Part of our Department's mission is to expand and enhance our research efforts as worldwide leaders, through widespread dissemination of high caliber research, collaborative disciplinary and interdisciplinary research initiatives, and a diversified portfolio of sponsored research.  Each year many of our students at every degree level pursue research projects that contribute to this mission and bring greater understanding to the broad range of disciplines within our field. The class of 2026 participated in several projects that we are excited to share with you here!

 

Doctoral Dissertations

DJ Audet Jr., Au.D.

On the plasticity of sound localization during the use of hearing protection devices
Mentored By Dr. Andrew D. Brown

Erica R. Peterson

Functional Connectivity of Auditory Statistical Learning
Mentored By Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl

Poornima Ram-Kiran

Asian Indian Families' Experiences with Autism, Neurodiversity, and Language Intervention in the United States
Mentored By Dr. Sara Kover

Master's Theses

Isabelle Costello

A Modified Be Clear Treatment for Ataxic Dysarthria: Targeting Cognitive Load and Generalization 
Mentored By Dr. Kristie Spencer

Lindsay Hippe

Voice & Verse: The Acoustics of Vowels in Infant-Directed versus Adult-Directed Speech and Song
Mentored By Dr. Christina Zhao

Caitlyn K. Kobata

Characterizing the Variability of Second Formant Frequencies in Vowels of Dysarthric Speech Classified by Diphthong and Monophthong
Mentored By Dr. Erin Ingvalson

 

Undergraduate Honors Projects

Masha Campbell 

Mix & Match: How Multilingual Families use Code Switching at Home
Mentored By Dr. Amy Pace

Katherina Soleksmee Chum

Language Experience and Brainstem Encoding of Speech: A Frequency-Following Response Analysis
Mentored By Dr. Christina Zhao

Aeddan Claflin

Counting words: Applying an automatic classifier for child-directed speech to intervention research
Mentored By Dr. Naja Ferjan Ramírez

Cheyenne Isolina Ferré

Systematized Review of Relationship between gesture and language development 
Mentored By Dr. Christina Zhao

Lena R. Millard-Kish 

Can a Portable Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) System be Used for Hearing Diagnosis via Telehealth?
Mentored By Dr. Yi Shen

Calista Shohet

Where Loudness Becomes Unpredictable: The Effect of Sound Bandwidth on Loudness
Mentored By Dr. Yi Shen