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 Research Associate
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. In Summer 2021 I became lab manager.
Yuyu Zeng
Position title: Postdoctoral Research Associate
Email:
yuyu.zeng
I am a postdoctoral researcher of the Speech Motor Neuroscience Group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I grew up in Chongqing, China’s 4th direct-controlled municipality besides Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. Although I can perceive and produce the /in/ and /iŋ/ contrast in Mandarin Chinese, I pretend to have an accent by merging them when speaking Mandarin.
The central theme of my research is Words in Communication (WiC). My vision for research on WiC is that it will integrate knowledge from linguistics, acoustics, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, computer science, and network science, using behavioral experiments, brain recordings, and computational models. You can find more about me on my personal website.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Hannah Goldman
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
hrgoldman
I am an undergraduate senior majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Psychology with a certificate in Disability Services and Rights. After receiving my undergraduate degree, I plan to go to graduate school for speech pathology.
Ella Graham
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
eagraham5
I am a junior 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.
Isabella Kafka
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
ikafka
I am a junior 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 junior 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 sophomore majoring in computer science. After getting my undergraduate degree, I plan to go to graduate school in computer science.
Kerry Lannon
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
klannon
I am an undergraduate senior majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish. I plan to attend graduate school to earn my doctorate of audiology.
Riva Moradia
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
rmoradia
I am a senior majoring in Neurobiology. I plan on attending medical school after receiving my undergraduate degree.
Acacia Omdahl
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
aomdahl
I am a sophomore studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with a certificate in Global Health. After undergrad, I plan to get my masters in speech-language pathology.
Rachael Schneck
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
rschneck2
I am a third-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.
Elle Stussy
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
estussy
I am a junior majoring in Communication Sciences & Disorders with a certificate in Disability Rights and Services. After my undergrad, I plan to work towards my masters degree in speech–language pathology. I am particularly interested in working with children.
Kelly Vazquez
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
kgvazquez
I am a sophomore majoring in Neurobiology and Psychology. I am interested in neurodegenerative diseases and health. After graduating, I plan to attend graduate school.
Gabby Weis
Position title: Research Assistant
Email:
grweis
I am a senior at UW-Madison majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a certificate in Disability Rights and Services. I plan to become a Speech-Language Pathologist and work with elementary aged kids.
Lab Alumni - Postdocs
Sarah Bakst
Position title: Postdoctoral Research Associate
Address:
curr. Senior Linguist, SRI International
Sara Beach
Position title: Postdoctoral Research Associate
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
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.