Sebastian M. Benavidez

Sebastian Benavidez is an MD-PhD student with a background in neuroimaging research at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, where he worked at the Imaging Genetics Center within the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute. Under the mentorship of Drs. Paul Thompson, Katherine Lawrence, and Priya Rajagopalan, Sebastian focused on utilizing advanced diffusion MRI techniques to study brain tissue microstructure, particularly in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

His research aimed at elucidating the structural brain differences in ASD through big-data neuroimaging methods, with the goal of improving diagnostic and treatment strategies. Sebastian played a key role in multiple studies, contributing to significant findings on white matter differences in individuals with ASD and in normative sex differences. Beyond his focus on ASD, Sebastian's research includes exploring neurodevelopmental overlap between ASD and ADHD, as well as investigating the impact of aging and Alzheimer’s disease on brain structure.

Sebastian's commitment to neuroscience and clinical research continues as he prepares to advance his training and research in Yale's MD-PhD program. Sebastian’s research interests now lie in the study of neurodegeneration and neurogenetic approaches to understanding the brain in health and disease.