Arielle Borovsky (PI)
Dr. Arielle Borovsky is an assistant professor in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, with a courtesy appointment in Psychological Sciences. Dr. Borovsky uses a broad methodological arsenal to explore how humans learn language. Her work seeks to inform scientists, clinicians and educators about the cognitive, linguistic and experiential factors that can help all children learn to communicate and identify early language disorders. Her work appears in multiple scientific outlets and has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. She additionally engages with a diverse array of scientists, students and families in a variety of community and scientific venues.
Email: aborovsky@purdue.edu
Website: http://borovsky.net
Sabrina Horvath (Post-Doc)
I am a post-doctoral fellow in the Speech, Language and Hearing Science Department. I received my B.A. in history and linguistics from the College of William and Mary; my M.S. in speech, language and hearing sciences from UNC-Chapel Hill; and my Ph.D. in speech, language, and hearing sciences from Boston University. Between my master’s and doctorate, I worked as a speech-language pathologist for the Children’s Hospital of Richmond. My research focuses on how children learn the meanings of words. I am particularly interested in children’s verb vocabularies because verbs are so important for the subsequent development of grammar. I also explore possible differences in word-learning strategies between typically developing children and children with or at risk for language disorder, with the long-term goal of supporting earlier identification of and new treatments for preschoolers with language disorder.
Email: horvath7@purdue.edu
Justin Kueser (Graduate Student)
I'm a PhD student in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. I have studied linguistics and speech-language pathology and worked as a speech-language pathologist in the schools. My research interests focus on how children learn language -- I study children with typical language development and children who have difficulties learning their first language. My current projects involve verb learning, the effect of frequency and predictability on language production, and other factors important in early word learning and grammatical development.
Email: jkueser@purdue.edu
Jamie Hagaman (Graduate Student)
I am a first year masters student in Purdue University's Speech Language and Hearing Sciences program. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Central Michigan University. I joined the LLaMA lab in fall 2019 and enjoy getting to assist with studies investigating early language development as well as getting to interact with families in the community. My goal is to become a medical speech language pathologist and work with children to re/habilitate their communication and swallowing abilities.
Email: jhagaman@purdue.edu
Michelle Indarjit (Laboratory Coordinator)
Hello! I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree from Montclair State University in 2017, majoring in Psychology (Departmental Honors) and double minoring in Women’s & Gender Studies and Russian Studies. As an undergraduate, I was a Research Assistant for two psycholinguistic labs at Montclair. Further, I have interned at The Ohio State University in 2016 and The University of British Columbia in 2017. Shortly after moving to Indiana in 2018, I joined both the lab and Lafayette Roller Derby. Overall, I am particularly interested in the acquisition of spatial language, eye-tracking methodologies, and seeing our team grow and flourish. I am committed to assisting the members of this lab in any capacity!
Email: mindarji@purdue.edu
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Mackenzie Cruz
Hi there! My name’s Mackenzie and I am a Senior in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences double-minoring in Psychology and Linguistics. I joined LLaMA Lab in January 2018 and have loved seeing it grow with new projects, people, and participants every semester. Children always amaze me with their energy and creativity, and since attending Purdue I’ve enjoyed promoting literacy development with at-risk youth in the greater Lafayette community as well as working with the wonderful kids who come into the lab. In the future I aspire to be an SLP, and a few other passions of mine include poetry, acting, and traveling.
Candace Jarzombek
I am a junior double majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and Brain and Behavioral Sciences. I have been a part of the LLaMA Lab since January 2018, and I have loved interacting with all of the families that come in! I look forward to getting my PhD in Speech and Language Sciences and doing research of my own in the future. Some of my interests include volunteering at the Hartford Hub in Lafayette, crocheting, and spending time with friends.
Jaelyn Kelly
Hello! My name is Jaelyn and I’m from Atlanta, Georgia. I am currently a junior double majoring in Anthropology and Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences with a minor in Linguistics. I'm interested in learning about culture, languages, and the various other subjects that contribute to communication barriers. I started working in LLAMA Lab in the Summer of 2019 and have loved being able to be part of a research team! My ultimate goal is to become a speech pathologist, but until then I enjoy spending my free time doing DIY projects, traveling, and spending time with my family & friends.
