Lab Members

Director

Erin Meier, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Erin Meier, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor & Lead Lab Researcher

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Dr. Erin Meier earned her M.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from Purdue University in 2008 and graduated with her Ph.D. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from Boston University in 2018 under the mentorship of Dr. Swathi Kiran. From 2018-2020, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Vascular Neurology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine under the guidance of Dr. Argye Hillis. Since her time as a practicing speech-language pathologist in the greater Chicago area (2009-2013), Erin has worked towards bettering the lives of adults with acquired communication disorders. Her research interests include the neurological bases of language in disease processes and mechanisms of language recovery after stroke. She is passionate about finding ways to maximize functional communication and quality of life outcomes for individuals with aphasia and other acquired cognitive-communicative disorders. 

Contact Information:

Email: e.meier@northeastern.edu 

Address: 360 Huntington Avenue, Forsyth 228C; Boston, MA 02115

Phone: (617) 373-7438

Resume/CV

Researchers & Volunteers

Alexa Reilly

Alexa Reilly

Graduate Student & Lab Researcher

Alexa Reilly is a graduate student in the TAN lab. She is a 2nd year student in the M.S. SLP program at Northeastern University’s Bouve College of Health Sciences, with an expected graduation date of 2023. She has a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science and minors in Spanish and Linguistics from Wake Forest University, and her research interests include rehabilitation for neurodegenerative diseases, strokes, and traumatic brain injuries as well as working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring Boston, and running.
Anna Schwartz

Anna Schwartz

Graduate Student & Lab Researcher

Anna M. Schwartz is a graduate student in the TAN lab. She is a 2nd year student in the M.S. SLP program at Northeastern University’s Bouve College of Health Sciences, with an expected graduation date of 2022. She has a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the Graduate Center, CUNY, and her research interests include understanding the cognitive regions and the timing involved in the processing of metaphor using fNIRS. In her (imaginary) spare time she would like to do ceramics and macrame and go for more bike rides and hikes.
Amanda “Mango” Mangano

Amanda “Mango” Mangano

Undergraduate Student & Lab Researcher

Amanda “Mango” Mangano is currently a fourth-year in the class of 2023 at Northeastern University pursuing a major in Biochemistry and minors in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. Her interests lie in the intersection of biochemistry and the brain, and how different protein concentrations impact neuronal development. In the lab, Mango focuses on recruitment projects for TAN lab. Outside of the lab, Mango is the Membership Chair of Northeastern’s Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity, a Presidential Ambassador, a College of Science Peer Mentor, and an Alternative Breaks coordinator for Northeastern’s City and Community Engagement department. In the future, Mango hopes to work in a hospital or private clinic as an orthopedic surgeon.
Carli Bopp

Carli Bopp

Graduate Student & Lab Researcher

Carli Bopp is a graduate student in the TAN lab. She is a 1st year graduate student in the M.S. SLP program at Northeastern University’s Bouve College of Health Sciences, with an expected graduation date of 2023. She received her Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Towson University, and her research interests include neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injuries. Outside of the lab, Carli serves on the Executive Board for the Northeastern University Student Speech-Language and Hearing Association (NUSSLHA).
Catherine Terkildsen

Catherine Terkildsen

Undergraduate Student & Lab Volunteer

Catherine is a current second-year student at Northeastern. In the lab, she is currently working on a public knowledge of stroke survey project with Dr. Meier, as well as assisting with fNIRS imaging studies with stroke patients. Outside of the lab, she likes to read, swim, and travel.
Divya Ravikumar

Divya Ravikumar

Undergraduate Student & Lab Researcher

Divya is a rising second-year in the class of 2025 at Northeastern University as a combined Bioengineering and Biochemistry major. She is interested in neurodegenerative diseases and the technology utilized to study them, like fNIRS imaging. Outside of lab, she is a writer for the NU Science magazine, loves reading, and enjoys trying new food.

 

Emma Van Beveren

Emma Van Beveren

A Speech-Language Pathology master & a research assistant in TAN

Emma is a second-year in Northeastern University’s Master’s of Speech-Language Pathology program. She is interested in the uniquely human ability to both create and acquire language through a variety of sensory experiences and developmental circumstances. Her thesis project in the TAN lab examines the neural correlates of discourse level language processing using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). During her free time she likes to hang out with her pet rabbit, Penelope.

Gengchen Wei

Gengchen Wei

A Very Awsome Guy and Projects Coordinator at TAN

GengchenWei(Chen) has just graduated from Boston University majored in psychology and philosophy. He has the passion to find out how the world works because he believes that the world exists as a consistant whole. In particular, he believes that one of the best answers to the big questions is to understand human brain. Chen now works in TAN lab and he enjoys working here because everyday he learns something new.

