What is your role in the lab? 

I am a postdoctoral research fellow. I joined the lab to conduct genetics research in stuttering, and I am also involved in ERP data analysis. My work broadly focuses on gene-brain-behavior relationships in communication disorders.

What excites you most about your work?

I’m excited by the many mysteries that remain to be solved. My goal is to help develop a comprehensive understanding that connects genetics, neurobiology, and the phenotypes of stuttering. I hope my research will ultimately help individuals with stuttering and gain deeper insights into their experiences. I’m also excited to learn more about neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques during my time in the lab.

What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies?

I love spending time with my senior dog, Mong (her dog park name is Molly). She’s been an incredible support to me as I started a new life in the US and during graduate school. Besides hanging out with Mong, I enjoy staying active through barre, swimming, and tennis.

If you could learn one new skill overnight, what would you want it to be?

I would love to master neuroimaging! I wish I could immediately jump into analyzing neuroimaging data. I’m still learning, but I know that gaining this skill would greatly enhance my ability to connect genetic and neurobiological findings in stuttering.

Besides the unknowns around stuttering, what’s another scientific mystery that you find interesting?

If I hadn’t chosen this path, I would probably be a marine biologist. I’ve always been fascinated by marine life and would love to study their behaviors.