity, how the interaction of perception and behavior affect gait performance and cortical activity
Patrick Hill
Graduate Research Assistant
Student in Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, 1st year
Research Interests: Current project aims to investigate how different attentional tasks affect gait, assists in dual tasking in Parkinson's disease project
Ruby Johnson
Graduate Research Assistant
Student in Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, 1st year
Research Interests: Data collection and interpretation for our adaptability project, as well as identifying patterns in fear of falling behavior with the goal of applying specific interventions as a future clinician.
Ayushi Dholakia
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Senior in B.S. Neuroscience Program
Research Interests: Effect of Dual-Task on Brain Activity During Gait and Turning in Early-Stage Parkinson's Disease Patients, Freezing of Gait
Shreya Patel
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Senior in B.S. Neuroscience Program
Research Interests: Impact of dual task complexity levels on gait performance and cortical activity,
freezing of gait in Parkinson's Disease
Yamna Bukhari
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Senior in B.S. Health Sciences Program
Research Interests: Dual Task, Freezing of Gait, and Brain Activity in Early PD
Rithvik Naidu
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sophomore in B.S. Health Sciences Program
Research interests: Differences in brain activity between Early PD and healthy patients, Dual Task, and effects of external and internal cues with PD-FOG patients.
Rachel Granda
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sophomore in Physical Therapy Program
Research interests: Seeking to investigate physical activity levels amongst patients with PD.
ALUMNI
Jemma Kim, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2023
Current Position: PhD student at the University of Delaware - Neuromotor Behavior Lab under Dr. Darcy Reisman
Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2023
Current Position: Outpatient Physical Therapist at Schwab Rehabilitation in Chicago, IL
Graduate Research Assistant
SLU School of Medicine M.D. Candidate 2026
Research Interests: Neurobiology, movement disorders, fNIRs, EEG, epilepsy, dual-task gait and balance, fear of falling avoidance behavior
AFFILIATED FACULTY
Annie Zinselmeier, PT, DPT, NCS
Saint Louis University
Assistant Professor
Physical Therapy and Athletic Training
COLLABORATORS
Associate Professor
Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
Saint Louis University
Associate Professor
College of Health and Behavioral Sciences;
Physical Therapy
Chapman University
Andrew Hooyman
Associate Professor
College of Health Solutions
Arizona State University
Department Chair and Professor
Integrated Health Sciences; Physical Therapy
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Merrill Landers
Associate Professor
School of Occupational Therapy
Touro University
Associate Professor
Department of Health Care Sciences and
Department of Neurology; Physical Therapy Program
Wayne State University
Nora Fritz
Professor
Physical Therapy
Saint Louis University
Assistant Professor
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society
Karolinska Institute
Franziska Albrecht
Professor
Physical Therapy
Saint Louis University
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