Dr. Aaron J. Zynda is a Research Assistant Professor for the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program and the Concussion Research Laboratory in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Zynda is the first or contributing author on 50 peer-reviewed publications, and his work has been featured in reputable journals, including Sports Medicine, the American Journal of Sports Medicine, and the Journal of Pediatrics. He is an avid lecturer, with over 150 professional presentations nationally and internationally on topics related to concussion and clinical research. Dr. Zynda has received funding for his research from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Michigan State University College of Education. He has also received several honors for his work, including the Sports Neuropsychology Society (SNS) Outstanding Trainee Award in 2024 and the American Kinesiology Association (AKA) National Doctoral Scholar Award in 2023, which is given annually to the Kinesiology doctoral student with the most distinguished academic and leadership record nationwide.
- Postdoctoral Training, University of Pittsburgh
- PhD, Michigan State University
- BS, University of Michigan
Education & Training
- Lambert KH, Hoppes CW, Zynda AJ, Mucha A, Monti K, Collins MW, Eagle SR, Kontos AP. False-positive rates and associated factors on the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) using the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation 2 (MACE 2) cutoffs in U.S. military personnel. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2025 Sep 2. doi: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000001108. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 40906944.
- Ramirez NR, Zynda AJ, Perry C, Collins B, Jasper HA, French JE, Collins MW, Trbovich AM, Kontos AP. Comparison of multidomain assessment outcomes between older and middle-aged adults following concussion. Neuropsychology. 2025 Aug 25. doi: 10.1037/neu0001032. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 40853768.
- Zynda AJ, Trbovich AM, Kehinde F, Burley C, Collins MW, Okonkwo DO, Mucha A, Ostop S, Holland C, Perry C, Womble MN, Jennings S, Fedor S, Dollar C, Durfee KJ, Elbin RJ, Kontos AP. Role of anxiety in exercise intolerance and autonomic nervous system dysfunction post-concussion. Neurol Sci. 2025 Aug;46(8):3909-3918. doi: 10.1007/s10072-025-08204-9. Epub 2025 Apr 28. PMID: 40293595.
- Gomes D, Sinnott A, Zynda AJ, Kochick VL, Ostop S, Trbovich AM, Feder A, Collins MW, Kontos AP. Minimal detectable change scores and factors associated with Dynamic Exertion Test (EXiT) performance after sport-related concussion. Sports Health. 2025 Jul;17(4):678-688. doi: 10.1177/19417381241298284. Epub 2024 Dec 18. PMID: 39692232.
- Kontos AP, Zynda AJ, Trbovich AM, French J, Kegel N, Burley C, Patel S, Mucha A, Womble MN, Jennings S, Dollar CM, Elbin RJ, Collins MW. Clinical utility of the Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool 6 (SCOAT6) and other select multidomain assessments for subacute sport-related concussion. Sports Med. 2025 Jun 8. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02256-9. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 40483661.
- Womble MN, Durfee KJ, Jennings S, Fedor S, Zynda AJ, Schatz P, Collins MW, Kontos AP, Elbin RJ. The co-occurrence of vestibular/ocular motor provocation and state anxiety in adolescents and young adults with concussion. J Neurotrauma. 2025 Jun;42(11-12):985-993. doi: 10.1089/neu.2024.0472. Epub 2024 Dec 23. PMID: 39714308.
- Herman C, Zynda AJ, Makwana Mehmel B, Jasper HA, Todd MG, Holland CL, Trbovich AM, Mucha A, Collins MW, Kontos AP. Sex and age-related differences in Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) symptom provocation following concussion. Clin Neuropsychol. 2025 May 16:1-19. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2025.2500617. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 40379604.
- Klein LA, Zynda AJ, Loftin M, Pollard-McGrandy AM, Tracey AJ, Covassin T. Changes in coping skills throughout concussion recovery in college-aged individuals. J Athl Train. 2025 May 13. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0467.24. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 40356505.
