Principal Investigators
Caroline Niziolek
Position title: Principal Investigator
Email:
cniziolek
How does what we hear affect what we say? My research combines neuroimaging and acoustic measures in an attempt to characterize speech feedback processing and what purpose it serves in communication. The overarching hypothesis that frames my work is that communicative intent defines the brain’s motor plans for speech goals.
Grad Students, Postdocs, and Staff
Minju Bae
Position title: PhD Student
Email:
minju.bae
I am a PhD student in the Neuroscience Training Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before joining the program, I studied Psychology at Chung-Ang University and Cognitive Science at Seoul National University. My research focuses on the neural mechanisms of speech, particularly how higher-level cognitive processes integrate with lower-level motor control in speech production. Outside of research, I enjoy discovering delicious and convenient meal prep recipes.
You can learn more about my work on my personal website: https://sites.google.com/view/minjubae.
Hung-Shao Cheng
Position title: Postdoctoral Fellow
Email:
hcheng223
I am a postdoctoral researcher at Speech Motor Neuroscience Group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I received my PhD in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University. My research interests focus on understanding the (neural-)mechanisms that underlie speech motor learning. I use interdisciplinary approaches to examine this topic including linguistics, speech science, motor learning and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques (e.g., tDCS and TMS). When I am not working, I probably think about what my next meal is or my cats.
Tim Murphy
Position title: Postdoctoral Research Associate
Email:
tmurphy37
I am a postdoctoral researcher working in the Speech Motor Neuroscience Group. My research aims to characterize the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying cognitive control in speech. I am particularly interested in the roles perceptual processing and speech sound representation play in speech motor control. The research I conducted while pursuing a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon University investigated statistical learning in speech perception and its effect on speech production. I am now investigating sensorimotor adaptation and the role speech sounds representations play in this process.
Chris Naber
Position title: Lab Manager
Email:
cwnaber
I studied Psychology, Linguistics, and Music Performance at Emory University. After a stint at Epic and UW-Madison’s CSD capstone program, I started working in SMAC Lab in Summer 2019. I programmed experiments related to timing in speech, assisted students on projects, and improved lab tools like Audapter. I’ve been Lab Manager since Summer 2021, where I enjoy the art, craft, and process of making science happen.
David Rosado Rolón
Position title: PhD Student
Email:
rosadorolon
I am a PhD student in the Neuroscience Training Program here at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. My research seeks to better understand some of the neural mechanisms of speech as well as how multilingual speech in particular is impaired by motor speech disorders. Before coming to UW–Madison, I worked as a Staff Research Associate at the University of California San Francisco and the Columbia University Medical Center. When not in the lab, you can find me playing board games/purchasing more for my ever-growing collection.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Caitlin Deutsch
Position title: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email:
crdeutsch
I am a sophomore majoring in Communication Sciences & Disorders, with a certificate in Disability Rights & Services. After my undergraduate degree, I plan to get my masters in speech-language pathology. I am particularly interested in motor speech disorders, and hope to work with children in my future.
Ella Graham
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
eagraham5
I am a senior at UW-Madison majoring in Neurobiology with a certificate in Health Policy. After undergraduate school, I plan to attend graduate or PA school to pursue a career in medicine.
Grace Hobert
Position title: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email:
ghobert
I am a sophomore studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with a Global Cultures, Languages, and Education certificate. After graduation, I plan to pursue my master’s in speech-language pathology.
Isabella Kafka
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
ikafka
I am a senior majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Psychology. After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school for audiology.
Cole Klapheke
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
cgklapheke
I am an undergraduate senior studying Neurobiology and Psychology. I am interested in studying cognitive processes using modern neuroimaging. I plan to attend graduate school for cognitive neuroscience upon completion of my undergraduate studies.
Nithya Krishna
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
nkrishna5
I’m a junior majoring in computer science. After getting my undergraduate degree, I plan to go to graduate school in computer science.
Chengming Liu
Position title: Undergraduate Volunteer
Email:
cliu785
I’m a third-year student majoring in CS & Math. I am passionate about applying computer science knowledge to solve real-world problems. After graduation, I plan to learn more in graduate school or pursue a career in tech industry.
Acacia Omdahl
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
aomdahl
I am a junior studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with a certificate in Global Health. After undergrad, I plan to get my masters in speech-language pathology.
Alexa Perez
Position title: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email:
afperez2
I am a sophomore studying Neurobiology and Psychology. After graduation, I plan to apply to medical school with the goal of becoming a physician. I am particularly interested in brain-behavior relationships and how understanding them can improve treatments for neurological disorders.
Rachael Schneck
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
rschneck2
I am a fourth-year student pursuing a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I am also planning on graduating from the College of Letters and Science honors program. When I graduate, I am either going to apply for graduate school to become a speech and language pathologist, or PA school.
Charlotte Smith
Position title: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email:
cpsmith9
I am a junior studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with certificates in Education Policy and French. After my undergrad, I plan on attending grad school for speech-language pathology.
Peyton Stewart
Position title: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email:
prstewart2
I am a junior majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with certificates in Educational Policy and Disability Rights and Services. After undergrad, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
Kelly Vazquez
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
kgvazquez
I am a junior majoring in Neurobiology and Psychology. I am interested in neurodegenerative diseases and health. After graduating, I plan to attend graduate school.
Grace Weyda
Position title: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email:
gweyda
I am a sophomore double majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Linguistics, with a certificate in Disability Rights and Services. After my undergrad, I plan to work toward my master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
Melina Zaretsky
Position title: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email:
zaretsky2
I am a junior majoring in neurobiology. After graduation, I plan to pursue graduate studies in neuroscience. I would like to focus on learning, memory, and the brain’s ability to continue to learn as it ages.
Lab Alumni - Postdocs
Sarah Bakst
Position title: Postdoctoral Research Associate (2017-2020)
Address:
curr. Senior Linguist, SRI International
Sara Beach
Position title: Postdoctoral Research Associate (2021-2024)
Address:
curr. Technical Staff, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Robin Karlin
Position title: Postdoctoral Research Associate (2019-2023)
Address:
curr. Asst. Prof., Univ. Missouri
Anneke Slis
Position title: Postdoctoral Research Associate (2022-2024)
Address:
curr. Senior Researcher, ISTC, Padua, Italy
Ding-lan Tang
Position title: Postdoctoral Research Associate (2021-2023)
Address:
curr. Asst. Prof., Univ. Hong Kong
Yuyu Zeng
Position title: Postdoctoral Research Associate (2022-2025)
Address:
curr. Postdoc Assoc., Experimental Ling. Lab, Agder, Norway
Lab Alumni - Grad Students and Staff
Alexa Bushinski
Position title: Lab Manager (2018-2020)
Address:
curr. PhD student, Cog. Psych, Purdue U.
Lana Hantzsch
Position title: Lab Manager (2020-2021)
Address:
curr. Lab Manager, Cognition and Neurodevelopmental Studies Lab, U. Minn.