Dr. Harkema is a leading researcher in the field of neurological rehabilitation, and holds the positions of Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the UofL, Rehabilitation Research Director at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, and Director of Research at FRNC. She is the Owsley B. Frazier Rehabilitation Chair in Neurological Surgery at UofL. Dr. Harkema is currently the National Director of the NRN, a cooperative network of cutting-edge rehabilitation centers designed to provide and develop therapies to promote functional recovery and improve the overall health of people living with paralysis by translating scientific advances into effective, activity-based rehabilitation treatments. She holds a Ph.D. in physiology.