Sidney T. Baudendistel, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
CV
Sidney is a postdoctoral research scholar mentored by Dr. Gammon Earhart focusing on research in Movement and Neurodegenerative diseases. A St. Louis area native, Sidney received her bachelor’s degree from Truman State University in Exercise Science where she also ran Track and Field. Following the completion of a master’s degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Sidney completed her PhD in Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida under the mentorship of Dr. Chris Hass. Her dissertation work focused on the investigating efficacy of an acute rehabilitation protocol using real-time biofeedback for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Her current research interest includes continuing her work understanding the underlying mechanisms for gait impairment in Parkinson’s disease to better implement rehabilitation protocols to improve quality of life.
Elinor Harrison, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
CV
Elinor (Ellie) was always torn between her two loves of dance and science, but it wasn’t until her senior year of college that she decided to fully abandon her dreams of medical school to pursue dance. After receiving a B.A. in French Literature and Dance from Washington University in St. Louis, she packed up her dance shoes and bought a one-way ticket to New York. Over a decade-long dance career, Dr. Harrison toured with musicals such as “A Chorus Line” and performed original dance/theatre works by choreographers including Jane Comfort, Janis Brenner, Mary Seidman, Nancy Meehan, Carlos Orta, and Thomas/Ortiz. In 2014, she returned to Washington University to pursue a PhD in Movement Science with hopes of transferring her love of movement out of the studio and into the lab to better the lives of people with neurological disorders. During graduate school, she developed a novel therapeutic technique of singing to improve gait for people with Parkinson’s disease, for which she received a Grammy Foundation Grant. Dr. Harrison is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Washington University with a dual appointment in Neurology and Dance.
Allison Miller, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
CV
Allison is a postdoctoral researcher mentored by Drs. Catherine Lang and Keith Lohse. Allison received her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Connecticut. Allison went on to pursue advanced clinical training by completing the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy which allowed her to achieve board-certification as a Neurologic Clinical Specialist. Allison’s time as a resident fueled her desire to pursue a career in rehabilitation research. She completed her PhD at the University of Delaware under the mentorship of Dr. Darcy Reisman. Her dissertation work focused on understanding factors that influence real-world walking activity in individuals with chronic stroke. Allison’s postdoctoral work builds upon her PhD training in which she is investigating the integration of wearable sensor data into the clinical environment. Allison’s long-term goal is to develop a productive line of research that leverages mobile health (mHealth) technologies, data science, and health care informatics to enhance measurement and clinical decision-making in rehabilitation care.
Rachana Vaidya, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
CV
Rachana is a postdoctoral research scholar co-mentored by Dr. Jennifer Zellers (Physical Therapy) and Dr. Simon Tang (Orthopedic Surgery). She is from Mumbai, India where she finished her Master’s in Biotechnology and came to US in 2017 to pursue her Ph.D. from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in Bioengineering and Biotechnology program. Her dissertation work focused on elucidating the effect of diabetes associated hyperglycemia and advanced glycation end-products on gene expression in bone cells called osteocytes. Her current research interests include understanding diabetes related tendon complications and to elucidate some of the molecular mechanisms that remains unknown in diabetes associated increased fracture risk. Her long-term goal is to find innovative bioengineering solutions to the improve diabetes management and musculoskeletal disorders.