People

Dr. Kielar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences at the University of Arizona and the Director of the LAN Laboratory. She earned her Ph.D. in Cognitive psychology from the University of Western Ontario. She completed postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience at the Northwestern University and postdoctoral training in neuroimaging at the Rotman Research Institute of University of Toronto. 

As a cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist Dr. Kielar is interested in the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie language systems and related cognitive functions. Her research examines cognitive and neural factors that affect language functions, and how they change across life-span and are influenced by stroke and neurodegenerative disorders. 

To answer these questions, Dr. Kielar’s research integrates cognitive measures with multimodal neuroimaging techniques (fMRI, EEG/ERPs, and MEG). She is also interested in recovery of function, and treatment approaches involving speech-language therapy in combination with noninvasive brain stimulation techniques.

Most recently, her laboratory is conducting studies that examine the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on brain function. In these studies, the brain stimulation is combined with language therapy with a goal to enhance recovery in post-stroke and progressive aphasias.

Dr Kielar teaches and supervises undergraduate and graduate student research projects and dissertations. Teaching includes topics in neurobiology of language, graduate seminars and courses for the graduate certificate in neuroimaging methods.  

Areas of Study:

• Effect of stroke on semantic, phonological and syntactic aspects of language
• Impact of Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) on the language system and the brain
• Application of fMRI-guided neuromodulation in the treatment of stroke induced and progressive aphasias
• Changes in cognitive and language processing associated with healthy aging and neurodegenerative disorders
• Electrophysiological and structural indicators of cortical function and relationship to language ability

Katlyn Nickels is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) at the University of Arizona. She obtained her Ph.D. in SLHS with a minor in Cognitive Science through the Aphasia Research Project at the University of Arizona. She holds an M.S. in Communication Disorders from The University of Texas at Dallas and a B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders from Florida State University.

Katlyn’s research is focused on the nature and rehabilitation of acquired language impairment in adults. Her dissertation investigated the therapeutic potential of phonological intervention for individuals with primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Her ongoing research projects include the exploration of reading and writing performance in PPA and the examination of student attitudes toward PPA, aging, and dementia within the healthcare sciences.

Katlyn holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a Certificate in College Teaching from the University of Arizona. Katlyn is a licensed speech-language pathologist in the state of Arizona, with clinical experience in evaluating and treating acquired disorders of speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing in both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation settings

Fatima Jebahi is a PhD candidate in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Arizona, with a PhD minor in Cognitive Science. Throughout her program, she earned a Certificate in Neuroimaging Methods and a Certificate in College Teaching. Her background includes a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University, where she was a Fulbright scholar, and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Speech Therapy from the Lebanese University.

Fatima’s research focuses on neurogenic language disorders, specifically primary progressive aphasia and post-stroke aphasia. She is particularly interested in understanding how words’ psycholinguistic properties affect word retrieval in these populations. Ultimately, her goal is to leverage research to inform clinical practice and improve the lives of individuals living with aphasia.

Isabella is a sophomore undergraduate student majoring in Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences at The University of Arizona. She became a part of the Language and Neuroimaging Lab during the summer of 2024. 

She hopes to gain experience in research and clinical work so she can apply to graduate school to become a speech pathologist.

Lia Leizerovich is an undergraduate junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She is interested in neural language processing and neural systems, as well as the technologies used to research them. Through the LAN Lab, she hopes to develop experience in brain imaging technologies and aphasia treatments to improve the lives of people with language disorders.

Noah is a senior undergraduate student in Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, and Linguistics at the University of Arizona who has worked with the LAN Lab for three years. He is interested in language processing and acquisition from a neural perspective, as well as the methods from cognitive neuroscience used to study language in the brain. In the LAN Lab, Noah assists with administering transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and electroencephalography (EEG) for participants, archiving and scoring of behavioral assessments, and analysis of MRI data.

His senior thesis in the lab is focused on characterizing tDCS current flow in various types of aphasias using the open-source modeling software SimNIBS.

Kate Maxfield is an undergraduate junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in American Sign Language. She is interested in studying language disorders, their neurological foundations, and the innovative therapies for those affected. Through the lab, she hopes to gain more skills and knowledge so that she can be ready to apply for grad school and in the future practice as an SLP. 

Riley is a senior undergraduate student studying Physiology and Medical Sciences within the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona originally from Prescott, Arizona. She has been apart of the Language and Neuroimaging Laboratory for 2 years starting in January of 2023.  She is interested in researching the effects of neurostimulation on the brain’s language processing and cognition areas within the College of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. She is currently doing her Senior Honors Thesis as a literary review to emphasize this interest. Riley has high aspirations to further her education after graduation and pursue a graduate level degree.

Morgan Bailey is a junior undergraduate student studying Speech and Hearing Sciences and Neuroscience. She is interested in neuro-imaging, Primary Progressive Aphasia, stroke, Parkinson’s and the innovative interventions that a SLP could provide. She hopes the work within the lab will expand her knowledge and prepare her for graduate school to become a clinical Speech Pathologist.