Occupational scientist Karla Ausderau joins USC Chan faculty
July 1, 2026

Karla Ausderau MA ’00, PhD ’09, whose scholarship focuses on developmental science, neuroscience, occupational science and community engagement and knowledge mobilization approaches, has joined the faculty of the USC Chan Division at the rank of professor. She returns to USC after 14 years at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she was the director of graduate studies for kinesiology, and investigator at the Waisman Center with an appointment at the Wisconsin Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities.

She previously completed postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, after earning her Master of Arts degree in occupational therapy and PhD degree in occupational science from USC Chan.

“Returning to USC Chan feels like coming home,” Ausderau said. “The division played an important role in my development as a scholar and occupational therapist, and I’m excited to contribute to its next chapter. As we continue to expand community-engaged research and knowledge mobilization, I look forward to working alongside faculty, students and community partners to build meaningful collaborations that translate research into real-world impact.”

Community-engaged scholarship

Ausderau is the principal investigator of a nearly $7.3 million grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute comparing the clinical effectiveness of a group psychoeducational intervention with individual health coaching embedded in Special Olympics programming against standard Special Olympics Sport and Health programming. The study’s ultimate aim is to improve access to high quality community health care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a population that experiences higher rates of chronic health conditions and comorbidities than the general population. This is her third PCORI grant and fifth extramurally-funded study on inclusive, community-centered interventions.

Additionally, she is a multi-principal investigator on an NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grant investigating the sensorimotor neurodevelopment impacts of prenatal exposure to Zika virus.

Ausderau will serve as USC Chan’s inaugural director of community-engaged research and knowledge mobilization. That role will include developing a division-wide strategy to support and sustain USC Chan’s expanding portfolio of community-engaged research partnerships.

“Dr. Ausderau’s research is truly translational — she has shaped occupational therapy practice and education, advanced our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that shape participation and health trajectories, developed community engagement practices, and enhanced equitable health and participation outcomes for those with developmental disabilities,” said Associate Dean and Chair Grace Baranek. “We look forward to having a front row seat to her innovative work and impactful contributions.”

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