Faculty Mentor: Melissa Cortez
Title: Assistant Professor
College: Medicine
School / Department: Neurology
Email: melissa.cortez@hsc.utah.edu
Project description
Headache disorders are clinically heterogeneous groups, with overlapping symptom complements that are difficult to link to currently accepted pathophysiology of specific headache types. Key potential distinguishing mediators include sensory, affective, and autonomic dysfunction, which have been well recognized in these headache varieties, though the most clinically relevant distinguishing differences remain unknown.This project proposes to characterize autonomic function and sensory thresholds in headache disorders.
Student Role: Volunteers will assist study coordinator on various clerical tasks, conducting study visits, data entry/management, and eventually data analysis.
Student Benefits: Gain experience in clinical research, faculty mentorship, poster presentation opportunities, publication opportunities, and letters of recommendation.
Project Duration: Currently there is no end date for this project. Volunteers are asked to dedicate 5-10 hours a week to the lab.
Opportunity Type: Volunteer; Prepare a UROP proposal; Write an Honors Thesis
Is this a paid opportunity: No
Minimum Requirements: Prior research experience is preferred by not required. Must be a degree seeking undergraduate student or a post-baccalaureate student of the University of Utah.