Before joining the Merkley Brain Lab, I spent three years conducting research in a pediatric sleep lab. I also served as an interventionist for child and adolescent sleep intervention studies. This experience deepened my interest in how sleep impacts emotional and cognitive functioning and sparked my curiosity about the brain mechanisms underlying sleep disorders—particularly what happens when individuals are not sleeping well. This led to my growing passion for neuropsychology. Currently, my research focuses on examining brain networks—both functional and structural—that are associated with insomnia. In the future, I hope to conduct a sleep intervention study for adolescents with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, singing, skiing, and spending time with my family.
Katie Rugh
Graduate Research Assistant