The Voice Biomechanics and Acoustics Laboratory (V-BAL) is a multi-disciplinary group of researchers from a wide variety of fields. Our current V-BAL Members and Partners have different backgrounds, which include Acoustics, Communications, Economics, Engineering, Epidemiology, Health Care, Immersive Technology, Linguistics, Music, Physics, Psychology, Education — and, of course, Communication Sciences & Disorders.
Below you can see current researchers, affiliates, and alumni.
Catherine Cantor Cutiva, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Email: cantorcu@msu.edu
Around thirteen years ago, Catherine Cantor Cutiva started researching about the work-relatedness of voice disorders among occupational voice users. After finishing her speech-language pathology and audiology at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, she started her first graduate degree during which she investigated the working conditions associated with voice disorders among college professors. Then, she began a second Master’s degree and a PhD degree at Erasmus Universiteit (The Netherlands); there, she delved further into this research, and conducted the first longitudinal study with cost-analysis of voice disorders among Colombian schoolteachers. After completing these studies, she pursued a research fellowship at Politecnico di Torino (Italy), followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at MSU; at both locations, her research expanded to include different occupational voice users and the analysis of different related factors, such as speaking a second language for work (bilingual occupational voice users). In 2018, she started working at Universidad Nacional de Colombia at the Department of Collective Health. She is thrilled to return to MSU, where she is the project coordinator of a large multi-faceted NIH-funded project. Her research interests focus on occupational voice disorders and the effect of occupational voice use in a second language among occupational voice users. She also enjoys studying work-related voice disorders, vocal fry, and the effects of bilingualism on voice production.
Adrián Castillo-Allendes, MSc. SLP.
Ph.D. Candidate
Email: casti208@msu.edu
Adrián Castillo-Allendes, M.Sc., SLP, is a Fulbright scholar from Santiago, Chile. He received his M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and Hearing and M.Sc. in Clinical Exercise Physiology from Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile. In addition, Adrián received professional certifications in voice habilitation and research methodology, as well as in teaching for higher education. He has almost ten years of experience working in various clinical settings with people with voice disorders, including professional voice users and people with Parkinson's disease. Immediately before coming to MSU, he worked as a lecturer in the Health Sciences Department at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Faculty of Medicine.
Adrian's research interests include the application of the principles of sports training and exercise physiology to voice and swallowing therapy. Also the relationship between phonatory tasks in the approach to swallowing disorders, and the multi-parametric assessment of upper airway and voice disorders.
Aishwarya Ramani, MA, SLP.
Ph.D. Student
Email: ramanisa@msu.edu
Sai Aishwarya Ramani is an audiologist and a speech-language pathologist from India. She completed her undergraduate (BASLP) from Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India, and her Master’s (MASLP) from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, India. She has seven years of experience in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology, with a specialty in voice and voice disorders. Before coming to MSU, Aishwarya worked as a researcher and consultant in a community-based hospital in Mangalore, India.
Aishwarya’s research interests include the effects of vocal loading in professional voice users and the concept of motor learning in voice rehabilitation.
In her free time, Aishwarya loves to spend time traveling to mountains and rivers. Her favorite pastime includes traveling with her husband Anirudh and listening to music.
Sarah Gundry
Undergraduate Researcher
Email: gundrysa@msu.edu
Major: Communicative Sciences & Disorders, Minors: Cognitive Science, & TESOL.
Professional interests and goals: Attend SLP grad school in order to become a speech-language pathologist, and then hopefully start off working with children in the school setting.
General Interests: Watching movies, game nights with friends, listening to music.
Hannah MacDonald
Undergraduate Researcher
Email: macdo278@msu.edu
Henry Notarianni
Undergraduate Researcher
Email: notaria3@msu.edu
Major: Games and Interactive Media.
Professional interests and goals: He has gone through the program with a focus in game design, but has also had a heavy focus in general audio production. After graduation, Henry plans to enter the video game industry as an audio designer or game designer.
