Our Team

Learn more about the team of faculty and staff at the Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging (CFMI).

Director of CFMI

Ashley VanMeter, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging
Professor on the Tenure Track, Department of Neurology

ashley.vanmeter@georgetown.edu

Dr. Ashley VanMeter is a neuroscientist specializing in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis, with a career spanning algorithm development, multimodal imaging, and large-scale longitudinal studies. Before joining Georgetown, she served as a staff fellow at the NIH, where she co-authored the first fMRI study of dyslexia published in Nature (Eden et al 1996). She later led software development for multimodal MRI data integration and played a central role in the NIH Pediatric Development project, designing infrastructure for the transfer of the imaging data across seven national sites.

Her research has applied structural MRI, fMRI, DTI, and spectroscopy to the study of autism, adolescent brain development, and substance use. She currently co-leads the Adolescent Development Study, investigating the effects of violence, substance use, and gender identity on brain maturation. Her ongoing clinical trial examines dietary interventions for Gulf War Illness, with promising results on neurological symptom relief.

Dr. VanMeter collaborates widely across disciplines, providing methodological expertise in advanced MRI techniques.

Medical Director

Peter Turkeltaub, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor, Departments of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, GUMC
Director, Aphasia Clinic, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital
Director, Neuroscience of Language Training Program,
Medical Director, Center for Aphasia Research and Rehabilitation, GUMC
Medical Director, Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging

Authorized Users

Authorized Users (AUs) are trained safety officers who provide on-call support during scanning hours, assist with implant reviews, and help ensure the safe and smooth operation of CFMI’s research scans. They are an integral part of our community, contributing both technical expertise and collaborative support.

Business Manager

Dion Watson, MBA

Dion earned his B.A. in Marketing and Professional Sales from the University of Toledo in 2013 and completed his MBA with a concentration in Finance at Ohio Dominican University in 2015. He brings a strong background in business operations and financial management to support CFMI’s strategic and day-to-day functions.

Center Manager

Stephanie Araki

Stephanie earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Computational Biology from the University of Notre Dame in 2020. She joined CFMI in 2023, and she supports operations by onboarding new research projects and research teams and running the 3T MRI scanner. Her current research focuses on blood-brain barrier permeability and its role in Gulf War Illness. She is passionate about using data-driven approaches to better understand clinical challenges and improve health outcomes. Stephanie is currently pursuing a Master’s in Health Informatics and Data Science at Georgetown University.

Scanning Research Assistants

Our Scanning Research Assistants (RAs) operate the 3T MRI scanner, support researchers during scan sessions, and help ensure participant safety and protocol compliance. They are the backbone of CFMI’s day-to-day operations, providing hands-on expertise in imaging, troubleshooting, and research coordination.

Holly Crowder

Holly joined the CFMI team as a research technician in 2022. Prior to this, she obtained a BS in Psychology from George Mason University with a concentration in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience. Her early work with EEG in a computational neuroscience lab kindled an interest in using neuroimaging as a tool to understand cognition and behavior. At CFMI, she is leading an independent research project focused on cortical thickness and migraines in Gulf War veterans. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. to continue exploring how brain function and structure relate to human thought, behavior, and well-being. Outside the lab, she can often be found reading in coffee shops and spending time on creative hobbies such as oil painting and photography.

Sarah McDowell

Sarah McDowell is a graduate of Colgate University Class of 2023 where she finished dual degrees in Neuroscience and English. She joined CFMI as a technician in 2023, where she facilitates research by operating the scanner, managing participant safety, and facilitating incoming clinical trials. Sarah also analyzes spectroscopy data from American University’s Gulf War Illness project in collaboration with Dr. Holton. She is currently pursuing a part-time Masters in Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University. Eventually, she would like to matriculate to medical school.

Volunteers

Our MRI Participant Liaisons are volunteer students who assist with participant safety screening and provide day-of support during research scans. As part of the CFMI team, they help ensure a welcoming and safe environment for research participants while gaining valuable exposure to clinical research and neuroimaging operations.

Coming Soon!

Former Staff

We’re proud to recognize the contributions of past CFMI staff who helped shape our community.

• Kinney Van Hecke, M.S. – Scanning Research Assistant (2019-2022), Center Manager (2022-2025), currently in the Special Master’s Program (SMP) in Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University.
• Rebecca Aitken – Scanning Research Assistant (2021-2023), currently a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at University of Maryland, Baltimore

Alumni

Postdoctoral Fellows

• Sujeeta Bhatt, Ph.D.
• Sergey Borisov, Ph.D.
• Kelly McVearry, Ph.D.
• Stuart Washington, Ph.D.

Graduate Students

• Shady El Damaty, Ph.D. (November 2020) – Adolescent Neurocognitive Maturity Mediates Paths to Altered Social Norms and Vulnerability in Emerging Adulthood
• Valerie L. Darcey, Ph.D., M.S., R.D. (August 2017) – Investigating the Relationship Between Long Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Prefrontal Cortex Development During Adolescence
• Erika P. Raven, Ph.D. (July 2017) – Reproducibility and Use of Myelin Imaging Methods for the Study of Adolescent Brain Development
• Benson W. Stevens, Ph.D. (August 2017) – Genetic Influences of Dopamine and GABA on Adolescent Cognition
• Kyle F. Shattuck, Ph.D. (August 2016) – Investigating the cholinergic regulation of human learning and memory using functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy
• Nancy P. Cowdin, Ph.D. (August 2014) – A Comparison of Frequency-Specific Activity During REM Sleep in Trauma-Exposed Subjects with PTSD and Resilience
• Leah M. Lozier, Ph.D. (July 2013) – The Behavioral and Neural Basis of Emotional Face Processing in Atypically Developing Children and Adolescents
• Stephanie N. Maxfield Panker, Ph.D. (August 2011) – The effects of robotic training and cortical stimulation on reaching skill after chronic stroke