Spencer W. Liebel

Dr. Spencer W. Liebel is a tenure-track Assistant Professor and Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Department of Neurology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He holds adjunct appointments in Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and is a core faculty member of the Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center. His clinical specialties include Cognitive Disorders, Epilepsy, Neurodegenerative Disorders, and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuropsychology, Michigan Medicine/VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
• Internship in Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology), Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center
• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology), University of Georgia
• M.S. in Psychology, University of Georgia
• B.S. in Psychology (Spanish minor), Brigham Young University

Research Focus: Dr. Liebel's work centers on neurocognitive outcomes in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and sport-related concussion. He investigates recovery trajectories, neuropsychological assessment validation, personality factors (e.g., sensation-seeking), and optimization of return-to-play protocols using advanced statistical modeling and consortium data (NCAA-DoD CARE). His research bridges clinical neuropsychology, sports medicine, and neuroimaging.

Publication Trends: Recent articles (2018–2024) emphasize concussion management in athletes, neurocognitive test validation, fMRI reproducibility in TBI, and computational approaches to rehabilitation. Common themes include longitudinal recovery analysis, military/NCAA athlete cohorts, and integration of neuroimaging with behavioral outcomes. Over 75% of publications involve multi-institutional collaborations.

Awards: No scientific awards or honors were listed in the source material.

Mentorship & Affiliations: Dr. Liebel actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in neuropsychology and concussion research. He is a member of the International Neuropsychological Society and Sports Neuropsychology Society.