OUR LAB 

LAB DIRECTOR

Samira Anderson. Au.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland.  After practicing as a clinical audiologist for 26 years, she decided to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Auditory Neuroscience at Northwestern University to better understand the hearing difficulties experienced by her patients, especially in challenging listening situations. She obtained her Ph.D. in December of 2012 and joined the faculty at the University of Maryland in January of 2013.  Dr. Anderson’s research focuses on the effects of development, aging, and hearing loss on central auditory processing, using electrophysiology as her primary assessment tool.  She also aims to define neuroplasticity in response to different forms of treatment, such as hearing aid amplification, cochlear implantation, and auditory training.

POSTDOC

Alessandro Presacco, Ph.D., received his Ph.D. at  the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science program at the University of Maryland. He also received the Laurea (5-year Italian Degree) in Electronic Engineering from the University of Padua and his M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Miami. Alessandro completed a thesis focused on biomedical signal processing techniques at the University of Padua, and a thesis focused on auditory steady-state responses to 40 Hz click trains at the University of Miami. Alessandro’s current research focuses on neural processing of complex sounds in aging population with neuroimaging techniques such as Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetoencephalographic (MEG)

Zilong Xie, Ph.D., is currently a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Texas at Austin. His Ph.D. research focused on better understanding sensory and cognitive factors that contribute to individual differences in speech processing in typical populations. Zilong's current research focuses on the processing of complex sounds in aging population with cochlear implants, using behavioral and neuroimaging (e.g., Electroencephalography, EEG) methods.

Lindsay DeVries, Au.D., Ph.D., received both of her degrees in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Washington. During her Ph.D., Lindsay examined an electrophysiological and behavioral measure of spread of neural excitation as a potential tool for identifying poorly functioning electrodes in cochlear implant listeners. She also used behavioral measures to create new, individualized cochlear implant listener strategies. As a postdoc, Lindsay is interested in the perceptual, cognitive, and neural impacts of aging, hearing loss, and cochlear implantation, using electroencephalogram (EEG) and psychophysical measures.

PH.D. STUDENTS

Jason Dunlap, B.A., is a doctoral student in the Hearing and Speech Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of Maryland, College Park. In 2018, he received a dual Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences at CUNY Brooklyn College, where he was also a Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) scholar for two years. His research interests include disorders of auditory and multi-sensory processing as examined through cognitive measures such as electrocephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and eye-tracking.

AU.D. STUDENTS

Lindsey Roque, B.S. is a doctoral candidate in the Clinical Audiology program in the Hearing and Speech Sciences department at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Cognitive Science from the University of Delaware. Lindsey is currently doing her 4th year externship at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, where she serves adult and pediatric patients with auditory and vestibular issues.

Alanna Schloss, B.A. is a doctoral candidate in the Clinical Audiology program in the Hearing and Speech Sciences department at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is interested in working with pediatric populations, specifically understand hearing loss in children and how hearing aids can be improved to help them as users.

Rachel Robinson, B.S. is a doctoral student in the Clinical Audiology program in the Hearing and Speech Sciences department at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Towson University in 2017. Rachel is interested in working with a variety of populations including older adults, pediatrics, those with cochlear implants, and the Deaf community. 

Alyson Schapira, B.A. is a doctoral student in clinical audiology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her Bachelor or Arts in Hearing in Speech Sciences from University of Maryland, with a double major in Spanish Literature and Culture. She has been working in the research labs in LeFrak Hall since Fall of 2015. She is interested in working with cochlear implant users and Spanish speaking people.

Caitlin Le, B.A. is a doctoral candidate in the clinical audiology program in the Hearing and Speech Sciences department at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2018. She is interested in working with pediatrics and cochlear implant users. 

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Abbey Poe, B.A. is a doctoral student in Clinical Audiology program at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). She graduated from UMD in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences. For the past year, she worked in the Hearing Brain Lab as a post-baccalaureate research assistant. Abbey is interested in working with young children.

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Logan Fraser, B.A. is a doctoral student in the Clinical Audiology program in the Hearing and Speech Sciences Department at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park in Fall 2018. She is interested in working with older adults to help them improve communication ability through the use of assistive technology.

Jennifer Borja, B.A. is a doctoral student in the Clinical Audiology program in the Hearing and Speech Sciences department at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park. Jennifer is interested in working with older adults and Spanish speaking individuals.

SLP STUDENTS

Einat Korman, B.A. is currently in her first year of the Masters in Speech Language Pathology program. She completed prerequisite coursework through the Hearing and Speech in the Evening (HESPIE) program at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Composition from Sarah Lawrence College. She is interested in working across populations to understand and improve music perception and appreciation. 

