Karla McGregor is a professor on the faculty of Communication Sciences and Disorders at The University of Iowa. She directs the Word Learning Lab and thoroughly enjoys the research activities that go on there. In addition to conducting research, she mentors undergraduate and graduate students and teaches courses on language disorders and scientific writing. She also serves as the co-director of the Iowa Center for Developmental and Learning Sciences and as the language editor for the Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research.

Dr. McGregor dotes on her three nephews and her dog, Baxter. Dr. Karla McGregor's favorite word: shenanigans

Allison Bean received her master's degree in speech-language pathology from New York Medical College. As a speech-pathologist she worked in early intervention and a preschool for children with autism. She has worked in the Word Learning Lab since coming to the University of Iowa to pursue her Ph.D. Allison's pre-dissertation research focused on the role of intention and naming of artwork in toddlers. Her dissertation focuses on word learning in children with autism, specifically how the environment, communication partner and the child's own developmental history affect performance. Favorite words: awesome, copious and muna

Amanda Berns is a part-time research assistant in the Word Learning Lab, who plans to attend graduate school next fall. She is currently a member of the research team on projects involving children with autism spectrum disorders and specific language impairments. In the future, she hopes to obtain her doctorate with continued research interests in autism spectrum disorders. Favorite words: cabbage, psych, aardvark

Nichole Eden is a certified speech-language pathologist with a background in early language intervention. After completing her master's degree at the University of Northern Iowa, Nichole worked for five years in Hawaii. Now that she's moved back to Iowa, she's thrilled to be working as a research assistant in the Word Learning Lab, where there's less sun, but just as much fun. Favorite words: fluffy, stunning, soulful, and lovely

Gwyneth Rost is a doctoral student in Speech Pathology at The University of Iowa. She is an alumna of Grinnell College and has earned master's degrees in Linguistics and Speech Pathology from the University of Louisville. Her research in both the Word Learning Lab and the Mechanisms of Audio-visual Categorization Lab (in the department of Psychology) focuses on lexical development in infants and children. Link to Gwyn's personal site: http://myweb.uiowa.edu/grost Favorite words: roller coaster, confectionary, missish

Derek Stiles is in his 5th and final (knock on wood) year of the PhD program here at University of Iowa. He was a practicing audiologist in California before heeding the call to return to school, where it's nice to be away from the smog and traffic! His dissertation explores the intersection of hearing loss, short-term memory, and word learning ability in elementary school aged children. Wish him luck! Favorite word: sultry

Beth Walker is a doctoral student in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Iowa.  She obtained her bachelor's degree in psychology and speech and hearing science at the University of Iowa and a master's degree in communication disorders at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.  Prior to coming to the University of Iowa for her doctoral program, she worked as a speech pathologist and audiologist on the cochlear implant team at Indiana University. Her primary interests are in word learning in children with hearing loss. Favorite word: pernicious

Lab Alumni Kristy Riley, Ph.D. pending, Northwestern University Favorite word: discombobulated Vanessa Shaw, Ph.D. 2007, The University of Iowa Favorite word: succinct Li Sheng, Ph.D. 2007, Northwestern University Favorite word: serendity, savvy Anne Graham , M.S. 2005, Northwestern University Favorite word: joyful Renee Reilly, Ph.D. 2004, Northwestern University Favorite word: serendipitous Nina Capone, Ph.D. 2003, Northwestern University Favorite word: percolate Robyn Newman, Ph.D. 2003, Northwestern University Favorite word: serendipity