Hi my name is Brianna Candiotti and I am a Senior Research Assistant in the SPLD Lab. I am a Speech, Language and Hearing major and a Spanish minor. My career goal is to become a Speech Language Pathologist, specifically in a rehabilitation center with adults and elders. I am a member of NSSLHA and the club Create and Communicate. I have been in the SPLD Lab for 2 years. My favorite part of the lab is interacting with participants and learning more about the research on speech perception. This lab has allowed me to make new connections within the SLHS program and help me achieve new opportunities!

My name is Madelyn Falcone, and I am currently a senior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Connecticut. Upon graduating in May 2025, I plan to pursue my Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. I have been serving as a Research Assistant in the SPLD Lab since Fall 2023, and in Fall 2024, I advanced to the role of Senior Research Assistant. I truly value how the SPLD Lab has provided me with hands-on experience, allowing me to deepen my understanding and application of concepts in this field. Additionally, I am actively involved on campus through my participation in NSSLHA and Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.

My name is Shabnam Alizadeh Incheh and I am a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Dr. Adrián Gracia-Sierra. My research broadly focuses on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying bilingual language processing. Specifically, I investigate how cross-linguistic interference affects speech perception, sentence processing, and language control. Our ongoing project employs Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) to examine how heritage Spanish bilinguals navigate competing grammatical structures and phonetic cues in real-time. By analyzing the interaction between phonetic production and grammatical processing, my work aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of bilingual cognition and the dynamic nature of linguistic representation.

My name is Mary Kate and I am a senior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and minoring in Human Development and Family Studies. I served as a senior research assistant on the lab’s project “Linking Phonetic Features in Speech Production to Cognitive Processes in Heritage Spanish Bilinguals.” I am interested in speech and cognition, and I plan to attend graduate school for my master’s in speech-language pathology after I graduate in 2025.

My name is Sarah Gallagher and I am a junior majoring in SLHS with a psychology minor. My career goals are very fluid as I extend my experience in both the field of Speech Pathology and Audiology. The SPLD lab has provided me with unique research experience related to language perception and development through a bilingual lens that have applied to my education while here at UConn. I am a member of the NSSLHA club, the Vice President of Club Field Hockey, and volunteer at the Mansfield Senior Center weekly.

Hi! My name is Kaysie Dighton and I am a senior Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences major and Human Development and Family Sciences minor. After I graduate in May 2025, I am hoping to further my studies in a Speech-Language Pathology Masters program! My passion lies in pediatrics but I am definitely open to new experiences. I joined the SPLD lab in the fall 2024 semester, and enjoyed learning more about speech perception using AeroView equipment and building relationships with my peers. On campus, I am also involved in the NSSLHA club and work at UConn’s Student Recreation Center as a Spin Instructor and Fitness Assistant!

Hello! My name is Vladimir Yaroslavovich Klyukin, and I am a junior Speech Language and Hearing Sciences major with a Biology minor. I am still undecided between SLP and Audiology as a final career but am excited for the opportunity and experience working in this lab will bring. I am heavily involved on campus, working both in the UConn Climbing Center and as a Resident Assistant in North campus. I also hold an Eboard position on the UConn Woodsmen team as the equipment manager in addition to competing. I’m interested in the underlying mechanisms of language processing and production and I am very excited to work with the rest of the team.

Hi, my name is Jamie Szabo and I am a current sophomore double majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences & Spanish with a minor in Cognitive Science. Beyond the classroom, l am a member of NSSLHA as well as a campus tour guide for high school student groups. I joined the SPLD Lab in Fall of 2024 and have loved my experiences so far! This lab has helped me gain knowledge in and out of my major. It has allowed me to connect what I learn in the classroom to the real world and make some incredible personal

Hi! My name is Michelle Zhu and I am a junior Secondary Mathematics Education and Pure Mathematics dual degree. I am particularly interested in exploring multilingualism and supporting bilingual learners in the classroom. My career goal is to work in an ELL classroom, as well as pursue a PhD to further study and understand multilingualism. I am currently an Honors student, a University Scholar, and a member of the Outing Club and UConn Future Educators. This is my first semester working in the lab and I am very excited to work with the other lab members and see the research progress!