Max J. Kurz
Principal InvestigatorContact Information
Institute for Human Neuroscience
Boys Town National Research Hospital
Dr. Kurz is a research scientist in the Institute for Human Neuroscience and Director of the Physiology of Walking & Engineering Rehabilitation (PoWER) Laboratory. His research program uses a blend of multimodal neuroimaging (EEG, MEG, sMRI) and advanced biomechanical engineering methods to uncover the neurophysiology of how individuals make cognitive-motor decisions, integrate sensory information, and generate motor actions. Primary areas of interest include igniting beneficial neuroplasticity in children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (i.e., cerebral palsy, Down syndrome). In addition, his research is directed at the development of innovative rehabilitative solutions.
Education
BS - Biology, Doane University (1994)
MS - Biomechanics, University of Nebraska-Omaha (1997)
PhD - Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2006)
Owais Khan
Post-doctoral Research FellowContact Information
Institute for Human Neuroscience
Boys Town National Research Hospital
Owais is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the PoWER Lab. As a pediatric physical therapist and clinical researcher, Owais has over 12 years of experience working with, and for, individuals with early developmental disabilities, with a specific interest in cerebral palsy (CP). Owais’s doctoral research pioneers the multimodal integration of portable functional neuroimaging (fNIRS) with robotic upper limb assessments to prove the neural bases of functional deficits in children with CP. As a member of the PoWER Lab, Owais works on developing novel processing pipelines for functional neuroimaging datasets derived from magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography, and hopes to leverage his clinical expertise to uncover brain-behavior linkages across the lifespan in CP. Owais is passionate about clinical medical education, spends his free time watching the latest horror movies with his wife Kanishka, and enjoys paw-renting their adopted cat Mister Pepper.
Education
BPT (Physical Therapy) – DY Patil School of Physiotherapy, Navi Mumbai, India (2014)
PhD - Kinesiology (Motor Behavior) - The University of Georgia, Athens, GA (2025)
Jennifer Kime
Lab ManagerContact Information
Institute for Human Neuroscience
Boys Town National Research Hospital
Jennifer Kime is the Research Lab Manager in the Institute for Human Neuroscience in the Physiology of Walking & Engineering Rehabilitation (PoWER) Laboratory. She graduated with an honors B.S. major in biomedical engineering and minors in health care ethics and mathematics in 2017 and M.S. in 2019 from Saint Louis University. Jennifer is a big sports fan and dog lover.
Education
BS – Biomedical Engineering with Minors in Mathematics and Health Care Ethics, Saint Louis University, 2017
MS – Biomedical Engineering, Saint Louis University, 2019
Sarah Baker
Research Study CoordinatorContact Information
Institute for Human Neuroscience
Boys Town National Research Hospital
I have been the lead research coordinator for the data analysis and a member of the PoWER Lab for five years. Specifically, I lead the development of new technologies, the management of the data processing pipelines and collection of evaluable data from children and adults that have developmental disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy and Down syndrome). When I am not working, I can be found on the pickleball court.
Education
BS – Bioengineering minor Mathematics, California Lutheran University (2015)
MA – Biomechanics, University of Nebraska Omaha (2017)
Olyvia Jaramillo
Research Study Coordinator Contact Information
Institute for Human Neuroscience
Boys Town National Research Hospital
Olyvia is a research study coordinator in the PoWER lab. As a research study coordinator, she leads the data acquisition team as they recruit participants and acquire data. She works closely with the lab manager to lead recruitment efforts and to help manage ongoing as well as future studies. She is currently pursuing her Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Bellevue University in hopes of being a therapist one day. She is very passionate about connecting with and helping others.
Education
BA - Psychology & Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2023)
Katherine Scalzo
Research AssistantContact Information
Institute for Human Neuroscience
Boys Town National Research Hospital
Katherine Scalzo is a research assistant in the Physiology of Walking and Engineering Rehabilitation (PoWER) Laboratory at the Institute for Human Neuroscience. She graduated with a B.A. majoring in psychology and minoring in Biology from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas in 2024. Her research interests include studying the interactions between brain health, movement, and exercise. Katherine hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology or neuroscience in the future.
Education
BA - Psychology, Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas (2024)
Logan White
Research AssistantContact Information
Institute for Human Neuroscience
Boys Town National Research Hospital
Logan White is a research assistant at the Institute for Human Neuroscience in the Physiology of Walking & Engineering Rehabilitation (PoWER) Laboratory. He graduated with an honors B.S. in Health Science from Friends University, Wichita, KS in 2021 and a M.S. in Biomechanics from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE in 2023. Logan intends to pursue a PhD and eventually become a director of a human performance lab. In his free time, he enjoys both watching and playing sports (primarily basketball), playing guitar, and avidly supporting the Kansas Jayhawks.
Education
BS - Health Science, Friends University, Wichita, KS, (2021)
MS - Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, (2023)
Katie Bemis
Physical TherapistContact Information
Boys Town Pediatric Physical Therapy
I am a physical therapist with years of experience working with individuals who have neurological injuries and mobility impairments. I enjoy combining my clinical care expertise with a passion for collaboration in research that is meaningful to therapists, children, and families.
I love problem solving, learning, creating individualized treatments to meet the evolving needs of my patients, and creatively utilizing state-of-the-art technology to challenge mobility and help individuals reach their potential.
When I’m not working as a physical therapist, I love spending time with my family/friends, playing outdoors with my dog Kaia, golfing, playing/watching volleyball, and staying active.
Education
B.S. - Exercise Science, Rockhurst University (2012)
DPT - University of Iowa (2014)
Sharon Thompson
Physical TherapistContact Information
Boys Town Pediatric Physical Therapy
402-541-2242
Sharon is a Physical Therapist at Boys Town Pediatric Physical Therapy. She has years of experience with pediatric care and working with children who have a range of conditions. She is passionate about accelerating patient outcomes through collaboration with the research department and integrating the latest evidence-based practices into her treatments. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband and two dogs, checking out new hiking trails and activities around the Omaha Metro Area.
Education
B.S.- Athletic Training, University of Nebraska Omaha, 2016
DPT- Doctor of Physical Therapy, Franklin Pierce University, 2020