Meet The Team
Dr. Katie Butera | Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, University of Delaware, Department of Physical Therapy
Doctor of Physical Therapy & Clinical Pain Researcher
kbutera@udel.edu
Dr. Katie Butera’s Bibliography
Hello! My name is Dr. Katie Butera. I am the Principle Investigator for the Delaware Pain Research Group and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Delaware.
My journey began at the University of Florida, where I completed my physical therapy training in 2011. I went on to work as a physical therapist in acute hospital and inpatient rehabilitation settings. I gained valuable experience working with many different patient populations, including individuals with spinal cord injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, and chronic pain low back pain. These experiences fueled my passion for delivering high-quality, evidence-based patient care.
Eager to dive deeper into the science behind rehabilitation, I pursued my PhD in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Florida and earned my degree in 2020. During this time, I focused on studying the neural processes contributing to movement impairments, particularly among individuals with acute and chronic pain.
Seeking to expand my expertise, I then completed a post-doctoral fellowship in implementation science and pragmatic clinical research at the University of Colorado. There, I honed my skills in translating research findings into practical solutions that can make a difference in real-world clinical settings.
Now, as an early career investigator at the University of Delaware, I am building a clinical pain research program to optimize health and functional outcomes for individuals with chronic pain and disability. The goals of our Research Group are to understand the neural mechanisms underlying pain and movement interactions, develop effective and personalized movement-based interventions, and educate clinicians and patient on optimal pain rehabilitation approaches.
With a blend of compassion and scientific rigor, I’m excited to contribute to the advancement of pain management and rehabilitation, empowering individuals to reclaim their lives and achieve better outcomes. I am also excited to mentor physical therapy and rehabilitation science trainees as they pursue their own clinical and scientific research career goals.
Annie Zarama | PhD Student
zarama@udel.edu
Annie Zarama is a PhD student in the University of Delaware’s Biomechanics and Movement Science program. She earned her Master of Science degree in Biomechanics and Motor Control from East Carolina University and her Bachelor of Science in Health, Wellness, and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota. Prior to starting at the University of Delaware, she was appointed as a research fellow for the Air Force Research Laboratory STRONG Lab by the Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE), investigating methods of injury reduction within special operations forces. Prior to that, she held an ORISE research fellowship with the Naval Medical Research Command, working primarily to identify mechanisms of back and spine injury in military rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft pilots with the Operational Biomechanics and Ergonomics lab, as well as addressing pilot safety from laser threats with the Color Vision and Laser Eye Protection lab and biomechanical indicators of airsickness. Prior to this, she completed an internship with Ottobock Bionic Exoskeletons, facilitating a large-scale pilot study evaluating efficacy and implementability of passive lower back exoskeletons in a major distribution center environment. Her research interests include improving quality of life for people with injury or disability by ameliorating biomechanical obstacles and pain, improving occupational safety, and addressing movement and balance challenges associated with aging and illness.
Isabelle Botto | Undergraduate Research Assistant & Peter White Fellow
Isabelle Botto is a Junior Honors Kinesiology major in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Delaware with minors in Disability Studies and Medical Humanities. Isabelle has been involved in volunteer work under DPRG since the spring semester of 2024. She has received a Peter White Fellowship from the Department of Physical Therapy for the summer of 2024 and looks forward to broadening her interests and knowledge surrounding research methodology. Isabelle plans on going to physical therapy school after graduation. Outside of her academics and lab work, Isabelle is an Access:Ability Scholar, a FYS Peer Mentor for KAAP105, President of the Yoga Club at UD, and Philanthropy Chair of the Nu Chapter of Alpha Omega Epsilon.
Peter White Fellowship | Physical Therapy | University of Delaware
Taryn Fields | ADaPT Summer Scholar
Taryn Fields is a Sophomore Honors Human Physiology major under the College of Health Sciences at University of Delaware. She joined DPRG in the summer of 2024 through the ADaPT Summer Scholars program, which seeks to advance diversity in physical therapy. Taryn plans to go into healthcare after graduation.
ADaPT Summer Scholars | Physical Therapy | University of Delaware