Medical Training

Career Objective

Professional neuroscientist seeking a position in academia or pharmaceutical industries

Summary

** ***** ** ********** ** high impact Neuroscience research with excellent writing, presentation and problem solving skills.

Creative, detail orientated and organized with a strong focus on sound experimental design and analytical skills.

Experienced in experimental design and application with a focus on behavioral, neurosurgical, analytical immunohistochemistry, advanced microscopy and stereology.

Ability to lead and supervise projects and to communicate with team members.

Highly organized, independent and motivated to complete a high level of research.

Published author in many scientific journals along with book chapters. Possess a proven track record of intra and extramural funding.

Education

Ph.D. in Neuroscience – University of South Dakota School of Medicine 2008

Vermillion, South Dakota

B.S. in Psychology – Black Hills State University 2002

Spearfish, South Dakota

Professional Experience

Maintained and provided training for the use of microscopes in the core facility with a particular emphasis on rigorous stereological quantification methodologies

Designed hardware application for stereology methods on a Leica DMRA microscope

Acquired, designed and implemented operational training on a new Zeiss M2 microscope fitted with stereology software and post-imaging processing

Coordinated an independent antibody validation of CNPase in aged human tissue with and without significant vascular brain injury for Covance Inc. Similarly, validated anti-NOGO-A in same human tissue for Cell Signaling Inc.

Received and applied extensive training in behavioral analysis and neurosurgical procedures in rodent and non-human primate models.

Wide application of unbiased stereological quantification to a variety of anatomical studies.

Versed in neurophysiology acquisition and analytical methods

Postdoctoral Researcher, Pediatric Neuroscience 2013 - 2015

Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon

Organized, designed and operated the microscopic quantification methods on a major project aimed at examining the effect of vascular injury on oligodendrocytes and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells within human cerebral white matter as this type of injury may lead to levels of cognitive decline among the elderly.

Responsibilities included supervision and direction for research technicians, implementation and design of immunohistochemical detection of glial and glial progenitor cells lineage cells, rigorous stereological quantification of these cell types and communication of results in both oral presentations and primary manuscript writing.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2008 - 2013

University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas

Designed and developed a research project aimed at examining neural plasticity in response to cerebral ischemia in a non-human primate model.

This major project resulted in an NRSA grant award for a three (3) year duration.

Responsibilities included, behavioral testing, acting primary neurosurgeon in cortical mapping and lesion induction, supervision of technicians to assist in neurosurgery and rigorous stereological quantification of data resulting from these surgeries. Additionally, assigned to mentor and supervise a summer intern medical student whose interest was in neural plasticity.

Communicated results in progress reports, oral presentations, book chapters and primary manuscripts.

Additional Training & Education

2006 Minnesota Stereology Workshop

Neuroview

2004-05 Graduate Assistant and Instructor in Medical Human Gross Anatomy

University of South Dakota School of Medicine

Vermillion, South Dakota

2004 Chicago Stereology and Microscopy Workshop

University of Chicago

2002 Ethics, Surgical Approaches and Continuing Methodology in Non-Human Primate Studies

University of South Dakota School of Medicine

Vermillion, South Dakota

Professional Affiliations

Society for Neuroscience 2002 - 2010

Professional Awards and Honors

Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Recipient 2010 - 2013

Award #5F32NS068111-03

2008

University of Kansas Medical Center Biomedical Research Training Grant 2008

Top Poster Presentation at Frontiers in Brain Function and Disorders Annual Symposium 2004

Selected Publications

McNeal DW, Darling WG, Ge J, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, Solon KM, Hynes SM, Pizzimenti MA, Rotella DL, Vanadurongvan T, Morecraft RJ. Selective Long-Term Reorganization of the Corticospinal Projection from the Supplementary Motor Cortex Following Recovery from Lateral Motor Cortex Injury. J Comp Neurol. 2010 Mar 1;518(5):586-621.

McNeal DW, Ge J, Herrick JL, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, Morecraft RJ. Morphological Characterization of Orbicularis Oculi Motor Neurons in the Facial Nucleus of the Rhesus Monkey. Neuroscience. 2008 Jan 2;151(1):12-27.

Nudo RJ, McNeal D. Plasticity of Cerebral Functions. Handbook Clin Neurol. 2013;110:13-21. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-52901-5.00002-2.

Nudo RJ, McNeal D. Synaptogenesis and Recovery from Cortical Trauma. Cellular Migration and Formation of Neuronal Connections. Comprehensive Developmental Neuroscience. 2013:757-770.doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-397266-8.00113-7.

Morecraft RJ, Ge J, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, McNeal DW, Hynes SM, Pizzimenti MA, Rotella DL, Darling WG. Frontal and frontoparietal injury differentially affect the ipsilateral corticospinal projection from the nonlesioned hemisphere in monkey (Macaca mulatta. J Comp Neurol. 2015 Jul 30.

Darling WG, Morecraft RJ, Rotella DL, Pizzimenti MA, Ge J, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, Zhang H, Soliman H, Seecharan D, Edwards I, McNeal D, Nudo RJ, Cheney P. recovery of precision grasping after motor cortex lesion does not require forced use of the impaired hand in Macaca mulatta.Exp Brain Res. 2014 Dec;232(12):3929-38.

Morecraft RJ, Ge J, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, McNeal DW, Hynes SM, Pizzimenti MA, Rotella DL, Darling WG. Vulnerability of the Medial Frontal Corticospinal Projection Accompanies Combined Lateral Frontal and Parietal Cortex Injury in Rhesus Monkey. J Comp Neurol. 2014 Oct 28. doi: 10.1002/cne.23703.

Morecraft RJ, Ge J, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, McNeal DW, Pizzimenti MA, Darling WG. Terminal Distribution of the Corticospinal Projection from the Hand/Arm Region of the Primary Motor Cortex to the Cervical Enlargement in Rhesus Monkey. J Comp Neurol. 2013 Dec 15;521(18):4205-35. doi: 10.1002/cne.23410.

Nagamoto-Combs K, McNeal DW, Morecraft RJ, Combs CK. Prolonged Microgliosis in the Rhesus Monkey Central Nervous System after Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma, 2007 Nov; (11): 1719-42. Erratum in: J Neurotrauma, 2007 Dec; 24(12):1889.

Morecraft RJ, McNeal DW, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, Dvanajscak Z, Ge J, and Schneider P. Localization of Arm Representation in the Cerebral Peduncle in the Non-Human Primate. J Comp Neurol, 2007 Sep 10; 504(2): 149-67.

Pizzimenti M, Darling W, Rotella D, Herrick J, Ge J, McNeal D, Stilwell-Morecraft K, Morecraft R. Measurement of Reaching Kinematics and Prehensile Dexterity in Non-Human Primates. Journal of Neurophysiology, 2007 Aug;98(2):1015-29.

Darling WG, Peterson CR, Herrick JL, McNeal DW, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, Morecraft RJ. Measurement of Coordination of Object Manipulation in Non-human Primates. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 154: 38-44, 2006.

Darling WG, Herrick JL, McNeal DW, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, Morecraft RJ. “Measurement Forces During Manipulation in Non-Human Primates”. American Society of Biomechanics, 28:17, 2004. (Received American Society of Biomechanics Presidential Award for Poser Presentation).

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