Faculty Researchers
Bharath Chandrasekaran, PhD - Lab Director
Bharath Chandrasekaran is the director of the SoundBrain Lab. He completed his PhD in Integrative Neuroscience at Purdue University and is a Professor and Chair of the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University. He studies the neural representation of speech signals using multimodal neuroimaging methods.
Jacie R. McHaney, PhD - Research Assistant Professor
Jacie McHaney is a Research Assistant Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders interested in the neural mechanisms underlying speech processing. She received her PhD from the University of Pittsburgh where she studied self-perceived listening difficulties in adults with normal hearing. Jacie uses a combination of neurophysiological, behavioral, and cognitive computational neuroscience approaches to study individual differences in speech processing and plasticity.
Kevin R. Sitek, PhD - Research Assistant Professor
Kevin Sitek is a Research Assistant Professor in the SoundBrain Lab. He received his PhD in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology from Harvard University, where he studied the anatomy and connectivity of the human subcortical auditory system at the MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research. In the SoundBrain Lab, Kevin is investigating subcortical representations of speech sounds and connectivity within the auditory system using MRI.
Postdoctoral Scholars & PhD Students
Ja Young Choi, PhD - Postdoctoral Scholar
Ja Young is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the SoundBrain Lab. She received her PhD in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology from Harvard University, where she studied the cognitive and neural mechanisms of processing talker variability in speech perception. Ja Young is interested in using behavioral, neurophysiological and computational approaches to explore how the mechanisms of speech perception interact with higher-level cognitive mechanisms and how such integration is manifested in the human brain.
Zhe-chen Guo, PhD - Postdoctoral Scholar
Zhe-chen Guo is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the SoundBrain Lab. He received his PhD in Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin, where he investigated how intelligibility-enhancing hyperarticulated speech affects listeners’ word segmentation under optimal and adverse listening conditions. Zhe-chen is interested in bringing perspectives from linguistics and his training in behavioral, acoustic, and computational methods to explore the neural representations of speech sounds. In the SoundBrain Lab, he is experimenting with different modeling approaches to reveal the neural encoding of speech content in frequency-following responses to Mandarin tones.
Shengyue Xiong, MS - PhD Student
Shengyue Xiong is a second-year PhD student in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University. She received her M.S. in Speech Sciences from University College London. Shengyue is interested in brain networks underlying human communication, especially in the mechanisms underlying speech perception in complex listening conditions and brain dynamics underlying talker identification, speech categorization, and voice learning. In the SoundBrain Lab, Shengyue hopes to conduct research using a combination of behavioral, neurophysiological, and computational approaches.
Research Staff & Student Assistants
Kailyn McFarlane, PhD - Research Project Manager
Kailyn McFarlane is the SoundBrain Lab Research Project Manager. She received her PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University, where she studied speech perception in noise difficulties in listeners with normal hearing using electrophysiologic and behavioral methods. Kailyn continues to investigate auditory mechanisms contributing to speech perception in noise difficulties with the goal of advancing clinical practices to better serve this population.
Amp Kangsumrith
Amp is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University pursuing a Cognitive Science degree, with a psychology minor and a Human-Computer Interaction certificate. In the SoundBrain lab, Amp hopes to broaden her intellectual horizons and deepen her understanding of speech processing by experimenting with computational approaches and neuroimaging methods.
Avery Leblanc
Avery is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University pursuing a double major in Biomedical Engineering and Cognitive Science. Her research interests surround regenerative solutions and supplements to neurodegenerative diseases. Avery received a Summer Undergraduate Research Grant for her project, guided by Dr. Jacie McHaney, which investigates the effect of vibrotactile stimulation on pitch encoding.
Jacqueline Martinez
Jacqueline is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University pursuing a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Spanish. She is excited to develop a deeper understanding of auditory perception and looks forward to gaining hands-on research experience. Jacqueline plans to pursue a research focused career in neuroscience with the goal of advancing knowledge of brain function and sensory processing.
Jaimie Hong
Jaimie is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University studying Computer Science and Neuroscience. She is interested in hearing loss and speech categorization studies and wants to take a quantitative approach to examining how language is cognitively processed. Her goal is to utilize computational methods and neuroimaging to gain a better understanding of neural pathways necessary for learning in order to research preventative measures for neurodegenerative conditions.
Sabrina Lee
Sabrina is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University pursuing a double major in Neuroscience and Dance. She is intrigued by the potential of neurotechnologies to enhance complex learning tasks and address/prevent neurological disorders. Sabrina hopes to explore how innovative tools and interdisciplinary approaches can deepen our understanding of the brain and the interconnectedness of speech perception, language, and learning.