Lesya Chorna, Ph.D., Research Associate, Neurocommunications Laboratory; Anatomical Sciences Laboratory; Acoustic and Physiological Phonetics; and Infant Vocalization Laboratory

Kathleen C. Fulmer, M.A., Research Associate, Language Acquisition Laboratory; Prelinguistic Communication Development Laboratory

Monique A. Pousson, M.S., Research Associate, Auditory Electrophysiology Laboratory

Project Coordinators

Heather Ramsdell, Ph.D., Project Coordinator, Infant Vocalization Laboratory

Deena R. Weiss, M.A., Project Coordinator, Bilingualism Research Laboratory

Project Associates/Assistants

Adriana Seiler deBenavides, M.Ed., Project Associate, Bilingualism Research Laboratory

Katherine Rehling Graham, M.A., Project Associate, Bilingualism Research Laboratory

Martha Kantor, B.A., Project Associate, Bilingualism Research Laboratory

Eulanda Lopez, M.S., Project Assistant, Bilingualism Research Laboratory

•    Office location: A433 MSHC-Annex
•    Phone number(s): 901-545-7429; 901-678-5873; 901-678-5874
•    Fax: 901-525-1282
•    Email: lchorna@memphis.edu

•    Research Associate since 2001, School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
•    Education:
  •    B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Ternopil State Technical University –Ternopil, Ukraine (1996)
  •    M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Ternopil State Technical University –Ternopil, Ukraine (1996)
  •    Ph.D., Mathematical Modeling and Computational Techniques –Ternopil, Ukraine (1999)

•    Affiliated Research Areas:
  •    Neurocommunications Laboratory
  •    Anatomical Sciences Laboratory
  •    Acoustic and Physiological Phonetics
  •    Bilingualism Research Laboratory
  •    Infant Vocalization Laboratory

•    Background:
  •    Worked at Ternopil State Technical University –Ternopil, Ukraine until 2001 as an Assistant Professor of computer sciences department where she taught courses in probability and random processes with application to signal processing, system programming and operating systems, and object-oriented programming. As a Research Associate of the School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Memphis, she performs the following duties:
  •    Assists in the design of research projects and experiments; prepares necessary materials; sets up equipment; recruits, schedules, and evaluates human subjects; collects and analyzes data (conducts acoustical analysis of normal and disordered speech using Kay Elemetrics programs, TF32, others); conducts statistical analysis of experimental data (using statistical software packages SYSTAT, SPSS, SigmaPlot); develops MATLAB programs (including GUI) for specific signal processing algorithms; provides network support for local computer network for the MSHC-Annex, prepares and assists in preparing written summaries, reports, and scientific manuscripts; monitors equipment and supplies; repairs/replaces as necessary; oversees any student workers.
  •    Her research interests include mathematical and computational aspects of speech processing, especially the application of random processes and probability theory to speech, and the mathematical foundations of digital signal processing.

•    Office Location: MSHC Annex
•    Phone: 901-515-9841
•    Fax: 901-525-1282
•    Email: kcfulmer@memphis.edu

•    Research Associate since 1990, School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
•    Affiliated Research Area: Language Acquisition Laboratory; Prelinguistic Communication Development Laboratory

•    Office Location: 226C Memphis Speech and Hearing Center
•    Phone: 901-678-5832
•    Fax: 901-525-1282
•    Email: mpousson@memphis.edu

•    Research Associate since 1994, School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
•    Affiliated Research Area: Auditory Electrophysiology Laboratory

•    Office Location: MSHC Annex
•    Phone: 901-545-8850
•    Fax: 901-515-9886
•    Email: hramsdll@memphis.edu

•    Project Coordinator since 2009, School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
•    Education: Ph.D, Speech-Language Pathology
•    Affiliated Research Area: Infant Vocalization Laboratory

Deena R. Weiss, M.A.

•    Office Location: MSHC Annex
•    Phone: 901-515-9836
•    Fax: 901-515-9886
•    Email: drweiss@memphis.edu

•    Project Coordinator since 2008, School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
•    Education: M.A., English
•    Affiliated Research Area: Bilingualism Research Laboratory
•    Project Coordinator: Phonology and Literacy in Early Bilinguals
•    This research takes place in two Memphis City Schools. We work primarily with kindergarten children in three phases: Pretest, Training in Pre Reading Skills, and Post Test.

•    Office Location: MSHC Annex
•    Phone: 901-515-9836
•    Fax: 901-515-9886
•    Email: deseiler@memphis.edu

•    Education: Bachelor in Preschool and Kindergarten Education. Bachelor in Psychology. Master of Regional Education History, Monterrey, N.L. Mexico.
•    Project Assistant since 2006, School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
•    Affiliated Research Area: Bilingualism Research Laboratory
•    Research Associate, Phonology and Literacy in Early Bilinguals

•    Evaluation Department Coordinator of the Teachers Training Centers. Department of Public Education. State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. (1996-1998)
•    Trainer of the Teachers� Training Centers. Department of Public Education. State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. (1995)
•    Consultant of the Early Childhood Education Department. Department of Public Education. State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico (1992-1994)
•    Trainer of the Kindergarten and Preschool Education Department. Department of Public Education. State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico (1986-1992)
•    Kindergarten and Preschool Teacher. Department of Public Education. State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico (1980-1986)
•    Interpreter (Spanish / English). (St. Jude Children�s Research Hospital. Volunteer since 2002) (Lionbridge Interpretation Services since 2006)

•    Office Location: MSHC Annex
•    Phone: 901-515-9836
•    Fax: 901-515-9886
•    Email: krgraham@memphis.edu

•    Research Associate since 2006, School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
•    Education: M.A., in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
•    Affiliated Research Area: Bilingualism Research Laboratory

•    Office Location: MSHC Annex
•    Phone: 901-515-9836
•    Fax: 901-515-9886
•    Email:

•    Research Associate since 2008, School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
•    Education: M.A.
•    Affiliated Research Area: Bilingualism Research Laboratory

•    Office Location: MSHC Annex
•    Phone: 901-515-9836
•    Fax: 901-515-9886
•    Email:

•    Project Assistant since 2007, School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
•    Education: M.S., Educational Research
•    Affiliated Research Area: Bilingualism Research Laboratory
•    Project Assistant, Phonology and Literacy in Early Bilinguals
•    Project Assistants work very closely with the kindergarten children, parents and the teachers of the two city schools that we work in. They are responsibly for the pre-testing, training activities, and post-testing.