About Me

Hello! My name is Katie Bottenhorn and I am a developmental cognitive neuroscientist interested in developing, applying, and sharing cutting-edge tools for robust analysis of individual variability in child and adolescent brain development. Conceptually, my current research focuses on roles of puberty and air pollution exposure in within- and between-individual differences in functional and microstructural neurodevelopment. Principles of open science form the basis of my research program, which has led to my contributions to open-source tool development, open resource sharing, scientific communication (both to researchers and the community-at-large), and a focus on increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in scientific research by increasing accessibility and addressing structural barriers to participation.

Throughout this site, I have included information on my current and past research projects, my portfolio of scientific outreach and education, and research tools that I am developing or have contributed to, as well as a fairly up-to-date listing of peer-reviewed manuscripts and (not peer-reviewed) preprints that I have written or to which I have conitributed.

Outside of the wonderful world of science, most of my time is spent hiking, training, or hanging out with my dog. I rescued Fred (left) a few years ago and my PhD in Psychology has come in very handy in my amateur dog training efforts (N=1). The more time I can spend in the great outdoors, the better; from hiking in the mountains around Southern California to paddleboard camping (the best of backpacking and car camping, combined) or just reading in the sun. My indoor hobbies include reading (not in the sun), cooking, painting, and lifting weights.

Employment

  • Postdoctoral scholar • Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC (2021-present)
  • Courtesy postdoctoral associate • Department of Psychology, Florida International University (2021-present)

Education

  • Ph.D, Cognitive Neuroscience • Florida International University (2021) †
    Dissertation: Understanding individual differences within large-scale brain networks across cognitive contexts
  • M.S., Psychology • Florida International University (2018)
    Thesis: Cooperating yet distinct brain networks engaged by naturalistic fMRI paradigms: A meta-analysis of functional MRI results
  • B.A., Psychology • Auburn University (2015) *
    Honors Thesis: Connectivity of the human hypothalamus
  • B.A., Chemistry • Auburn University (2015) *
    • †FIU Real Triumphs Graduate. *Summa cum laude, University Honors Scholar

Research Support

Endocrine-mediated pubertal brain network development: Bridging datasets with machine learning

NIH BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00); PI: Bottenhorn; K99MH135075-01
01/01/2024 – 12/31/2025, TOTAL AWARD: $999,927.00

This project aims to describe the roles of sex steroid hormones in child and adolescent brain network development by integrating neuroimaging and hormone data from several independent, pediatric datasets.

Impacts of ambient air pollutants on brain microstructure and functional connectome development

Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center Pilot Grant; PI: Bottenhorn
03/01/2023 – 02/28/2024, TOTAL AWARD: $10,000

This project uses data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study to assess how parallel microstructural and functional brain changes in children ages 9-12 years are associated with exposure to various sources of fine particulate matter.

Understanding individual differences within large-scale brain networks across cognitive contexts

FIU University Graduate School Dissertation Year Fellowship PI: Bottenhorn
01/09/2021 – 08/09/2021, TOTAL AWARD: $16,600