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

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.

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.

Alex Pilloff

Alex graduated from Vanderbilt with a M.Ed. in Applied Child Studies before joining the CFMI as a research technician in 2025. He has trained as both a child life specialist and a psychosocial researcher, with a specific focus on children impacted by cancer, limb loss, and sibling hospitalization. He enjoys applying his hybrid background to make participants feel safe and empowered. His time working in medical centers has fostered an interest in neuropsychological research and intervention and he looks forward to growing with the team!

Jo’Vette Hawkins

Jo’Vette joined the CFMI team as a research technician in 2026, hoping to both expand her experience in research and develop more as a future researcher under the guidance of both Dr. VanMeter and her peers. Prior to this role, Jo’Vette earned her B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavior with a Minor in French and Francophone studies from the University of Notre Dame in 2024. In 2025, she earned her M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. In addition to her work at CFMI, Jo’Vette is a patient screening volunteer with MedStar Hospital in the Department of Neurology: Stroke and Migraine. She also volunteers with Solutions in “Hometown Connections”, where she aids immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to the community through language and citizenship tutoring. Jo’Vette is pursuing medical school, where she is hoping to continue bridging gaps between medicine and research.

Nia Walker

Nia J. Walker is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park where she earned her master’s degree in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, and a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Health. She joined CFMI as a research technician in 2026. She enjoys learning about the brain and combining her interest in neuroscience with her love for coding. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and going to the movies.

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.

Former Staff

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

• Stephanie Araki, M.S. Scanning Research Assistant (2023-2025), Center Manager (2025-2026)
• 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