Emma Korte
Hi! My name is Emma and I am from Zionsville, Indiana. I am currently a junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Psychology and Human Development and Family Sciences. This is my second semester in a research lab and I am so excited to be a part of the LLaMA lab! I have always loved working with kids, and have spent a lot of time as a cheer coach, camp counselor, and volunteering in the kids’ ministry at my church. I hope to continue to work with kids in the future as a speech pathologist.
Grace Lovell
Hi, my name is Grace! I'm a sophomore studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Psychology here at Purdue! I'm from Evansville, Indiana and this is my second semester here in the LLAMA Lab. I love working with kids and I have a passion for American Sign Language, playing the saxophone, reading, and volunteering! I'm currently working on my Honors Thesis Project here in the lab and I'm so excited to learn more about language development through this project!
Sarah Nicholas Cruz
I’m Sarah, and I am a sophomore studying Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and I recently traveled abroad for a minor in Spanish. I am from the suburbs of Chicago, and I enjoy working with kids and spending time with family and friends. In the future, I hope to become a speech pathologist and work with children and their families in their language acquisition. Languages and how we acquire them has always been fascinating to me, and working in the LLaMA Lab, I have learned a lot about how we learn language and hope to learn more as I continue!
Nathan Rider
Hello! My name is Nathan and I live here in the greater Lafayette area. I’m a Senior here at Purdue. I am an SLHS major with the goal of becoming an SLP because I am passionate about helping kids with language disorders.
Jenny Shi
Hello! My name’s Jenny and I’m a junior from Carmel, Indiana studying Brain and Behavioral Sciences with a pre-physician assistant concentration. In my free time, I love to read and travel. This is my second semester as an undergraduate research assistant for the LLaMA lab and I am very excited to work with children and their families! I hope that the work I do in this lab will be able to benefit children everywhere. In the future, my dream is to become a pediatric physician’s assistant and be able to help children of all ages and backgrounds by providing them with the healthcare that they need.
Jonah Smutak
Hey! I’m Jonah, a senior in Brain and Behavioral Sciences here at Purdue with minors in Philosophy and Linguistics. I’m from Cleveland, OH, and in my free time I enjoy volunteering, writing fiction, and playing tabletop or video games. I intend to move onto a graduate program in cognitive psychology, with a focus on narrative, and I'm currently in the application process. I’ve spent most of my life working with children through several community outreach groups around Cleveland and volunteering at summer camps. I look forward to graduating this year and then learning more about language, psychology, and the connection between the two!
Elizabeth Spindler
Hi! My name is Elizabeth and I’m from Haubstadt, Indiana. This is my second year studying Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences with a minor in Spanish. For as long as I can remember I’ve loved working with kids, and I can’t wait to gain this new perspective of research through the LLaMA Lab! In my free time I enjoy spending time with family, getting crafty, and relaxing with a cup of coffee. In the future I plan to become a Speech-Language Pathologist and help children in the school system.
Allicia Wilfong
Hi! My name is Ally, and I am currently a junior here at Purdue. I am majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a double minor in Human Development and Psychology. I began working in the LLaMA Lab in Fall 2019 after finding a strong interest in child language development. I love working with children and am looking forward to the opportunities that working as a research assistant will bring me. After I graduate, I plan to get my masters and begin my career as a Speech Language Pathologist. Outside of school, I enjoy boating, crafting, and spending time with my friends.
Lab Alumni
Graduate students
Ryan Peters (PhD, 2019), Postdoctoral Scholar, Cognitive Science, Indiana University
Angele Yazbec (PhD, 2019) - Data Scientist, Evergreen Solutions.
Julie (Carranza) Madden (PhD, 2019) - Assistant professor, Psychology, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Lab Managers
Kat Chia, graduate student (PhD), Florida State University
Chris Cole, graduate student (PhD), DePaul University
Nicky Hopkins, graduate student (MSW) at Universty of Central Florida
Virginia Prestwood, graduate student (MS) Texas State University
Undergraduate thesis students
Edda Rodriguez, graduate student (MPH), Florida State University
Megan Foley, graduate student, (PsyD) University of Hartford
Juan Ospina, graduate student (PhD), Ohio State University
Emanuel Boutzoukas, graduate student (PhD), University of Florida
Undergraduate research assistants
*want to be included here? Send an email to Arielle - she'd love to hear from you!
