People

Lab Director

Allison Schaser, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Miami University in Ohio and a master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She earned her PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2015 and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Neurology department at Oregon Health & Science University in 2020, focused on understanding the pathophysiology of age-related synucleinopathies like Parkinson disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB).  

Allison was president of the Portland-based non-profit Women in Science Portland while she completed her postdoctoral fellowship and is passionate about continuing her work building supportive networks to promote retention and career development opportunities for women in the sciences.

Lab Personnel

Blas Hernandez is the laboratory manager for the Schaser Research Group and a graduate of the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. Being part of the Schaser Research Group allows Blas to expand his understanding of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and develop skills to explore the research field.
 
Blas is an advisor for several clubs as well as a fraternity on campus, focusing on fostering the future leaders of the world. His free time is usually spent training with canines, playing with his puppy, Kaspian, and appreciating the arts.
Brooke Rodgers is a first-year Ph.D. student in the SLHS department and is interested in the motor function and acoustics of vocalization. They recently graduated with a BA in Physics and Music from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. As a central Florida native, Brooke is most excited to finally escape Disney World.
Rachel Mendez is double majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, and Spanish. She also has completed a certificate in Gerontology, as she plans to work with adults as a speech-language pathologist. Her hobbies include cross-stitch, baking, and fishing. Rachel is also an avid Disney and music fan. 
Cynthia Choi is currently a senior undergraduate, completing her bachelor’s degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Psychology. Being a part of the Schaser lab allows Cynthia to build valuable knowledge and connections and facilitate learning in the research field. Cynthia has a special interest in the acoustics of vocalization, hoping to develop skills in this area in the research lab.
Emelia Webster is a third-year undergraduate student from Wayland, MA. She is studying Speech Language and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Psychology. Emelia is interested in pursuing a career in Speech Pathology. Outside of the lab, Emelia enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, and trying new restaurants!

Lab Alumni

Halle Shoults. Member of the Schaser Research Group from Fall 2020 to Spring 2021.
Anumitha Venkatraman. Member of the Schaser Research Group from Fall 2020 to Spring 2022.
Pranali Suresh. Member of the Schaser Research Group from Fall 2020 to Spring 2022.
Riley Samuelson. Member of the Schaser Research Group from Fall 2020 to Spring 2022.

Want to Join the Team? 

If you are a graduate student or a prospective doctoral student and you have an interest in joining our team, please send an email and your CV directly to Dr. Schaser at aschaser@purdue.edu.

If you are an undergraduate student and are interested in learning more about research and how to participate in our lab, please complete this application (google doc). If we have a vacancy in the lab and you qualify, we will contact you! Thank you for your interest.