Research assistants provide critical support to help move life-changing research forward. At the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital, that support is part of the force behind the war to end Alzheimer's. In this look behind the scenes of the Memory and Aging Program, meet three of the program's recent research assistants and see what drove them to work on the front lines of Alzheimer's research.
BS in Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology, Harvard University
Joined the Memory and Aging Program in December, 2020
Assists with the U.S. POINTER Study
"In school I was interested in research and worked for a research lab, so I decided to search for a position in research. I had read about all the great work going on at the Memory and Aging Program and it seemed like the perfect opportunity; I had studied memory and aging a bit in school and always loved the neuropsychology courses, and I also have a close relative who is experiencing memory loss.
I am mainly involved in the U.S. POINTER Study, which is a lifestyle intervention study. On a day to day basis, I help run and organize study visits. This can include consenting participants, administering cognitive tests, and talking about the next steps. I also assist with the recruitment process for the study by screening the initial sign-up forms, contacting participants, and reviewing their eligibility.
I really enjoy meeting and talking to the patients and study participants. I think the patients and participants are a major part of what makes this program so great. Everyone who comes in is an absolute pleasure to work with. It’s amazing to see how many people are interested in research. For such a small state, we have so many patients and participants who are interested in and dedicated to participating in our research studies and the program.
When I’m not working, I like to as much time outside as possible. I am an avid runner and like to go on long runs along the coast and hikes. I also coach a middle school club cross-country team. I ran cross-country and track all through high school and college, so I love to stay connected to the running community and hopefully be able to pass on what I learned to the next generation of runners. I also love to learn about animals and nature and I read and watch a lot of National Geographic. When I’m at home I spend all of my time with my pets – I have a pocket beagle named Happy and a cat named Nooksie.
BS in Human Development, Cornell University
Joined the Memory and Aging Program team in spring, 2021
Assists with the U.S. POINTER and AHEAD 3-45 studies
"In my search for a research assistantship this past spring, I found several positions at Butler Hospital that were of interest to me, and the Memory and Aging Program was among my top choices! I have a family history of dementia and memory loss (my grandmother has dementia) so the program’s mission aligned with my personal motivations and concerns.
I also wanted to gain experience working with older adults as most of my clinical and research experience is limited to children and teens. In order to be sure about my future plans as a clinician it was important to me to spend time with all age demographics.
I work on the POINTER study as a clinical examiner, which means I assess participants’ cognitive status using neuropsychology evaluations and guide them through their visits here at the clinic to collect relevant data. I also work on the AHEAD 3-45 clinical trial, which is a drug trial for people with increased levels of amyloid plaque in the brain. For this study, I prepare laboratory kits for blood draws and assist our research coordinator in distributing proper materials to our study staff.
The most enjoyable part about my work is having the opportunity to spend time with participants and patients of the clinic. Whether I have them for a full four-hour visit or a short 15 minutes, I always leave my interactions feeling energized and fulfilled. I really like spending time with people. The challenging flip-side of that is that I don’t get to develop long-term connections with the participants and patients I encounter. Given the nature of the studies I work on and my role within those studies, my interactions are limited. I often find myself wishing for more time with people.
I hope to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology or clinical social work in the future. I haven’t decided which path I’ll take just yet. But when I’m not working, you can find me spending time with my cat, Otis and I’ve been singing and playing guitar at restaurants and bars as a part-time job since I was 16 years old! Otherwise, I enjoy cooking and eating with friends, and I have recently learned embroidery.
BS in Computer Science, Brown University
Joined the Memory and Aging Program team in November, 2019
Assisted with Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry and neuroimaging studies
Currently attending Hofstra University Medical School
“I originally thought I would become a computer programmer, but I felt unsatisfied with the lack of human interaction. I took some psychology classes, which got me interested in working in a clinical setting. People are often surprised to hear I want to work with people given my programming background. Although I’ve acquired strong technical skills through my schooling and work experience, I have always believed my interpersonal skills are my strongest asset. There’s a stereotype that people in technical fields don’t have people skills, which certainly is not true. I’m hoping to change that way of thinking.
Before working at the Memory and Aging Program, I had volunteered at Butler Hospital’s Department for Psychosocial Research Program. I was looking to work with a new clinical population, and I found preclinical Alzheimer’s research to be really intriguing.
I don’t have any personal family experience with Alzheimer’s or dementia, which unfortunately is becoming a rarity. But you don’t need to have personal experience with the disease to recognize the devastating effects it can have on people’s lives or empathizing with individuals who have been affected by it. We all depend on daily living functioning and cognitive capabilities, making Alzheimer’s and dementia prevention a cause we should all care about.
I started working at the Memory and Aging Program in November 2019. I was looking for a research assistant position that would allow me to use my technical skills and get clinical experience, and the Memory and Aging Program had exactly what I was looking for. I was also impressed with the clinic and research programs at the program.
While working with the team, I was involved in the Butler Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry and a neuroimaging study, working closely with Dr. Hwamee Oh, the director of Neuroimaging at the program. I helped to create experiment material and collect participant data for her pilot study and to manage her lab. For the Registry, I was involved in a sub-study collecting Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan data and merging public datasets. The program is investigating whether there are other factors, such as family history or medical history, that can predict PET status.
It’s common in research to work on multiple projects at once. I definitely had to learn to balance the needs of different projects and to become proficient in very different skills. Although it was challenging at times, it made my job very stimulating and fun. There was always something new to learn!
But the most enjoyable part of being a research assistant for me was working with the investigators and participants. I’m very lucky that I’ve been able to work one-on-one with the researchers at MAP, which has taught me a lot. Although my participant interaction was cut short due to COVID-19, it was definitely one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. It’s easy to forget that the work you’re doing centers around real life people when you’re working with data on a screen. Seeing participants in-person was a constant reminder that they make clinical research possible.
When I’m not working, I’m usually spending time with family and friends, something I have definitely learned to not take for granted after quarantine. I also enjoy cooking, exploring nature, and reading. I am fortunate enough to have traveled to California recently, and I hope to visit new places in the future.
I'm now enrolled in a pre-medical post-baccalaureate program so I can complete the course prerequisites to apply to medical school. Working at MAP has affirmed my desire to become a clinician. I’m excited to learn the medical knowledge needed to help clinical populations and to further contribute to research.
If you're 40+ with normal memory or mild memory loss, you can help in the fight against Alzheimer's. Here's how: butler.org/ALZregistry