NTH Leadership – JH – Howard

14Nov

Kia Higgins

Kia Higgins joined Johns Hopkins University in July 2021 as a Grants & Contracts Specialist with the Center for Communication Programs in the Bloomberg School of Public Health. During her tenure, Kia gained significant experience and knowledge in sponsored programs, including procurement, contracts, and post-award grant functions. She currently serves as a Senior Grants & Contracts Analyst in the Whiting School of Engineering. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Kia worked in the public education sector in the areas of law, operations, and project management. She holds several credentials, including a Bachelor of Arts, Juris Doctorate, and Master of Public Administration degrees.

1Nov

Aimee Stone

Since joining Johns Hopkins University in 2014, I’ve had the privilege of serving as an Assistant and Grants and Contracts Analyst under the esteemed Neurogastroenterologist, Dr. Pankaj Pasricha. This role enriched my expertise in research funding and administrative functions. In 2022, I transitioned to the Whiting School of Engineering where I continue my contributions as a Grants and Contracts Analyst for NeuroTech Harbor, a leading initiative in neurotechnology. Parallel to my professional trajectory, I hold an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology and am currently advancing towards my Bachelor’s, offering a unique intersection of human cognition insights within the technical landscape. Beyond my professional and academic endeavors, I am a proud parent to two wonderful children: Parker and Ella. They are the joys of my life and, undoubtedly, my most cherished commitment. Whether it’s attending baseball games, gymnastics, school events, or simply enjoying a quiet evening at home, my time with them is precious. They remind me daily of the beauty of life’s simple moments and the importance of cherishing every second.

9Aug

Jo-na Hunt, BS

Jo-na is a Grants & Contracts Manager in the Whiting School of Engineering’s Business Office at Johns Hopkins University. She began her Grants career in 2016 when she was selected as one of a cohort of 5 (out of 100+ applicants) to be a part of the Johns Hopkins University’s Research Administration Training Program. Her expertise has been gained through submitting and managing multiple grants from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Whiting School of Engineering. Her portfolio has included a variety of sources and consisted of some of the most complex funding components such as pharma-clinical trial contracts, T32 training grants, P30 Center Core Grants, and U54 Cooperative Agreements & Specialized Centers. In addition to a sponsored portfolio, Jo-na also has managed international, pharma, and industry awards as well as unit operating budgets and gifts. Jo-na holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University.

12Jul

Linda Durnell, PhD

Dr. Durnell is a media psychologist with expertise in various areas of business, technology, and graduate level education. Her focus lies in taking a comprehensive approach to leverage the combination of innovative and scalable technology, cognitive behavioral sciences, research rigor and inclusive collaboration within multiple disciplines to understand and achieve profound systemic change. She analyzes and teaches graduate students the impact of technology on human behavior and social change, particularly in the realms of artificial intelligence (AI), MedTech, neuroscience, virtual reality (VR), and ethics within the technology, engineering, healthcare, and business ecosystems.

At Johns Hopkins University, she serves as Director at NeuroTech Harbor, building a global coalition of research institutions, healthcare systems, policy makers, regulators and patient advocates to create the first-of-its-kind AI-driven neurotechnology platform to accelerate discoveries for conditions like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Opioid Use Disorder, and Friedreich Ataxia. She holds joint appointments at the School of Medicine, and the Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design at the Whiting School of Engineering. Her grant and research focus are on studying Virtual Reality (VR) in MedTech and she has presented her work at prestigious events such as Stanford’s Innovations in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and Harvard Medical School’s VR and Healthcare Symposium.

With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Durnell has worked at prominent technology companies such as Apple, Xerox, and IBM, as well as start-up technology firms and non-profit organizations in Silicon Valley. Her involvement with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Roster of Experts allowed her to contribute to strategic approaches in digital health, including areas for intervention, governance, and the creation of digital health solutions during COVID.

Dr. Durnell’s expertise extends to consulting work with Applied Physics Lab (APL) and government entities like the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), and the Joint Staff. Her role involves assessing cognitive options to disrupt and counter operational capabilities of groups like ISIS, the area of mis/dis-information as well as training Psychological Operations (PO) operators.

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