Meet Our Team

Jarred Younger, Ph.D.

Director and Professor

Jarred Younger received his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychophysiology in 2003 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He then completed postdoctoral fellowships at Arizona State University and the Stanford University School of Medicine before taking an assistant professor position at Stanford. In 2014, he joined the faculty at the University of Alabama Birmingham, with a primary appointment in the Department of Psychology and secondary appointments in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Rheumatology. Dr. Younger’s goal is to end the chronic pain and fatigue that is caused by inflammation in the brain. He is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and several non-profit agencies to develop techniques for diagnosing and treating neuroinflammation, pain, and fatigue.

 

Catherine Burley, B.S.

Lab Manager & Clinical Research Administrator I

Catherine Burley received her B.S. in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Spanish from The University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2022. She joined our lab in early 2023 as our new Lab Manager and Clinical Research Administrator I. She is also largely involved with our DESERT Clinical Trial and oversees many different aspects of our research. Catherine has a research background with previous positions in Acute Care Surgery/Trauma and Cardiovascular Disease at UAB Medicine. Catherine has research interests on how nutrition and the gut microbiome may play a role in various disorders.

 

Chloe Jones, B.A.

Graduate Research Assistant

Chloe is a graduate student in the UAB Medical/Clinical Psychology doctoral program. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of San Francisco with minors in Neuroscience and Child & Youth Studies. In the Neuroinflammation, Pain, and Fatigue lab she has served as a project coordinator for neuroimaging studies investigating neuroinflammation in Gulf War Illness, Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Sclerosis. Her research interests center on the varied pathophysiological mechanisms underlying poorly understood pain and fatigue disorders.

 

Kathleen Hodgin, B.A., B.S., M.A.

Graduate Research Assistant

Kathleen is a graduate student in the UAB Medical/Clinical Psychology doctoral program. She received a B.S. in Social Work and B.A. in Spanish from the University of Montevallo. She received an M.A. in Psychology from UAB. In the Neuroinflammation, Pain, and Fatigue Lab, she has worked as a project coordinator for clinical studies in Gulf War Illness, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia. Her research interests include studying pathophysiological mechanisms and potential treatments in chronic pain and fatigue conditions.

 

Indonesia Jordan, B.A.

Graduate Research Assistant

Indonesia is a graduate student in the UAB Behavioral Neuroscience doctoral program. She received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Alabama A&M University. Since joining the lab in 2020, she has worked on neuroimaging studies investigating neuroinflammation in Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Long-COVID. Her research focuses on understanding neurobiological mechanisms that underlie chronic fatigue.

 

Olivia Haskin, B.S.

Clinical Research Coordinator 

Olivia Haskin graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a degree in Psychology and minor in Neuroscience. Olivia was largely involved with our MNGRV and DPA-714 studies while she was a student. Olivia was also involved in manuscript writing and helping with our WEATHER paper. Currently, she is a research coordinator for our DESERT Clinical Trial.

 

Matthew McDaniel

Undergraduate Student Assistant

Matthew McDaniel is an undergraduate student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham majoring in Biomedical Sciences and minoring in Chemistry on the pre-med track. Matthew is in the Sci-Tech Honor Program and is also a member of UAB’s Spanish and Latino Student Association (SALSA). Matthew works directly with participants to help with screenings for our studies. Matthew also enjoys music and theater.

 

Sophia Fox

Undergraduate Student Assistant

Sophia Fox is an undergraduate student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, majoring in Neuroscience and also pursuing a dual MBA/MPH. Sophia previously assisted with our Fibromyalgia Endotoxin study and now works with Indonesia Jordan on our Chronic Fatigue Syndrome R01. Sophia helps to screen potential participants, attends screening or scanning visits, and assists with data entry. In her free time she enjoys running, crocheting, and playing violin.

 

Bailey Holcomb

Undergraduate Student Assistant

Bailey Holcomb is an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology, with a mental health certificate, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham while actively participating in the UAB Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. Bailey became a student research assistant for the DESERT Clinical Trial in 2023, directly engaging with patients for screenings and other various research tasks. Her research pursuits concentrate on understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms and treatments for PTSD in veterans, aligning with her goal of becoming a military psychologist.