معرفی
Kathryn C Dickerson is an Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, with secondary appointments as a Member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Duke Institute for Brain Sciences since 2018. Her interdisciplinary work bridges neuroscience, psychiatry, and behavioral medicine through innovative real-time fMRI neurofeedback approaches.
Education:
- B.A. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester (2006)
- Ph.D. in Behavioral and Neural Sciences, Rutgers University (2011)
Dr. Dickerson's research pioneers three interconnected domains: (1) Cognitive neurostimulation for volitional activation of the dopaminergic midbrain using internally generated thoughts; (2) Integration of real-time fMRI neurofeedback with cognitive behavioral therapy to enhance treatment efficacy through immediate neural feedback; and (3) Characterization of reward-motivation interactions in learning and memory systems. Her work demonstrates how internally generated motivation can modulate brain function without external rewards, with clinical applications for ADHD, addiction, and depression.
Her publication trajectory reveals consistent methodological innovation in real-time fMRI, expanding from basic dopamine system research to clinical translation and workforce diversity initiatives. Recent work emphasizes machine learning applications for neurofeedback prediction, open-source software development (Pyneal), and addressing health disparities through clinical research workforce diversification.
Scientific Awards:
- KL2 Research Scholar Award (NIH, 2013-2018)
- NIH Fellowship for Dopaminergic Midbrain Activation Research (2014-2016)
Dr. Dickerson actively mentors undergraduate researchers and serves as Research Administrative Director for the Duke PRIME Cancer Research Program (NCI-funded, 2023-2028), which advances diversity in biomedical research. Her grant portfolio includes the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation project on nicotine dependence (2016-2022) and Duke CTSA KL2 award.
She co-directs institutional initiatives including SPEAK (Scientists Promoting Equity And Knowledge) mentoring for underrepresented scholars and the Inclusion and Power Dynamics workshop series, while leading community neuroscience outreach for K-12 students through Brain Awareness Week and MRI facility tours.
