PAEDIATRIC LANGUAGE, LEARNING, & SPEECH OUTCOMES LAB
MEET OUR TEAM
A group of passionate, skilled, and educated professionals who believe in collaboration, creativity, and doing great work with heart. Our work is driven by a dedicated group of student researchers, faculty, and collaborators. ​
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Meet the team behind the PedLLS Outcomes Lab below.
Principal Investigator, Lab Director
Dr. Karla N Washington
Karla N. Washington, PhD, S-LP(C), CCC-SLP, BCS-CL is an associate professor, University of Toronto, Department of Speech-Language Pathology, where she directs the Pediatric Language, Learning, and Speech (PedLLS) Outcomes Lab. Her clinical-research interests focus on speech-language development for monolingual and multilingual preschoolers. Her research characterizes language learning and uses in typical and disordered contexts with an interest in understanding how children’s contextual factors (i.e., Environmental and Personal, as defined by WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework) are related to their outcomes. She is an invited member, International-Expert-Panel-on-Multilingual-Children’s-Speech, is an Editor-in-Chief for Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, and is an American Speech and Hearing Association Fellow.​​
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PhD Candidate & Interim Lab Manager
Nicole Bazzocchi
Nicole B.M. Bazzocchi, SLP (C) is a Speech-Language Pathologist (Reg. CASLPO) in Ontario. She works with preschool- and school-aged children, treating speech and language disorders, as well as adults treating dysphagia. In 2023, Nicole began at the University of Toronto to pursue research under the direction of Dr. Karla N Washintgon. She is now a PhD candidate in the Paediatric Language, Learning & Speech (PedLLS) Outcomes Lab exploring speech and language development in and across monolingual and multilingual contexts.
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Post-Doctoral Scholar
Ruochen Ning
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Ruochen Ning earned her PhD degree in Translation and Language Sciences from Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona, Spain). Her research interests include multilingual language development and neural differences between monolingual and multilingual children with language disorders. Her current research explores neural mechanisms underlying language delay and developmental language disorders.​​​​​​
Research Associate
Adhirai Garibaldi
Adhirai is a Speech-Language Pathologist with a PhD from Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India. Her work was funded by the Society for Research in Child Development, USA. With clinical experience specializing in late talkers and Developmental Language Disorders, her research interests also include, developing culturally and linguistically appropriate assessments and intervention programs. Outside of professional work, she is an avid reader, an amateur writer, and enjoys spending time by the ocean!
Recruitment & Operations Lead (Soon-to-be), current Recruitment Coordinator
Lorena Buttazzoni
Lorena joined the PedLLS Outcomes Lab as a Research Assistant in 2023 while completing her MHSc in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto. Since 2024, she works as one of the Recruitment Coordinators, supporting participant recruitment for speech-language and neuroimaging research projects. Lorena is also a Speech-Language Pathologist (OOAQ) based in Montreal, where she works with school-aged children and adults.
Creative Solutions Manager &
Project Management Support
Jessica Cellucci
Jessica is a certified Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) who completed her certificate at Georgian College. She provides intervention support within the lab, working closely with children and families to foster communication development. In addition to her clinical role, she serves as Creative Solutions Manager, Project Management Support, and Editor-in-Chief of the lab’s quarterly newsletter. She also contributes to the Pedalling Through Practice Podcast and leads the development of the lab’s visual and creative materials. Outside of her professional work, Jessica enjoys painting, travelling, singing and reading!
PhD Student
Fatemeh Karimian
Fatemeh is a swimmer, frisbee player, nature lover, life-long learner, and paediatric speech-language pathologist with a master's degree from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. With years of clinical experience specializing in children with late talkers (LT) and developmental language disorders (DLD). Driven to research the underlying reasons for late- talking children who grow up with DLD. Passionate about becoming a clinical researcher to bridge the gap between research, innovation, and practice.
Casual Employee
Elaina Van Abbema
I am a first year in the Speech-Language Pathology program here at UofT. I completed my undergraduate degree in Cognitive Science of Language at McMaster University. My research experience includes an undergraduate thesis on the effect of foreign accent on humour, which will be presented at the 19th Australasian International Conference on Speech Science and Technology in December.
Research Assistant
Alyssa Alexander
Alyssa is a first-year undergraduate student at UofT pursuing a double-major in Linguistics and Women and Gender Studies. They hope to pursue linguistic field research examining the role of language as both an oppressor and liberator of marginalized groups. With a focus on how policy impacts schooling, Alyssa views speech-language pathology as a tool to ensure education serves children with diverse language- backgrounds.
Volunteer
Julia Preston
Julia Preston is a registered Speech-Language Pathologist with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from the University of Victoria and her Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Toronto. She now works in School-Based Rehabilitation Services, providing speech therapy to school-aged children.
Research Assistant
Lauren Choi
Lauren is in her second year of the MHSc Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of Toronto. Her previous research experience focused on SLP, OT, and autism research at the Autism Spectrum and Language Disorders Lab at Western University and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. She participated in the first year of the Jamaica Education Abroad Program in 2024.
Back up interventionist, previous work study student
Katarina Miletic
Katarina is a second-year student in the MHSc in Speech-Language Pathology program at UofT. She completed her BSc in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at Western University.
Katarina participated in the Education Abroad experience in Jamaica March 2024 and is currently working on projects relating to Jamaican children’s speech and language development.
