Morse Scholar Alumni 2021-2024
Current Position
Researcher, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
Contact
About
Marissa DiPiero, PhD, (2nd year T32 awardee) received her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the mentorship of Dr. Doug Dean. Her research focuses on the development and utilization of diffusion MRI methodologies to study brain microstructure across the lifespan and uncover differences in brain-behavior relationships associated with autism. As a UNC CIDD T32 fellow, Dr. DiPiero works with Dr. John Gilmore to investigate individual differences in the developmental trajectories of brain-behavior relationships in children at an increased risk for neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism and schizophrenia.
Education
| 2017 | BS | Biology | Saint Joseph’s University |
| 2024 | PhD | Neuroscience | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| 2021–2024 | Morse Scholar | Major Professor: Doug Dean, PhD | Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Selected Publications
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Shah, L., Zhou, X., DiPiero, M. A., Weaver, J. M., Frye, C., Kecskemeti, S. R., Litovsky, R. Y., Alexander, A. L., Planalp, E. M., & Dean, D. C., 3rd (2025). Neural Correlates of Inhibitory Control in Children: Evidence Using MRI and fNIRS. Brain topography, 38(5), 54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-025-01129-8
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DiPiero, M. A., Rodrigues, P. G., Justman, M., Roche, S., Bond, E., Gonzalez, J. G., Davidson, R. J., Planalp, E. M., & Dean, D. C., 3rd (2024). Gray matter based spatial statistics framework in the 1-month brain: insights into gray matter microstructure in infancy. Brain structure & function, 229(9), 2445–2459. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-024-02853-w
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DiPiero, M., Cordash, H., Prigge, M. B., King, C. K., Morgan, J., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Adluru, N., King, J. B., Lange, N., Bigler, E. D., Zielinski, B. A., Alexander, A. L., Lainhart, J. E., & Dean, D. C., 3rd (2023). Tract- and gray matter- based spatial statistics show white matter and gray matter microstructural differences in autistic males. Frontiers in neuroscience, 17, 1231719. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1231719
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DiPiero, M. A., Surgent, O. J., Travers, B. G., Alexander, A. L., Lainhart, J. E., & Dean Iii, D. C. (2023). Gray matter microstructure differences in autistic males: A gray matter based spatial statistics study. NeuroImage. Clinical, 37, 103306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103306
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Zhou, X., Planalp, E. M., Heinrich, L., Pletcher, C., DiPiero, M., Alexander, A. L., Litovsky, R. Y., & Dean, D. C., 3rd (2022). Inhibitory Control in Children 4-10 Years of Age: Evidence From Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Task-Based Observations. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 15, 798358. DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.798358