Kurt Thoroughman

Kurt Thoroughman is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, part of the McKelvey School of Engineering. He also holds an affiliation with the Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on human learning and motor control, directing the Laboratory of Neural Computation and Motor Behavior. He is a Principal Investigator of an NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training grant in Cognitive, Computational, and Systems Neuroscience, and serves as Director of the National Science Foundation’s Cognitive Neuroscience program since 2018.

• Education: PhD (Johns Hopkins University, 1999), BA (University of Chicago, 1993)
• Expertise: Motor adaptation patterns, neural activity analysis, and translational applications in clinical neurology

Thoroughman’s work bridges computational models of motor learning with neurophysiological data, aiming to identify neural signals underlying movement prediction and adaptation. This research aids clinical assessments of motor disorders and informs early interventions. His NSF-funded initiatives emphasize interdisciplinary training in systems neuroscience.

• Affiliations: McKelvey School of Engineering, Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences
• Key Roles: Lab Director, NSF Grant PI, Cognitive Neuroscience Program Director