Principal Investigator

Duane is from Las Vegas, NV. He is interested in the cognitive processes that underlie language production, comprehension, and reading

Lab Manager

Doriana received her B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Science from Rutgers University in 2023. Her previous research in Theory of Mind and language acquisition led to a broad interest in how one produces and comprehends language. She plans to attend graduate school in the future to further her studies in Psychology and Human Development.

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Michelle was born in Queens, NY to immigrant parents. In 2017, she completed her linguistics PhD work with Dr. Edith Kaan at the University of Florida. Michelle’s current research interests include eliciting spontaneous and naturalistic prosody in a lab setting, characterizing website texts using NLP tools, and examining the impact of digital reading exposure on grammatical processing and language choices. Her work is inspired by her experiences in linguistically diverse environments as a language learner, a heritage speaker, and an English instructor. Michelle also serves as a Language Teaching Specialist at the Vanderbilt English Language Center.

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Van's home base is St. Louis, MO but he grew up in the Philippines. He got his PhD in cognitive psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His interests include formalizing the nature of individual differences in word recognition and reading using computational models and behavioral studies; the interaction of language experience, oculomotor constraints, and cognitive processes in reading; methodology and measurement in psycholinguistics; and extending research on reading in psycholinguistics to research on reading in education.

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Delin received her first Ph.D. degree in Anthropology from École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in France in 2021. Later, she got her second Ph.D. degree in Linguistics from the University of Florida in 2023. Her research focuses on the correlation between prosody and pragmatic functions conveyed by discourse markers (DMs). Her research employs both observational and sociolinguistic interview data. By using computational modeling and corpus data, she investigates how both linguistic environments and social factors contribute to the use of sociopragmatic variables (DMs) by both L1 and L2 speakers of French and English.

PhD Student and Researcher

Ebony is a doctoral candidate whose work investigates how dialectal variation shapes the cognitive processes involved in speech perception. Building on her training in Linguistics from the University of Tennessee, she employs advanced experimental paradigms such as eye-tracking and behavioral analyses to examine how listeners adapt to diverse accents, resolve phonetic ambiguity, and integrate social cues in real-time language comprehension. By bridging insights from psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and cognitive neuroscience, Ebony’s research offers a deeper understanding of how exposure to multiple dialects can enrich and refine speech processing.

In addition to her academic research, Ebony is currently an intern at SRI, where she contributes to projects aimed at detecting and mitigating bias in language-based AI systems. By integrating insights from psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and emerging technologies, Ebony’s work advances both our theoretical understanding of language processing and the development of more inclusive speech-driven applications.

Outreach Coordinator and Undergraduate Research Assistant

Steven is a senior majoring in Human and Organizational Development, specializing in Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness, with a minor in Latin American Studies. Passionate about language acquisition and bilingualism, he combines his interests with his role as the lab’s outreach coordinator. In this role, Steven recruits participants for research studies and manages the lab’s social media presence, bridging the gap between research and the community.

Graduate Research Assistant

Alex graduated from Vanderbilt in 2024 with a B.S is Cognitive Studies, and is currently a first-year student in the Quantitative Methods M.Ed program. His interests include language development and education, as well as assessment and testing in psycholinguistics.

Graduate Research Assistant

Sophia is a masters student from Jackson, MS with degrees in Cognitive Studies and Neuroscience. She is interested in reading and dyslexia, bilingualism, and computational linguistics. Outside of the lab, she enjoys crocheting and climbing.

Graduate Research Assistant

Vanessa received her bachelor's degree from the University of Washington in 2023, double majoring in Education, Communities, and Organizations; and International Studies. She is currently a master's student in the International Education Policy and Management Program and is interested in exploring more about EdTech.

Graduate Research Assistant

Bowen is a master’s student in the International Education Policy and Management Program. Her research interest focuses on language development and second language teaching and learning.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Olivia is an undergraduate student (graduating in 2025) studying Gender & Sexuality Studies and Psychology. She loves research, social work, and art, and plans to go to medical school after graduating.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Arnav is a freshman pursuing a double major in cognitive studies and neuroscience with a minor in history. He is interested in language processing and sensory memory in the brain. Outside of that he loves a good movie and board game.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Tianzi is a junior majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Data Science. Her research interests include the development of language skills in dual language learners and the connection between cognitive activities and the languages they speak. Outside of schoolwork, she loves performing and played a major role in Vanderbilt's Chinese Drama 2023 production. She is also exploring improv comedy.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Becky is a sophomore from Beijing, China. She double majors in cognitive studies & psychology. Her research interests include the cognitive processes that support language comprehension, production, and acquisition and how technology influences communication. In her free time, Becky likes to play badminton, travel, and try new restaurants.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Sean is a senior majoring in computer science. Originally from Calgary, Canada, he's passionate about the intersection of linguistics and technology. Sean enjoys exploring the complexities of bilingualism and the cultural implications of language. Outside of his academic pursuits, he is an avid photographer, fitness enthusiast, and language learner.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Wendy is a sophomore majoring in Child Studies and Cognitive Studies with a minor in Sociology. Her research interests include bilingual learners’ language preferences across social networks, reading habits, cognitive flexibility, and language processing. She is fluent in her hometown dialect in China and identifies as bilingual, and her personal experiences strongly influence her academic interests.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jordan is a Sophomore majoring in Cognitive Studies and a minor in Cinema and Media Arts. She is passionate about understanding the human mind as it relates to the intricate world of film and media. She hopes to pursue a career in Entertainment law, where she can seamlessly blend her cognitive science expertise with a keen eye for dissecting the filmic apparatus and shaping impactful policies around film.

Ansley Potter is starting an exciting career in industry.

Ariel is now an assistant professor at Macalester College.

Brett is now an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Wei Lai is now starting her career with Amazon.

Sarah is now an NRC Research Associate at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Want to know more about the work she’s doing and her dog? Visit https://my.vanderbilt.edu/sabibyk/.

Jenna is now a psychology Ph.D. graduate student at the University of California - Davis.

Andres Buxo-Lugo is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland.

Siva is now a student in the Stanford Linguistics Graduate Program.