UF student receives epilepsy research funding award

Susan Bongiolatti, a clinical and health psychology graduate student in the University of Florida’s College of Health Professions, has received a national award to support her epilepsy research.

As the recipient of an Epilepsy Foundation Behavioral Sciences Student Fellowship, Bongiolatti will receive a $3,000 stipend to work on a three-month epilepsy study project. Awards are granted to individuals conducting cutting-edge research on epilepsy issues.

Bongiolatti will examine impulsivity in children with epilepsy and whether the location of seizure activity in a child’s brain is related to increased difficulty in inhibiting actions and behaviors.

The results of the study may help to improve researchers’ understanding of academic, social and behavioral problems children with epilepsy experience and assist in the development of future interventions. Eileen Fennell, Ph.D., a professor of clinical and health psychology and Paul Carney, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics in UF’s College of Medicine, will serve as project preceptors.