General Interests: Henry is a musician, knowing both how to play the guitar and sing. While not pursuing music on campus currently, he still surrounds himself with it when he can. He is also an avid gamer and tuned into esports on MSU campus. He is an admin staff member of the student Esports Club Association and is heavily involved with the Fighting Game Club on campus.
Jenna Reich
Undergraduate Researcher
Email: reichje2@msu.edu
Major: Communicative Sciences & Disorders
Professional interests and goals: After graduation, Jenna plans to receive a master's degree in Speech Pathology with hopes to work in a hospital or clinic.
General Interests: Her general interests include reading, painting, hanging out with friends, and traveling!
Manna Rivera
Undergraduate Researcher
Email: rivera84@msu.edu
Major: International Studies and Relations.
Professional interests and goals: Manna hopes to move to Europe after graduation, seeking an ambassadorship to Spain or another Spanish-speaking country.
General Interests: Being outdoors, Traveling, Playing Piano.
Mia Teller
Undergraduate Researcher
Email: tellermi@msu.edu
Major: Communicative Sciences & Disorders.
Professional interests and goals: After graduation, Mia plans to receive her master's degree in Speech Pathology and to one day work in a clinic to help patients of all ages.
General Interests: Reading, biking, cooking, baking, and coloring.
Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Professional interests and goals: After graduation, Myrna plans to pursue a master’s degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders with hopes of becoming an elementary school speech pathologist with a focus on speech sound disorders.
General Interests: Myrna loves traveling, reading, going to the movies with friends, and watching hockey and tennis with her family!
Christopher Apfelbach, MS., CCC-SLP
Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Comm. Sciences & Disorders
University of Delaware
Russell E. Banks, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Neuroscientist, Medical Team
Linus Health
Ashland, Massachusetts
Laura Elizabeth Bernfeld, M.A.
Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Teacher Education
Brigham Young University
Juliana Codino, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Director of Voice Pathology
Lakeshore Professional Voice Center
Pamela Hallam, Ed.D.
Professor, Educational leadership and foundations
Brigham Young University
Kaitlin Torphy Knake, Ph.D.
Lead Researcher and Founder of Teachers in Social Media
Michigan State University
Timothy Leishman, Ph.D.
Professor, Physics and Astronomy
Brigham Young University
Adam D. Rubin, M.D.
Director
Lakeshore Professional Voice Center
Jeff Searl, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Professor, Communicative Sciences & Disorders
Michigan State University
Susanna Whitling, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Lund University
Doctoral and postdoctoral Scholars
Russell E. Banks, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Neuroscientist, Medical Team
Linus Health
Ashland, Massachusetts
Mark Berardi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral researcher
Universitätsklinikum Bonn
Pasquale Bottalico, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Illinois
Simone Graetzer, Ph.D.
Research Associate, School of Science, Engineering, and Environment
University of Salford, Manchester England
Lisa Kopf, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Clinical Educator
The George Washington University
Susanna Whitling, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Lund University
Erin Connolly
Undergraduate Researcher; Fall 2021
Michigan State University
Brooke, Barendsen
Undergraduate Researcher; Fall 2022
Michigan State University
Mady Bishop
Undergraduate Researcher; Fall 2022
Michigan State University
Brandon Gonzáles
Undergraduate Researcher; Fall 2022
Michigan State University
Madelyn Holmes
Undergraduate Researcher; Fall 2022
Michigan State University
Cristopher Jones
Undergraduate Researcher; Fall 2022
Michigan State University
Lexie Merkel-Fisher
Undergraduate Researcher; Fall 2022
Michigan State University
Hafsaah Nizami
Master Student ; Fall 2021
Michigan State University
Emily Zagata
Undergraduate Researcher; Fall 2021
Michigan State University
Alanna Votruba
Undergraduate Researcher; Fall 2021
Michigan State University