NRRL Team
Under the direction of Dr. Matt Malcolm, the NeuroRehabilitation Research Laboratory (NRRL) is staffed with experienced therapy trainers and evaluators, and is supported by other research investigators and healthcare professionals. NRRL also supports occupational therapy graduate students, and undergraduate and graduate students from Health and Exercise Science. The NRRL team is committed to providing high quality clinical research that will inform healthcare practice for individuals with a disability.
Dr. Matt Malcolm, Director.
Dr. Malcolm directs NRRL and is an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy,
with a joint appointment in Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University (CSU).
He has extensive clinical and research experience in the area of stroke rehabilitation and neurological
aspects of recovery. Dr. Malcolm serves as the Principal Investigator of the Brain Stimulation project at CSU,
a stroke rehabilitation study (click Brain Stimulation for more details).
Crystal Massie, MS, OTR. Research Coordinator. Ms. Massie is currently pursuing a PhD in the Health and Exercise Science Department
with an emphasis on neurophysiology and biomechanics.
Nikki Heinert, B.S., Participant Trainer. Ms. Heinert, from Bismarck, ND, graduated with a degree in Psychology and Sociology from NDSU. She is experienced with constraint-induced therapy and
is currently a first year Master’s student in the Occupational Therapy program here at CSU.
Darci Athey, B.S., Participant Trainer. Darci joined the lab last spring and is currently in her second year of the Occupational Therapy Master's Program at CSU. She comes to the lab with a variety of experiences working with adults with physical and cognitive challenges. In her free time Darci enjoys traveling, cooking, hiking, camping, and kayaking.
Jessica Hollingsworth. Ms. Hollingsworth is an undergraduate student at CSU currently pursuing a degree in Health and Exercise Science. She is in the Honors Undergraduate Research Scholarship program that enables her gain research experience in NRRL.
Karen Henson, LPN, Lab Nurse. Ms. Henson has many years of nursing experience including stroke rehabilitation.
Kari Greteman, B.S., Laboratory Coordinator . Ms. Greteman recently completed her undergraduate degree in Health and Exercise Science. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy at CSU. She has experience
working with a variety of populations in Physical Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation settings.
Morgan Blado, B.A., Participant Trainer. Morgan is experienced with both constraint-induced therapy and rhythmic auditory stimulation techniques. She is a first year Master's student in the Occupational Therapy program at CSU. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and knitting mittens.
In the summer, she and her husband run a rafting company in Summit County.
Roger J. Paxton, MS. Research Evaluator. Mr. Paxton’s research experience spans from acoustics, to toxicology, to metabolism. Most recently, he performed research in the area of autonomic support of energy expenditure. Having published research and given numerous talks to societies including the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Physiological Society,
Mr. Paxton is currently pursuing his PhD in bioenergetics, focusing on neurophysiology.
Dr. Gerald McIntosh. Neurology Consultant. Dr. McIntosh is a local neurologist who provides consultation on research procedures. He is the Medical Director for the Center for Biomedical Research in Music and Center for Neurorehabilitation Services, and Chief of Medicine at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins.
Dr. Michael Thaut. Co-Investigator. Dr. Thaut is a Professor of Music and a Professor of Neuroscience and serves as CoDirector of the School of the Arts and Chairman of the Department of Music, Theater, and Dance since 2001. He has also directed the Center for Biomedical Research in Music for 10 years.