Research Assistant
Kereisha Biggs
Kereisha Biggs is pursuing an MHSc in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto (UofT). She has an Honours BA in English and Linguistics from UofT Scarborough and is a research assistant in the Paediatric Language, Learning & Speech (PedLLS) Outcomes Lab, spearheaded by Dr. Karla Washington. Kereisha is passionate about helping to bridge the gap between theory and practice to best serve diverse communities as a future clinician.
Research Assistant
Havane Emik
My name is Havane Emik, and I am a first-year Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) student at the University of Toronto. As a bilingual speaker, I am passionate about the intersection of language, culture, and communication, and I’m excited to explore these areas further in the SLP field.
Research Assistant - TALK Project!
Samantha Sergi
Samantha Sergi is a Year 2 Speech‑Language Pathology student at the University of Toronto. She completed her Honours BA in Speech and Language Sciences at York University, where she contributed to research focused on English as a Second Language students. Samantha also participated in the Jamaica Education Abroad Program in 2025.
Research Assistant
Koubra Hassan Haggar
Koubra Haggar is a 2nd-year MHSc Speech-Language Pathology student at the University of Toronto. Outside of her studies, she works in different capacities on initiatives related to homelessness and housing, anti-racism, disability justice and food security. In her free time, she enjoys board games with friends and watching her favourite shows with a cup of tea.
Project Support on PARENT
Mitchell Yui Him Mak
Mitchell is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the UofT. Pursuing his degree in Psychology and Linguistics, Mitchell is interested in language acquisition and the mental and social aspects of code-mixing. He hopes to contribute to the field of S-LP as a practitioner and a researcher one day. In his free time, you will find him playing chess online and trying new recipes.
Research Assistant & Website Developer
Adriana Drakopoulos
Adriana is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Western University, completing her degree in Kinesiology. As a multilingual speaker, she is passionate about the developmental aspects of speech and language in pediatric populations and aspires to pursue graduate studies in Speech-Language Pathology. She hopes to contribute to the field as both a clinical practitioner and researcher. In her free time, Adriana enjoys traveling and visiting baseball stadiums.
Research Assistant
Renee Boney
Renee is a Year 1 Speech-Language Pathology student with a strong interest in paediatric language research. Renee is committed to advancing paediatric language care through PedLLS. Her previous research experiences include bilingualism, lexical gender word recognition, and brain injury. Blending her Caribbean heritage with her passion for supporting young patients, she aims to make a meaningful impact in diverse communities.
Research Associate
Peri Erden
Peri is a recent graduate from McGill University, where she received a BA&Sc in Honours Cognitive Science, minoring in Computer Science. Peri’s diverse background shapes her commitment to holistic research and exploring cross disciplinary perspectives. She is particularly fascinated by the neural underpinnings behind language acquisition, multilingualism, and symbolic representations of language. As a research associate in the PedLLS Outcomes Lab, Peri’s responsibilities include data processing and analysis, acoustic analysis, and transcription. She hopes to pursue a career Speech Language Pathology, and contribute to the field as both a clinician and researcher. In her free time, Peri enjoys dancing, doing yoga, and spending time in nature.
Volunteer Research Assistant
Wynnbee Janelle Chua
Wynnbee is a third-year University of Toronto student pursuing a Specialist in Psychology with a Statistics minor. She is interested in early childhood development and speech disorders, particularly how speech sound disorders shape developmental trajectories. She enjoys baking, exploring new cafés, and trying different recipes.
Collaborators:
Click on our collaborator's name to read more about them and their work!
Current
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Andrea MacLeod, University of Alberta, Canada
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Chelsea Sommer, Florida International University, USA
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Deryk Beal, University of Toronto, Holland Bloorview, Canada
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Elena Babatsouli, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA
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Jennifer Vannest, University of Cincinnati, USA
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Joseph Farquharson, University of the West Indies, Jamaica
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Kate Crowe, University of Iceland, Iceland; Charles Sturt University, Australia
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Kelly Farquharson, University of Florida, USA
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Leslie Kokotek, University of Louisville, USA
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Melanie Basinger, Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center in Ohio, USA
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Rachel Wright Karem, Indiana University, USA
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Sharynne McLeod, Children's Voices Centre, Australia
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Stella Ng, University Health Network, Canada
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Susanna Campbell Blagrove, University of the West Indies, Jamaica​​
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Tara McAllister, New York University, USA
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Yolanda Holt, East Carolina University, USA​
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Previous
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Anna Sosa, Northern Arizona University, USA
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Cate Crowley, Columbia University, USA
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Hubert Devonish, University of the West Indies, Jamaica
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Marisha Speights, Auburn University, USA
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Maureen Samms-Vaughan, University of the West Indies, Jamaica
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Noah Silbert, University of Cincinnati, USA
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Toby Macrae, Florida State University, USA​​
Lab Legacies​
Genese Ann Warr-Leeper
Laura & Richard Kretschmer
Funding History:
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Canadian Institute of Health Research, Canada Research Chair (2022-CRC-00366)
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​National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (R01DC019337, TALK Supplement)
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US Department of Education
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National Institutes of Health Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (NIH R21 DC018170-01A1)
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Advancing Academic Research Careers Award
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PedLLS Lab Gift Fund
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Jamaican Creole Language Project Endowment Fund
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University of Cincinnati International Block Grant and Program Development Grant
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Vice-president for Research Start-up funds, University of Cincinnati
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College of Allied Health Sciences International Student Experience Grant
Early Days (2013)
Current Day (2024)