Meet the Research Committee

Preeti Sunderaraman, PhD

Chair

Dr. Sunderaraman is currently an Assistant Professor at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and is affiliated with the Department of Neurology and the Framingham Heart Study. She completed postdoctoral training at Columbia University Medical Center and then worked as a Research Associate at Columbia before moving to Boston University as a faculty member. Dr. Sunderaraman has obtained several federal- and foundation level grants including NIH/NIA’s (K99/R00) Pathway to Independence Award, NIH/NIA’s Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32), the Foundation for Rehabilitation Psychology’s Dissertation Award, the National Academy of Neuropsychology’s Clinical Research Grant, and the Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant (AARG). Dr. Sunderaraman’s research is focused on investigating functional abilities, everyday decision making, and self-awareness, especially focused on financial management in neurodegenerative conditions; digital biomarkers and brain health; and characterizing brain health in the South Asian population. During her free time, Dr. Sunderaramanenjoys cooking while listening to podcasts, watching reality TV shows, and spending time with her family.


Michelle Chen, PhD

Dr. Michelle Chen is Assistant Professor at Rutgers University, with joint appointments in the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, and the Department of Neurology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Chen completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology (with neuropsychology concentration and health emphasis) at Yeshiva University and postdoctoral research training at Kessler Foundation. Her research involves utilizing digital and sensor technology in the assessment and treatment of cognitive dysfunction and other neurological symptoms, as well as modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Academy of Neuropsychology, New Jersey Health Foundation, and Rutgers University. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and listening to podcasts.


BaoChan Tran, PsyD

Dr. Baochan Tran is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her doctorate from Widener University and completed her neuropsychology internship rotations at Thomas Jefferson University and University of Pennsylvania. She serves as a board member of her local neuropsychology organization (Philadelphia Neuropsychology Society) and is a member of the Vietnamese Neuropsychology Network of neuropsychologists. She is a generalist by training but has clinical and research interests in the movement disorders population, specifically Parkinson’s disease. Baochan enjoys cooking Vietnamese food and makes an effort to learn one new Vietnamese dish each time she visits her family in California.


Shubir Dutt, PhD

Dr. Shubir Dutt is a neuropsychology postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Memory and Aging Center in San Francisco, CA. He completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology & Clinical Geropsychology) at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA, where he was funded by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Shubir’s current research, supported by an NIH T32 Institutional Training Grant, leverages structural/functional neuroimaging and biofluid markers to examine cerebrovascular factors impacting cognitive aging and neurodegenerative disease, as well as the role of brainstem nuclei in preclinical detection and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. Clinically, he sees patients at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center’s Clinic and Research Programs, where he conducts comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations assessing a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. Shubir is an avid live music enthusiast and frequent consumer of basketball-related content, and he enjoys exploring the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and dog.


Halle Quang, PhD

Dr. Halle Quang is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Sydney, Australia. She completed her PhD in Neuropsychology at the University of New South Wales, where she investigated apathy following traumatic brain injury. Her current work focuses on behavioral and psychological changes in frontotemporal dementia and acquired brain injuries. Her research uses a combination of clinical and neuroimaging approaches to uncover the neurobiological mechanisms underlying disease-specific syndromes. Moreover, she considers sociocultural elements to provide a holistic view that supports people from culturally diverse backgrounds. One of Halle’s hobbies is house renovations. She has recently renovated her house’s living room and kitchen; and her son’s room will be next on the list.