Grace Haskell

Grace Haskell

A graduate student in the Speech and Language Program & RA in TAN

Hi! My name is Grace Haskell. I am a first-year graduate student in the Speech and Language Program at Northeastern. I am interested in working with individuals who have had aphasia and are recovering from a stroke. I am currently working on a dual task study which will involve walking and standing still while retelling a story or counting backwards. In my free time, I like to go for walks on the beach, spend time with my friends and travel!
Hai-Dinh Phan

Hai-Dinh Phan

Undergraduate Student & Lab Volunteer

Hai-Dinh is currently a second-year in the class of 2024 at Northeastern University pursuing a major in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and a minor in Behavioral Neuroscience. Her interests lie in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases that affect one’s language abilities. Recently exposed to the field of SLPA , Hai-Dinh is interested in exploring the wide variety of opportunities it has to offer. In the future, she hopes to work in a hospital or in a clinical setting as a speech-language pathologist. Outside of the lab, she works as a swim coach and swim instructor with British Swim School. Hai-Dinh is also the Vice President of Northeastern’s Vietnamese Student Association where she enjoys learning about different cultures and volunteering. 
Jamie Brunette

Jamie Brunette

A graduate student in the MS SLP program & RA in TAN

I am a second-year graduate student in the MS SLP program and my area of research interests includes looking at acquired neurological changes & disorder impacts in adults. I am currently working with fNIRS data from adults performing discourse tasks, and my main job is supporting a fellow student who is on a thesis track in her data analysis. Outside of research and school, I enjoy exploring different coffee shops!
Leanna Ugent

Leanna Ugent

Lab Coordinator

Leanna Ugent is a research coordinator at the TAN lab. She graduated from Brandeis University with a double major in Linguistincs and Psychology. She is currently taking a gap year, but is interesting in going to grad school for Speech Language Pathology. In her free time, she enjoys performing improv and theater and exploring Boston with her friends.

Mallory Petty

Mallory Petty

A graduate student & RA in TAN

Hello- my name is Mallory and I am a second year graduate student at Northeastern University. I volunteer in the TAN Lab with a group researching the utilization of smartwatch technology to improve functional and therapeutic outcomes for persons with aphasia. I was drawn to the TAN Lab because I have a special interest in optimizing language recovery in acute stroke and TBI patient populations. I admire Dr. Meier’s efforts in promoting functional communication recovery in people with aphasia, and look forward to better understanding the links between the brain, language, and behavior. Outside of school and research, I spend most of my time cooking, exploring the outdoors with my husband and dog, and catching up with friends and family.

Nathalie Mitchell

Nathalie Mitchell

A graduate student & RA in TAN

Nathalie Mitchell is a graduate student in the TAN lab. She is a 2nd year student in the M.S. SLP program at Northeastern University’s Bouve College of Health Sciences, with an expected graduation date of May 2023. Nathalie attended The Ohio State University where she received a B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences, a minor in Global Public Health, and a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Her interests include rehabilitation for cognitive impairments, long-haul Covid-19, neurodegenerative diseases, strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and adults with intellectual and development disabilities. Additionally, she is interested in early intervention and is pursuing a certificate in Early Intervention from Northeastern University’s Bouve College of Health Sciences. In her free time, she enjoys going for walks, spending time with friends and family, and watching reality TV. 

Lauren Rauert

Lauren Rauert

A graduate student & RA in TAN

Lauren Rauert is currently a first-year graduate student in the M.S. Speech-Language Pathology Program at Northeastern University. She attended the University of Vermont for her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a minor in Sociology and graduated in May of 2022. She is interested in recovery from stroke, aphasia, traumatic brain injuries, right hemisphere dysfunction, and neurodegenerative disorders. In the TAN lab she provides behavioral testing to participants. Outside of the academic world she enjoys exploring everything Boston has to offer, spending time with her friends, and crocheting!

Esprit Ange Andraos

Esprit Ange Andraos

A graduate student & RA in TAN

Esprit-Ange is an international master’s student at Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences. Before moving to Boston, she was a practicing speech-language pathologist in her home country, Lebanon. She is passionate about improving the lives of individuals living with voice and speech disorders through both clinical services and research. She is currently assisting with fNIRS imaging studies, behavioral testing, and smartwatch-based ecological momentary assessments. She is also helping with data analysis. Outside the lab, Esprit enjoys playing the flute, ney, singing, and doing Latin dance.