Postdoc

George Mois

Hometown: Lawrenceville, GA
Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Georgia State University, 2014
Master’s Degree, Georgia State University, 2015
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Georgia, 2021
Contact: mois@illinois.edu

George’s research focuses on assistive technologies to support social connectivity, healthy aging, aging in place, and quality of life across the lifespan. His work has a predominant focus on communication technologies, telepresence, embodiment, and human robot interaction. In his free time, he enjoys landscape photography and hiking.

Graduate Research Assistants

Lizzy Lydon

Hometown: Denver, CO
Education:  B.A. (double major) Linguistics and Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder 2008-2012
M.S., Speech-Language Pathology, Portland State University, 2012-2014
PhD (in progress), Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2018-present
Contact: elydon2@illinois.edu

Lizzy is interested in conducting both basic and applied research in the area of cognitive-communication with patients who have neurodegenerative diseases. She hopes that through her research she can develop evidence-based cognitive interventions while bridging the gap between the fields of neuroscience and speech-language pathology through interdisciplinary research. During her free time she enjoys backpacking, climbing, and traveling.

Eliza Baby

Hometown: Bengaluru, India
Education: BSc. Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences, Bangalore University, India, 2012-2016
M.S., Speech-Language Pathology, AIISH, University of Mysuru, 2016-2018
PhD (in progress), Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2022-present
Contact: ebaby2@illinois.edu

Eliza is interested in cognitive-linguistic aspects of communication . She is interested in exploring the cognitive constructs that are crucial for effective communication. Her goal is to move the science forward in understanding the neural mechanisms driving cognition and language in normal healthy aging individuals and applying them in clinical populations. She aims to conduct clinically-driven evidence based research to aid aging in place. In her free time, she enjoys training beginners in Salsa dancing.

Teresa Warren

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Education: B.A Psychology, San Diego State University 2017-2022
PhD (in progress), Neuroscience, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2022-present
Contact: teresaw3@illinois.edu

Teresa is interested in neural mechanisms underlying cognition in older adults and patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Her goal is to study risk and protective factors that contribute towards neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, in hopes of enhancing or maintaining cognitive function and brain health in older adults. In her free time, she enjoys knitting and playing video games.

Sarah Jones 

Hometown: Naperville, IL
Education: B.S. Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. MA Speech language Pathology (in progress)
Contact: sarahej3@illinois.edu

Alexandra Trekas

Hometown: Chicago, IL
Education:B.S. Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. MA Speech language Pathology (in progress)
Contact: trekas2@illinois.edu

Research Staff

Vincent Mathias

Hometown: Denver, CO
Education: BA, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2012-2015
Contact: vmathias@illinois.edu

Vince is interested in research related to user centered design and the interface between humans and technology in relation to cognition, language, and communication. He hopes to further research in these areas with the ultimate goal of informing clinical/public policy and practices for vulnerable populations. During his free time he enjoys making glass art and being in the mountains whenever possible. Go Buffs!

James Shim

Hometown: Aurora, Il
Education: B.S. Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Contact: jamesss3@illinois.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Jaya Ashrafi

Hometown: Oak Park, IL
Education: B.S. (in progress). Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Contact: jashr2@illinois.edu

Holly Panfil 

Hometown: Prospect Heights, IL
Education: B.S. (in progress). Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Contact: hpanfil2@illinois.edu

Nithya Anand

Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL
Education: B.S. (in progress). Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Contact: nanand9@illinois.edu

Natalia Rzepa 

Hometown: Mundelein, IL
Education: B.S. (in progress). Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Contact: nrzepa2@illinois.edu

Melinda Jara

Hometown: Chicago, IL
Education: B.S. (in progress). Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Contact: jara3@illinois.edu

Sylvia Merz

Hometown: Arlington Heights, IL
Education: B.S. (in progress). Statistics and Psychology with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
Contact: srmerz2@illinois.edu