Olga Boukrina, PhD

Senior Research Scientist

Department

Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research

Laboratory

Neurolinguistics and Brain Connectivity Laboratory

Phone

973-324-3587

[email protected]

Olga Bourkina, PhD, is senior research scientist in the Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research and the director of the Neurolinguistics and Brain Connectivity Laboratory at Kessler Foundation. She conducts cognitive neuroscience and clinical neuroscience research in language and reading and oversees the workflow of several imaging biomarker and treatment studies. Dr. Bourkina completed her doctoral training at Rutgers University with a concentration in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and functional neuroimaging.

Expertise

Functional and Structural Neuroimaging in Stroke

Neural Networks Underlying Spatial Cognition and Language

Alterations of Cerebral Blood Flow in Stroke and Stroke Recovery

Brain Connectivity as Predictor of Functional Impairments after Stroke

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow - Neuroscience, Rutgers University

PhD - Rutgers University with a concentration in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and functional neuroimaging

BA - Psychology, Binghamton University

Honors

K01 Award (1K01DC019178, NIDCD) for project titled Rehabilitation of reading deficits in subacute stroke using fMRI neurofeedback and motor imagery, 2021 – 2026

Bolger Trust Award for project titled “Rehabilitation of Reading Deficits in Subacute Stroke using fMRI Neurofeedback and Motor Imagery,” 2021 – 2023

R21 Award (1R21HD095488, NICHD/NCMRR) for project titled “Brain markers predicting reading recovery after stroke,” 2018 – 2021

AHA Scientist Development Grant (17SDG33660442), for project titled “Right brain stroke and the neural substrate of delirium,” 2017 – 2021

Mabel H. Flory Pilot Research Grant for project titled “Using neural networks to customize treatments for central alexias in persons with aphasia,” 2013 – 2022

Norman Samuels Scholarship, Rutgers University, 2007 – 2008

Cognitive Science Fellowship, Northwestern University, 2005 – 2006

Undergraduate Research Grant, Binghamton University, 2003 – 2004

H.B. Daly Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research, Binghamton University, 2003 – 2004

Member, Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society, 2001 – 2004

Member, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, 2001 – 2004

BA Summa Cum Laude, Binghamton University, 2001 – 2004

Research Interests

Dr. Bourkina’s long-term career goal is to grow an innovative and productive research program aimed at developing prognostic and therapeutic tools that help improve outcomes and quality of life after stroke. Some of the tools include studies on longitudinal neuroimaging of stroke-induced reading deficits and exploratory intervention based on the knowledge gained in biomarker studies. One study employs a novel, real-time fMRI neurofeedback technique to increase neural activity in the left hemisphere and improve recovery of reading in persons with aphasia. Another pilot study uses computational modeling to match a particular pattern of reading deficits with a treatment that focuses on major cognitive components of reading.

Publications

View a more comprehensive listing of publications for Dr. Bourkrina on ResearchGate.

Podcasts