Child and adolescent development, health policy, mental health, neuroimaging
Dr. Alexander Denker is Chief of Staff to the Director of the Division of Translational Research. Prior to joining NINDS, Dr. Denker served three years as a Health Science Policy Analyst in the NIMH Extramural Policy Branch where he managed NIMH's initiative development strategy and processes. He also served as liaison to the BRAIN and HEAL initiatives. Dr. Denker's research background is in child and adolescent development and spans neuroimaging, public health, and policy research. Prior to earning a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Emory University, Dr. Denker began his NIH career as a Postbac IRTA in the NIMH Child Psychiatry Branch where he coordinated NIMH's longitudinal twin study. His entry into neuroscience was through art, earning a B.A. from the New York University Gallatin School of Individualized Study while conducting neuroimaging research on aesthetic experiences.