Jaclyn Stephens is an occupational therapist and rehabilitation neuroscientist whose work focuses on understanding how the brain and body recover after concussion and other forms of brain injury, including moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injuries and stroke. By integrating her clinical insights with advanced, portable neuroimaging tools, she examines how thinking and movement interact during real-world activities. Her research aims to explain why some individuals continue to experience difficulties with daily functioning after injury and seeks to identify early indicators that can predict who needs additional support.

One of the consistent areas she explores is how dual-task assessments capture the brain’s ability to manage the demands of moving and thinking at the same time, which is especially important for athletes recovering from concussion. She uses neuroimaging tools – including functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) – alongside behavioral assessments to capture how the brain changes after injury or in response to intervention. Specifically, she has examined how interventions, like adaptive yoga, can change brain activity, improve balance and mobility, and enhance overall quality of life for people with brain injuries. Her research has been consistently supported by nationally competitive awards from the National Institutes of Health, the Boettcher Foundation, and the Brain Injury Association of America.

Stephens is also recognized for her commitment to mentoring future scientists and building collaborative, cross-disciplinary research teams. As of November 2025, she has mentored 36 undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. She also contributes to international working groups on concussion and frequently delivers invited lectures on brain-behavior relationships and innovative rehabilitation techniques. Across her work, she aims to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and clinical practice – ensuring that advances in neuroimaging and rehabilitation science translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of individuals recovering from brain injury.