PhD '21 Alumni
What year did you start the program? 2017
What are your prior degrees and at which institutions?
BS, Speech, Georgia State University
MS, Speech-Language Pathology, MGH Institute of Health Professions
What is your current research setting, mentor's name, and name of lab?
Mentor: Daryush D. Mehta, PhD, Director, and Robert E. Hillman, PhD, CCC-SLP, Co-Director/Director of Research
Lab: MGH Voice Center
What is your current research focused on?
My research is focused on aerodynamics of voice using accelerometer-based voice monitoring. Specifically, I am interested in studying underlying physiology of perceptual estimates of vocal effort. I am also interested in studying voice response to environmental noise (Lombard effect).
What do you think is special about the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences program here at the MGH Institute?
Everything we learn in class is highly applicable to our lab work. Not only that, but each week we are inspired by researchers from a variety of fields, so we can learn from other professions and potentially apply ideas from other disciplines to our own work.
Why did you choose to come to this program rather than a doctoral research program in your specific profession?
I was lucky enough to have gone to the MGH Institute for my master's program, where I learned the value of interprofessional collaboration. As a voice therapist, I worked interdisciplinarily and saw the value of communicating and co-treating with other disciplines, so it felt natural to choose a program that is interprofessional.
What are your goals for the future after you graduate?
I hope to combine my research and clinical skills to be a translational researcher and clinician.