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UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Alexandra Papanicolaou is rising senior in Hearing and Speech Sciences. She will pursue a Doctoral degree in Clinical Audiology next fall. She strives to make Audiology a universal health standard that is more accessible in less fortunate countries.

Ariella Shapiro is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park. She will be graduating in the Spring of 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Hearing and Speech Sciences and Psychology, and she plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Audiology. 

Vera Yevsukov is a pre-med Undergraduate student majoring in Neurobiology & Physiology and Russian Language. She is interested in studying speech and  language understanding and the effects of neurodegenerative diseases on these processes. Vera is currently a sophomore who hopes to pursue a career in the health sciences upon her graduation.

Bridget McNamara is an undergraduate Hearing and Speech Sciences major at the University of Maryland. She is graduating December 2019 and plans to go onto earn a doctoral degree in Clinical Audiology.

Anhelina Bilokon is a non-traditional undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park. She will be graduating with a degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences, Spring of 2020 and in pursuit of doctoral degree in Clinical Audiology. Anhelina wants to hearten early assessment and intervention of hearing loss in youth and encourage parents to advocate for their children.  

Mary Zhou is an undergraduate Hearing and Speech Science and Psychology double major at the University of Maryland, College Park. She will be graduating in December 2019 and plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Audiology.

Nicole Balassone is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland studying Hearing and Speech Sciences. She will be graduating in Fall 2020 and plans to persue her doctoral degree in Clinical Audiology upon graduation. She would like to specialize in cochlear implants with pediatrics.

Alessandra Vidal is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland studying for a degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences. She will graduate Spring of 2021 and plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Audiology. She plans to specialize in pediatrics with her Au.D.

COLLABORATORS

Jonathan Simon, Departments of Biology, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland,  www.isr.umd.edu/Labs/CSSL/simonlab/Home

Sandra Gordon-Salant, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, www.umdhearinglab.com

Matthew Goupell, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, www.goupelllab.umd.edu

Hamish Innes-Brown, Bionics Institute, Melbourne, Australia, www.bionicsinstitute.org/our-staff/Pages/hamish-brown

FORMER STUDENTS

Veeda Baradar

Current position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at the University of Maryland, College Park

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Johnathon O'Neal

Current position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.

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Reynier Hernandez

Current position: Preparing for medical school.

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Sydney Hancock

Current position: Participating in the Disney College Program prior to graduate school.

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Danielle King

Current position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at the University of Maryland, College Park

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Hanin Karawani

Current position: Researching Auditory Neuroscience in Haifa, Israel.

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Kaitlyn Sheapp 

Current position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.

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Andrea Kaplanges

Current position: Undergraduate student at the University of Maryland

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Julie Mehta

Current position: Undergraduate student at the University of Maryland

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Miranda Velasquez

Current position: Undergraduate student at the University of Maryland

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​Erica Thomas, B.S. 

Current position: Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

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Sumaiya DeLane 
Student from the Neuroscience department at Vanderbilt University. ​

​Kimberly Jenkins, Au.D. 
Current position: Audiologist at Metropolitan Neuroear Group, Rockville, MD

Lauren Evans, Au.D. 
Current position: Audiologist. 

​Rachel Lieberman, Au.D. 
Current position: Audiologist at Advanced Hearing Group, Baltimore, MD

​R.B. Ellis, Au.D. 
Current position: Audiologist at San Diego Hearing Center, San Diego, CA

​Maeve Salanger, B.S. 
Current position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at the University of Maryland, College Park

Calli Fodor, B.S. 
​Current position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at the University of Maryland, College Park

Erin Walker, B.S. 
​Current position: Student at the University of Maryland, College Park

Arielle Abrams, B.A. 
Current position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at the University  of North Carolina, Chapel Hill  

Rachel Stein, M.A.
Current position:  Speech-language pathologist

Meg Graves, B.A.
Graduated in 2015 in Hearing and Speech Sciences 
Current position: post graduate training in public health at the University of Maryland, College Park

Eve Kronzek, B.A.
Graduated in 2015 in Hearing and Speech Sciences 
Current position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at the University of Maryland, College Park

Courtney Wallace, B.A.
Graduated in 2015 in Hearing and Speech Sciences 
Current position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at the University of Pittsburgh

Jen Chisholm, B.A.
Graduated in 2015 in Hearing and Speech Sciences 
Current position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at the University of Maryland, College Park
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Tarah Chibber, B.S. 
Graduated in 2015 in Business 
Current position: pre-med training 

Rachel King, B.S. 
Cuurent position: Doctoral student in Clinical Audiology at the University of Maryland, College Park

Kurt Erhardt, B.S. 
Graduated in 2014 in Neurobiology & Physiology with a pre-medical focus. 
Current Position: Medical student (2015 - Present)