- Burley C, Zynda AJ, Trbovich AM, Rabon W, Holland CL, Dan X, Ma Y, Collins MW, Kontos AP. Utility of pre-injury risk factors and the Concussion Clinical Profiles Screening (CP Screen) tool for identifying concussion profiles in adolescents. Appl Neuropsychol Child. 2025 Mar 14:1-10. doi: 10.1080/21622965.2025.2478113. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 40085423.
- Eagle SR, Zynda AJ, Sandulli L, Hickey RW, Kegel NE, Nelson L, McCrea M, Collins MW, Okonkwo DO, Thomas DG, Kontos AP. The role of body mass index on physical activity, symptoms, and related outcomes following pediatric concussion. J Pediatr. 2025 Feb;277:114386. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114386. Epub 2024 Nov 1. PMID: 39489284.
Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/aaron.zynda.2/bibliography/public/
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0663-7320
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=whIbxF4AAAAJ&hl=en
Dr. Zynda’s research interests include using clinical profiles to inform multidomain assessment of concussion and targeted, active interventions and rehabilitation programs to improve brain health outcomes and mitigate long-term morbidity.
National Institutes of Mental Health (MH114881)
Title: Identifying Concussed Adolescents at Risk for Emotional Dysregulation (iCARE)
Role: Research Assistant Professor
PD/PI: Versace A, Kontos AP
Awarded, November 2024
US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (HT9425-23-S-TBIPH2)
Title: Microglial Breakthroughs in Longevity, Aging, & Senescence after TBI (MicroBLAST)
Role: Research Assistant Professor
PD/PI: Wagner A
Awarded, September 2024
US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (HT9425-23-2-0064)
Title: Brain Risk Assessment for Individual Neurological (BRAIN) Health: Understanding/Preventing Consequences from Repetitive mTBI and Head Impact Exposures
Role: Research Assistant Professor
PD/PI: Kontos AP
Awarded, September 2023
US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (HT9425-23-2-0046)
Title: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Integrated Vestibular Rehabilitation (ACTIVE) for mTBI: A Targeted Randomized Controlled Trial
Role: Research Assistant Professor
PD/PI: Kontos AP, Meyer E
Awarded, September 2023
Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research
Title: Women’s Health: Characterizing Effects of Concussion on Clinical, Biological, and Women’s Health Outcomes Compared to Controls.
Role: Research Assistant Professor
PD/PI: Rios J
Awarded, February 2023
US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (W81XWH-2-2-0056)
Title: NeuroImmunoEndocrine Interface: Exploring a Unifying Axis for Precision Care in Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury: NEXUS
Role: Research Assistant Professor
PD/PI: Wagner A
Awarded, September 2022
C. Light Technologies, Inc. – National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS095090)
Title: Retinal Eye-Tracking as a Prognostic Tool for Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion
Role: Research Assistant Professor
PD/PI: Kontos AP, Rossi E
Awarded, September 2022
National Football League
Title: Prevalence of Brain Health versus Neurodegeneration in Professional Football Retirees.
Role: Research Assistant Professor
PD/PI: Okonkwo D
Awarded, April 2018
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Title: Identifying Deficits in Sensorimotor Skills Following Sport-Related Concussion in High School and Collegiate Athletes
Role: Principal Investigator
Co-I: Baez S, Wallace J, Kuenze C, Covassin T
Completed, March 2024
Department of Defense Research Award Contract with BrainScope Inc.
Title: Evaluation and Validation of a Multimodal Brain Function Biomarker with Near-Point Convergence
Role: Research Coordinator
PI: Covassin T
Completed, May 2022
US Navy (Naval Health Research Center) Research Award Contract with BrainScope Inc.
Title: Validation of a Machine Learning Brain Electrical Activity-Based Index to Aid in Diagnosing Concussion Among Athletes
Role: Research Coordinator
PI: Covassin T
Completed, May 2022