Amanda Hernan, PhD is a translational neuroscientist with interest in understanding neural network damage after early life seizures. She has been conducting epilepsy-focused neuroscience research focused for the past 12 years. In 2017, Dr. Hernan was awarded an NINDS Transition to Independence K22 Award, which focuses on the long-term consequence of ACTH treatment on neural networks in vivo and cognition after early life seizures. She transitioned to phase II of her K22 award and was appointed Assistant Professor (tenure pathway) in the Department of Neurological Sciences at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. Dr. Hernan joined Nemours Children’s Health in Fall 2021 and is currently on the faculty at Nemours Children’s Health as Head of the Dynamics in Epilepsy and Cognitive Development (DECODE) Lab in the Division of Neuroscience, and an Assistant Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Delaware. She also directs an in vitro electrophysiology and calcium imaging core at Nemours. In January 2022, Dr. Hernan was awarded a Delaware INBRE Pilot Grant through NIGMS to explore a potential role for astrocytes in neuroprotection with ACTH and other melanocortin 4 receptor agonists. In December 2022, she was awarded a grant from the Holt Foundation to explore genetic modifiers of epilepsy phenotypes in the collaborative cross mice. In February 2024, she was awarded an R01 grant through NINDS. Dr. Hernan's R01 focuses on understanding the mechanisms that underlie the neurological consequences of TSC.