Current T32 Post-Doctoral Research Trainees
Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
Announcing 2021 T32 Postdoctoral Trainees in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
The CIDD welcomes Drs. Dewran Kocak, Tehila Nugiel, and Catheryn Wilson as our incoming T32 postdoctoral trainees. We are thrilled to have these talented postdoctoral fellows join our interdisciplinary program in neurodevelopmental disorders and would like to welcome them and introduce them to the community. |
2021

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Dr. Dewran Kocak
Dr. Dewran Kocak completed his PhD in Biomedical Engineering in the Gersbach laboratory at Duke University. During his graduate work he developed methods for increasing the specificity of genome-engineering. He is currently a postdoctoral associate in the Roth laboratory at UNC's Department of Pharmacology, where he is developing genome-engineering methods for the correction of Angelman Syndrome. |

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Dr. Tehila Nugiel
Dr. Tehila Nugiel received her doctorate in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin working with Dr. Jessica Church. Her research examines brain systems supporting cognitive control in children with developmental disorders, such as learning disorders and ADHD. As a T32 Fellow at the CIDD, Dr. Nugiel will work with Dr. Jessica Cohen to examine large-scale brain systems involved in cognitive control and reward processing in ADHD, with a focus on how stimulant medication changes these systems. The ultimate goal of this program of research is to inform the development of individualized treatments targeted to dysfunctional brain systems. |

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Dr. Catheryn Wilson
Dr. Catheryn Wilson completed her Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where she studied the convulsant and cannabimimetic effects of drugs of abuse, known as synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, using preclinical models. At UNC-Chapel Hill, she will work in the lab of Scott Parnell, Ph.D., to investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of prenatal alcohol exposure-related seizure susceptibility in mice. In addition, she hopes to examine the potential role of the endogenous cannabinoid system in relation to such seizures. |
2020

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Kelly Caravella, PhD
Mentors: Heather Hazlett, PhD; Karen Grewen, PhD
Dr. Kelly Caravella earned her doctorate in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of
South Carolina under the mentorship of Dr. Jane Roberts. Dr. Caravella’s research focuses on the
longitudinal development of autism symptomatology in infants and toddlers with fragile X syndrome (FXS). As
a T32 postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Caravella will be working under the mentorship of Drs. Hazlett and Grewen to
compare neurobiological and behavioral markers of autism spectrum disorder across groups of infants at high
risk for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD), specifically, infants with FXS, infant siblings of
children with ASD and infants who experienced prenatal drug and alcohol exposures. Dr. Caravella’s program
of research aims to identify risk and protective factors in these high risks groups to inform early
detection and intervention efforts to improve quality of life and support optimal developmental outcomes. |

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Dea Garic, PhD
Mentors: Joseph Piven, MD; Mark Shen, PhD
Dr. Dea Garic received her doctorate in psychology from Florida International University, with a dual
concentration in developmental science and cognitive neuroscience. Under the mentorship of Dr. Anthony Dick,
Dea utilized diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) methods to assess microstructural properties that might
underlie typical and atypical brain development and how early structural connectivity relates to language
and executive function behavioral outcomes in young children. As a postdoctoral fellow at UNC, Dea will be
applying her DWI expertise to collaborative investigations examining how axonal properties and cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) flow contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. The overarching goal of this work is to
potentially identify non-invasive biomarkers of symptomatic progression and may provide avenues for
targeted, biologically based interventions for children with Angelman Syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. |

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Meredith Gruhn, PhD
Mentor: Margaret Sheridan, PhD
Dr. Meredith Gruhn received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University under the
mentorship of Dr. Bruce Compas. A central theme in Dr. Gruhn’s research involves the neurodevelopmental and
psychosocial consequences of early life adversity (ELA). As a T32 fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Margaret
Sheridan, Dr. Gruhn will examine (a) neural, physiologic, and cognitive-behavioral sequelae of adverse
experiences and (b) etiologic and exacerbating roles of ELA in the presentation of neurodevelopmental
disorders (e.g., ADHD). The long-term goal of this work is to inform, develop, and disseminate interventions
for high-risk youth. |
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