People

Principal Investigators

Caroline Niziolek

Position title: Principal Investigator

Email: cniziolek@wisc.edu

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.

Ben Parrell

Position title: Principal Investigator

Email: bparrell@wisc.edu

Grad Students, Postdocs, and Staff

Minju Bae

Position title: PhD Student

Email: minju.bae@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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@wisc.edu

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

. Akshat

Position title: Graduate Research Assistant/Programmer

Alexa Bushinski

Position title: Lab Manager (2018-2020)

Address:
curr. PhD student, Cog. Psych, Purdue U.

Nickolas Comeau

Position title: Research Specialist/Programmer

Carissa Ernat

Position title: Graduate Research Assistant

Elena Groves

Position title: Graduate Research Assistant

Lana Hantzsch

Position title: Lab Manager (2020-2021)

Address:
curr. Lab Manager, Cognition and Neurodevelopmental Studies Lab, U. Minn.

Sophie Johnson

Position title: Research Assistant

Anna Mah

Position title: Graduate Research Assistant

Matthew Meuler

Position title: Research Assistant

Elisa Ou

Position title: Graduate Research Assistant/Programmer

Danielle Revai

Position title: Graduate Research Assistant

Hannah Smith

Position title: Graduate Research Assistant

Erin Tippit

Position title: Graduate Research Assistant